by Lori Foster
Ember leaned into him. “It’s really good.”
No. Damn. Way. “Not that good.”
“No,” Ember agreed, smiling. “Not that good.” Her fingers walked up his chest and she whispered, “But it’s close.”
“No,” he stated, catching her hand and flattening it over his thumping heart. “Give me half a chance and I’ll prove to you it isn’t.”
This time the clump of grass hit him. Ember jumped back, startled. They both stared at Autumn.
“Could you two knock it off already? Now that Ember has blabbed my entire life to you, you might as well give me some advice.”
Oh, man, Tash was going to owe him big-time. Rolling a shoulder and hiding his grin, Mike said, “Tell him the ice cream isn’t cutting it anymore.”
“Ember said I had to ask him for sex.”
Gasping, Ember hurled grass back at her. “I told you to ask him if he wanted it.”
“You don’t have to do either one.” Getting into the moment, Mike sat forward. “Seriously. Just say ‘The ice cream isn’t cutting it these days.’ He’ll take it from there.”
“I don’t know.” Autumn worried her bottom lip in her teeth. “I mean, there’s still the issue of Sadie. No way would Tash leave her with a babysitter—”
“He totally would if he felt good about it.” Ember held out her arms. “Behold, I have a solution.”
Behold, Mike thought, you have something.
Many things, actually—all of them wicked and delicious and they tempted him more than she realized.
“Invite them over one evening,” Ember instructed, animated in her sincerity. “Let me know when they can make it, and I’ll finagle a girls’ day at the salon with Sadie. I’ll treat her to a trim, blow-dry and mani-pedi. It’ll be terrific—for her and me, because she really is a little sweetheart.”
Ember and a kid? Who’d have thought? But she seemed excited for the time she’d spend with Sadie.
Autumn touched her sister’s knee. “Em, are you sure...?” She glanced at him, and Mike felt like something profound was happening. Clearing her throat, Autumn started again, and said, “You really think that’s a good idea.”
With a firm nod, Ember said, “Yes.”
“But...” Another sly look at Mike.
What the hell?
“I don’t want to—”
“Stress me? Make me fall apart?” With a poignant little smile, Ember shook her head. “It’ll be fine, Autumn. I promise.” She glanced at him, too. “I was going to tell Mike, anyway.”
Tell him what? On alert, Mike sat a little straighter. “Everything okay?”
Ember nodded, and with Autumn’s compassion-filled eyes trained on her, she said, “A little more than a year ago, I was pregnant...”
His heart nearly stopped.
“It was a little boy, and...and I loved him. So much.” She swallowed heavily. “From the moment I knew, I wanted him.”
Muscles from his neck to the soles of his feet tensed tight enough to cramp. “I don’t...” Don’t know what to say. Don’t know what to do.
Don’t know what to feel. “Ember?”
“Two months into the pregnancy, I lost him.” Her lips quivered, but just for a moment, then she firmed them. “I know you won’t understand, but I still miss him.”
More than anything, Mike wanted to scoop her up and onto his lap. Ember’s hand covered Autumn’s on her knee, and they laced their fingers together.
Sisters, always there for each other, sometimes arguing, other times—like now—being so damn supportive it made his eyes burn.
He felt left out, but if it made Ember feel better—
With her other hand she reached out and drew a soft breath when he cradled it between both of his own.
Her hand was so small, so delicate, in direct contrast to her usual balls-to-the-wall attitude and her unique ability to build anything, to stand in the sun all day using heavy power tools and still look good while doing it.
Wearing a small, secret smile, Autumn pulled free and stood. Very softly, she whispered, “I’ll go call Tash, maybe set up my hot date.” She trailed her hand over Ember’s hair, smoothing it, and then patted his shoulder.
Without making a sound, she walked away.
Mike lifted Ember’s hand to his mouth and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “I’m sorry. I had no idea.”
Her smile flickered, mostly with sadness. “Because I’m the party girl, right?”
“Because you deliberately give that impression, yes.”
She didn’t deny it. “Mom has always said I was a party girl, the free spirit like her.”
Cupping a hand to her face, Mike stroked her warm skin. “No one said you had to prove her right.”
She acknowledged that with a smirk. “It became habit, you know? An easy out for me when I didn’t want to follow my parents’ rules. I never exactly felt bad about it, and you’re right, I used it as cover after I lost my baby.” She swallowed heavily, her eyes going liquid before she drew air through her nose. “Then you happened.”
Unsure how to take that, Mike kept quiet.
“You pointed out how I’m sometimes unfair to Autumn.”
God, he felt like an asshole. “You and your sister are closer than anyone I know. She not only loves you, she relies on you.”
Ember nodded. “And I on her.” She moistened her lips. “I rely on her more than you probably realize. Or maybe you do see it, and that’s why you—”
“Forget anything I said. I was a dick.”
That got a laugh. “A little dick, maybe.”
“Ha! Those are two words no man wants to hear together.”
This smile was more genuine. “We can discuss that later. Right now, I decided it’s time I stopped hiding. I mean, I keep pushing Autumn to get out there, to go for what she wants.”
