Dad interrupts, “Damn straight. She hit the daughter-in-law jackpot with my little girl. Maybe Mia could give Connor’s lady a few lessons.”
What the hell is happening here? If I hadn’t known better, I would think my dad and Declan had planned this whole charade. Butter me up to erase all my worry about dad’s health and my husband’s departure. These two were sly sometimes. I wouldn’t put it past them.
“Okay, you two. Enough! We’re here to ogle over dad, not me. Mom, on your way out can you have one of the nurses come in to go over everything with me. I want to know firsthand what’s ahead. I can’t trust anyone to tell me the truth. You’re too busy protecting me all the time.”
Sure, I had a habit of pointing out how I didn’t need protecting or how in control I was. But I hadn’t felt in control of anything since Declan dropped the bomb. And now, dealing with the news of dad’s not-so-perfect health—is there anything I can control these days?
I don’t like to let fate handle things. I want total power over everything in my life. But as I get older, I’ve come to the realization that sometimes, no matter how much you plot and strategize, life has other plans. There is no way to manipulate the actions of others, the coincidences of chance. The only thing I can control is me and knowing this makes me want to smother Declan, the kids, my parents with all the love I have to give. Life is too damn short for all the other nonsense.
I stop my mom before she leaves to make her calls, “Mom?”
“What’s up, honey?” she answers from the door.
I suddenly feel silly, but I shouldn’t be embarrassed to let them know what I feel. “I love you, Mom. You too, Dad.” I focus my attention on the stunning man to my left, reaching for his hand. “And you.”
There’s an unmistakable glisten in Declan’s eyes. Could those be tears? “You have no idea how happy I am to hear you say that. I love you too, babe. Always have, always will.”
Who would’ve thought that making out with your husband could get this heated?
“Shh, babe. The kids.”
Usually I’m the one worried about waking the kids, but tonight I shock myself by throwing caution out the second story window. I get up from the already rumpled bed and lock the door. That’ll buy us a few minutes in case one of them decides to wander down the hall.
I tip toe, back to the bed, stripping along the way. Declan sits up, leaning against the powder blue upholstered headboard, bare-chested. Oh my. I’ve missed this visual. His muscles flex in anticipation, making the view that much more enticing. Stupid me—I’d fallen victim to not realizing what I’d had until it was gone.
Declan stares at me the way he used to when he was still a virgin, practically drooling. “Mia, you look amazing. Have you been working out?”
Ha! That’s hilarious. Doesn’t he know me better? I should tell him I have been, but that would be a blatant lie. I guess I’d finally lost those last few extra pounds I couldn’t shed since Charlie was born. Seems running myself ragged and grieving over the marriage I thought was over has that kind of effect.
I don’t want to think about why I look like this. It will lead to conversation and ruin the mood. I decide to play the modesty card. “Would you stop it, Dec? You’re making me blush.”
He inches to the foot of the bed on his knees, never taking his eyes off my body. When he reaches me, he pulls me against his firm chest—beautiful proof that he does work out. His warm hands travel slowly from my neck, following the curve of my back like they are savoring every inch of what he’s missed. His fingers linger at the waistline of my panties. “I love that I can still make you blush. Let’s see what else I can still do to you.”
Now he’s talking.
I don’t even try to resist. I knew we’d end up in our bed the minute I asked him to come back and part of me hates myself for being so eager. So willing to forget the pain he caused. The doubt he planted in my brain. But feeling his hands on my needy body, his lips against my deprived skin, it’s too late to listen to my hesitant subconscious.
Declan’s sweet kisses come to a halt; his hands pause on their journey into my panties. “Mia, baby, is this okay?”
Maybe my subconscious is louder than I thought.
This is my chance to stop him, but goddamn me if it feels right to be almost making love to my husband. I’ve missed him, he’s obviously missed me. Is that enough? I want to believe it is.
So I do.
“Yes, Declan. It’s okay. I want you to make love to me.”
He pulls me down on top of him, claiming my mouth with his. “Good, because there was no way I was going to be able to stop.”