The Lemon Sisters (Wildstone #3)(46)

“I did say that,” she said. And at the time, she’d meant it. But that had been before Maddox had been mobile, plus a couple of crazy, sleep-deprived years during which she hadn’t always felt human. “And I still think you did the right thing. I guess I just didn’t realize how much you’d be working. I thought between the two of you, you’d actually be working less.”

“It’s been a busy season.” His eyes never left hers. “And as for cute nurses and doctors . . . you’re the only one I want.”

She really wanted to believe that, but it was hard. “Do you remember the last time we made love?”

“Of course.” He paused, clearly thinking, and then flashed a sexy smile. “Before I left, we got into the costume chest and played my favorite—the sexy flight attendant, whose job it is to cater to her only passenger’s every whim. You gave me the best blow j—”

“That wasn’t right before you left. That was over a month ago.”

He blinked. “No.”

“Yes. And I’m asking if you remember the last time we both had an orgasm.”

Another slow blink. “It was that same night,” he said.

She cocked her head. “Was it?”

He paused, staring at her. “Min,” he finally said softly, pained, clearly upset at himself.

“No, it’s okay. I can’t remember the last time I had an orgasm, either, so it’s not all on you. It’s more because I never have enough energy to really concentrate.”

This seemed to shake him even more. “You have to concentrate?”

She let out a breath and closed her eyes. “I haven’t felt sexy. I’ve felt . . . overwhelmed and behind on everything, and I never have a second to myself. Before this past week, I can’t even remember the last time I was in the bathroom alone. But it’s even more than that.”

“I know,” he said. “You think I don’t see you anymore.” She felt his hands gently take hers and she opened her eyes to find that he’d stepped closer. Slowly, he raised their joined hands to his mouth, brushing a kiss across her knuckles. “Min, to me, you’re still the only woman in the room. In any room. Tell me what you need.”

“You,” she whispered. “I need you.”

His eyes darkened and he closed the gap, brushing his body to hers. “You’ve got me.”

“That’s not what I mean.” She gave him a gentle nudge back because it was hard to think when he turned on the charm. “I’m not sorry that I’m a mom and a wife, but I can’t be those things if I’ve lost myself. I think I need some more time.”

He gave a slow nod. “I understand.”

“Do you?”

“Yes. I took the kids to the park and then to dinner yesterday, and I needed a nap afterward.”

She let out a low laugh. “So a few hours on your own with them and you were done in?”

“I love my kids,” he said. “They’re . . . amazing. But holy shit, they’re also the cutest little soul-suckers I’ve ever seen.” His smile faded. “Time to yourself. To find yourself. Done, Min. What else?”

“You know it’s not going to be that easy.”

“We’ll make it easy,” he said.

“I’ve asked Brooke to stay for a little while. I don’t know if she will. We’re . . . not in the best place.”

“And you want to fix that, too.”

“I want to fix everything,” she said. “I need to, in order to find my happy.”

His hands slid up her arms to cup her face. “We’ll do it. We will. Just keep talking to me, okay? Keep telling me what you need.”

She nodded.

He smiled and nudged her backward until the mattress hit the backs of her knees. As he urged her down, she opened her mouth to tell him that she didn’t know if she was ready, but he gave her a gentle, tender kiss and then . . . covered her up with a blanket. “Sleep,” he said. “Let’s just start with sleep.”

It was one of the sweetest things he’d ever done.

WHEN SHE WOKE up a solid eight hours later, she was alone. Linc appeared in the doorway. Maddox was snoozing on his shoulder. And drooling.

Her heart melted.

“He woke up a couple of hours ago,” Linc whispered. “I’ll get them ready for camp.”

Wow, she thought. Maybe they had a shot after all . . .





Chapter 10


“I’m feeling a lot of things, Brooke. But pity isn’t one of them.”

Brooke woke up on the floor. At some point in the middle of the night, she’d fallen off the couch and just stayed down. Now she had a kink in her neck and she felt like twenty-eight going on eighty-eight.

She eyed her phone for the time and found a group text from Cole and Tommy.

Cole: In the interesting news department, I managed to do my job and yours this week. Which means I’m not sure why I pay you, other than that your sweet and sunny disposition is such a joy.

Brooke: You miss me. Cute.

Cole: I’m not cute.

Tommy: True. He’s been moping around all week.

Brooke: It’s because my job isn’t as easy as he thinks. And I’m still gone because you were both stupid enough to let Mindy work you over like a bunch of amateurs. So now it’s going to be a bit longer.