His heart started that heavy tempo again, a rhythm more of hope than anything else. “Yes, you do. But you aren’t wrong. Autumn shouldn’t feel so uncertain with Tash.”
“And I don’t want to feel uncertain with you.”
Yup, his heart tried to punch out of his chest. “Then don’t.”
“The thing is, I think we want different things. You were refreshingly upfront about sex. I want sex, don’t get me wrong.”
Thank God.
“But I want...more. Marriage, a family, kids—” She suddenly took in his expression—which, admittedly, was probably somewhere between shock and incredulity—and she laughed. “Relax, Mike. I’m not proposing.”
Why didn’t that assurance help?
“I’m just saying, I don’t want a one-night stand. I don’t want to have sex just so you can get me out of your system, or whatever it was you said.”
Close enough, damn it.
“I want someone who likes me, who maybe wants to see where a relationship can go.”
Words—they were out there somewhere, but not close enough for him to catch and form into coherent sentences. “Ummm...”
“Right.” She leaned in, lightly touched her mouth to his and said, “This is my cue to mosey on and give you time to think.”
Meaning...sex would not be on the immediate agenda. Disappointment was there, but something else diluted it, something like...interest? Yeah, the idea of a solid relationship with Ember sounded pretty damn sweet. Funny, because he’d soured on relationships. Or had he?
He stood with her, kept her hand enclosed in his when she would have pulled away, and smiled as he started them back toward the house. “How much time are you giving me to stew on this?”
“I said to think, not to stew. How much time do you think you need?”
Two minutes? No, she wouldn’t buy that. “How about this. We start talking, really talking, so that we know each other better. No more secrets, okay?”
“I don’t have any other secrets.”
“Yeah, well, I have a few.” Aha, that got her attention in a big way. “We’ll visit until you’re comfortable. You set the pace.”
“So far I like your plan.”
“Great, but here’s the part you might not like. You spend all your free time with me.” When her eyes narrowed, he explained, “No sex, until you want it. I take it you’re not too shy to speak up?”
“Not shy at all.”
“Terrific. Until then, no other guys.”
“And no other women?”
“You’re into women?” He caught her fist before she could swing it. Laughing a little, he said, “Okay, so you meant me? Sure. No other women.” He hadn’t wanted anyone else, not for a while now. “What do you think?”
“I think I want to know your secret.”
“Secrets, plural. We’ll start with one, okay?” They’d just reached the barn. She would go on to her place in the house, and he’d go around to the stairs that led to his loft. “If you want to hear another, go to dinner with me tomorrow.”
Without asking for details, she said, “Fine. Lay it on me.”
Oh, this was going to be too easy. Leaning in, Mike whispered near her ear, “I’m not the poor farmhand you imagine me to be.”
“Mike,” she began, her voice soft with guilt, “I never meant—”
He lightly bit her earlobe. “I’m fairly set financially, maybe even what you’d call well-to-do.” He teased his tongue over the whorl of her ear before straightening. “Now you can think about why I’ve stayed, and why I like working here so much.” With a final quick kiss, he headed through the barn and out the back door...aware of Ember staring at his back the entire way.
Chapter Twelve
Just shy of a week later, Autumn bustled around the kitchen, Pavlov underfoot, while she put the finishing touches on dinner. Given the relentless heat wave, she’d opted for spaghetti and salad that they’d eat indoors at her little four-seat kitchen table.
Ember, in the way almost as much as the dog, poked a fork into the spaghetti. “I like that you left your hair down.”
Imagining how Ember would have reacted if she’d tied it up, Autumn told her, “I even put on some mascara.” She batted her eyelashes at her to prove it.
Ember grabbed her chest as if in shock. “Tash has worked a miracle.” Dropping her hand, she said, “Now tell me you’re wearing pretty underwear.”
Studiously avoiding eye contact, Autumn said, “Pretty enough.”
“Autumn,” her sister groaned.
“You sound like Tracy.” She felt the need to clarify. “Tracy the cow, not our mother.”
“Either way, it’s an insult.” Ember gave her a long look. “The underwear?”
“What? You know me. I’m into comfort. Nothing sexy or too risqué, but they are pretty, I promise.” Cotton, but so what? She’d bet Tash’s boxers were cotton, too. At least hers had a little lace around the band.
She hoped his didn’t.
“I bought some really sinful stuff for when I give in to Mike. I could go grab them for you.”
Stunned, Autumn halted in the middle of the floor to gawk at Ember. “First, ewww, I’m not wearing your underwear.”
“Hello. I said they’re new.”
“Second, your underwear would not fit me.” Not even close. Where Ember was svelte, Autumn was...well, not. “Now back ’er up a bit. You and Mike?”
“Yeah.” Ember hugged herself, peeked over at Autumn, and admitted, “I’ve spent nearly every night with him.”
“What?” Stirring the sauce one last time, Autumn turned it on low and covered it. This conversation required all her attention. “You didn’t say anything!”
“I know,” Ember said with apology. “It’s just that I’m usually...snotty? About everyone and everything, but I don’t feel that way about this. About him.” She bit her bottom lip, but a grin pulled it free of her teeth. “Things changed after I told him about the baby.”
More than anyone else, Autumn knew that had been a monumental step for Ember. God, she hoped Mike hadn’t blown it. He’d had some misconceptions about Ember, based on what Ember wanted people to think.
After her sis brought up the baby, she’d left them alone to work it out. She hadn’t yet mentioned it because they’d returned to the house so quickly, making her think things had gone south. When it came to that touchy subject, she tried not to pressure Ember, knowing she’d bring it up when she wanted to.
Now, seeing Ember’s smile, Autumn had to reevaluate. “How’d he take it?”
“Oh, Autumn, he’s been wonderful! Very understanding without pitying me. I made it clear I still want kids someday and he didn’t faint. Or run. He didn’t even look surprised.”
“What did he do?”
“He said I’d make an amazing mother.”
Oh, way to go, Mike. “Of course you will.”
“He talked to me about his nephews, too—told me I’d love them as much as he does.”
Wow again. “So you two?”
Ember shook her head. “I figured we should get you and Tash worked out first, right? At least, that seemed like a good excuse at first.”
Putting aside her own excitement over her impending intimacies, Autumn asked softly, “Why did you need an excuse?”
“Mike is different.” With a helpless shrug, Ember added, “I don’t want to mess it up. Jumping in the sack makes it just about that, you know? Sex and only sex. He and I have both been there, done that. I want things with him to be different.”
“I think they already are.” Not that she was an expert. Far from it. But when Mike looked at her sister, he saw more than her amazing body and pretty face, more than her fluff attitude and flirting.
At least, it seemed that way to Autumn. Most of the time, he looked at her as if she was already committed to him. Not in a stalkerish, domineering way, but with...pride. Yes, that was it. He looked at Ember as if he valued her, as if she really mattered.
Ember deserved that in a relationship.
Discounting Autumn’s long silence as she pondered relationships, Ember said, “The way you and Tash have handled things, with this crazy slow burn, is much better.”
“You realize that hasn’t been deliberate, right?” If Tash had been as obviously interested as Mike, and if the timing had worked out with Sadie, she’d have been all about it. That didn’t make Ember wrong, though. It was nice, knowing Tash liked her and enjoyed her company.
Plus it was special, being liked by Sadie. She wouldn’t trade that for anything.
But now she wanted more.
“I can’t believe it took you so long to get this set up.” Straightening a plate on the table, Ember placed it just so. “The suspense has been killing me.”
“Hey, you’re the one who picked the date for the salon.”
“It was the only date they had available.” Ember crossed her arms. “But I could have come up with something else.”
Autumn waved that off. “It was only an additional week.” And patience was a virtue.
Plus, full honesty, she’d been a little nervous about Tash’s reaction. Without reason, as it turned out, because he’d jumped on her dinner offer. Immediately after that, Ember had asked Sadie about the salon.
So far, Tash had no idea he’d been played, but Autumn planned to tell him.
Soon as she got him alone.
It didn’t seem like a good idea to trick him into sex. He’d either be onboard, or—
“Stop it.” Ember gave her a light shove.
Catching herself, Autumn asked, “Stop what?”
“Wondering if he’ll thank you or shy away like a virgin. Trust me, the man will go ape-shit once you make your offer.”
Pretty sure she wouldn’t offer, so much as explain...and then hope for
the best. “Does Mike know what you’re thinking?”
Shrugging, Ember went to stir the spaghetti. “We’ve made out some, so he has to have a good idea.”
“He hasn’t pushed for more?”
“No. Strangely enough, he’s let me lead.” She frowned over that. “Did you know he doesn’t need this job? He’s actually loaded, but he wanted a whole new change of pace, and I guess this was it. We’re the opposite of the corporate world, shiny cars and flashy women.”
Autumn laughed.
“I’m serious. When he describes his old life, that’s what it sounds like.
“We embody the simple life,” Autumn said expansively, “if working sunup to sundown is simple.”
“I want to know why he left his old life, but so far he hasn’t said.” Ember scowled at the noodles. “I bet it’s because of a woman.”
“Did you ask him?”
“I can’t. I shouldn’t have to. I opened up and told him all about the baby, so he should repay me in kind.”
“Ember.” Sometimes her sister’s mind-set seemed counterproductive to all the things she wanted most in life. More and more, Autumn thought that might include love, family and, yes, children of her own...sooner rather than later.
In many ways, Ember still seemed fragile to her. She supposed losing a child could do that to a woman. She’d only lost Chuck and it had been devastating. But a sweet little baby?
Her heart broke for Ember.
She moved closer while she considered what to say...and how to say it.
“Spit it out,” Ember told her. “I can take it.”
Yes, she could. Her sis was stronger than she realized. Smiling with that realization, Autumn forged on. “What you’re suggesting sounds like a game, and I’m not sure that’s the way to start a serious relationship. Mike deserves more than that, and so do you.” Autumn was the last person who should be giving relationship advice, but then again, she was the person closest to Ember. Even better, she had Ember’s own advice to fall back on. “Aren’t you the one who dared me to ask Tash outright if he wanted to have sex? Well, seems to me you could ask Mike outright if he’s heartbroken over another woman. The truth has to be better than whatever you’re imagining.”
