Winning Back His Wife

by Melissa McClone

  “I’ve got the shampoo,” he said. “Stick out your hand when you want some.”

  Once her hair was wet enough, she extended her left arm. The cooler air temperature made her shiver. Goose bumps covered her exposed skin.

  He poured a dollop of shampoo onto her palm. “Is that enough?”

  “Yes.”

  Washing her hair was easier this time. “I’m getting the hang of using one hand.”

  “Just takes time.”

  Time she didn’t have. For the past twenty-four hours, Cullen had occupied the majority of her thoughts. Not Mount Baker. Once she had work to distract her everything would return to normal. She couldn’t wait for that to happen. She rinsed the shampoo from her hair.

  “Need more?” he asked.

  Yes, but not from him. He hadn’t been able to give her what she needed. She couldn’t be the wife he wanted. That was why they were better off apart. Still, the thought made her heart hurt. Not a want-to-throw-herself-a-pity-party aching, but a too-bad-this-couldn’t-have-worked pining. “I’m good.”

  At least when it came to shampoo.

  After she returned to the institute with her marriage and Cullen behind her, everything in her life would be good, too. Given how bad things had been, it sure couldn’t get any worse.

  * * *

  Later that evening, the doorbell rang. Sarah remained on the couch while Cullen answered the door. Her babysitter for the night, Leanne Thomas, must have arrived.

  Sarah was looking forward to Cullen going to work. A physical separation from him would be a relief, even though she’d spent most of her day in bed while he caught up on things around the cabin. But she’d been thinking about him constantly. On her mind was the last place he belonged. Well, actually her heart was the last place, but that wasn’t going to happen again.

  A pretty woman with long, shiny brown hair, an easy smile and wearing a huge diamond engagement ring carried in a platter of mini red velvet cupcakes. She placed the dessert on the kitchen table, then removed a green tote bag from her shoulder. “Hi, I’m Leanne.”

  “I’m Sarah.” Cullen had called the by-the-book paramedic and mountain-rescue volunteer tough as nails, but Sarah didn’t get that impression at all. “Nice to meet you.”

  “The pleasure is mine.” Leanne glanced at Cullen, who was sticking a water bottle into his backpack. “Hope I’m not late.”

  “Right on time.” He swung a backpack strap over his right shoulder. “Thanks for taking the overnight shift. I left a list of instructions on the breakfast bar. Sarah’s meds are on the kitchen counter. She should rest as much as possible. Short walks are okay, but not outside.”

  “Bummer. I thought I could take her on a midnight stroll around Mirror Lake,” Leanne teased.

  His gaze hardened. “You’re kidding.”

  Sarah shook her head. He needed to lighten up and not take things so seriously.

  Leanne’s mouth quirked. “Give me a little credit.”

  “Just making sure,” he said. “Call me if you have any questions.”

  What? Sarah bit her lower lip. He hadn’t wanted her to call him at work no matter what was going on. If she did contact him, he never got back to her. Most of the times she’d tried calling had been because she missed him and wanted to hear his voice.

  “I’m sure Sarah will be able to answer any questions I might have,” Leanne said.

  “Definitely.” Sarah liked how direct Leanne was. “I don’t know what instructions Cullen left, but my doctor’s orders are to take my medication. Sleep. Rest. Sleep some more. Rest some more.”

  Leanne frowned. “Sounds boring.”

  “It is,” Sarah agreed. “I fear I’m turning into a couch potato.”

  Cullen’s lip curled. “Resting is important if you want to recover.”

  “True, but you can still do stuff while you take it easy,” Leanne said. “I’ll have to see what I can come up with.”

  “Thomas,” Cullen said, his voice containing a clear warning.

  “Relax,” Leanne countered in a stern voice that made Sarah bite back a giggle. “Sarah will be fine. Get going before we throw you out.”

  He raised his hands in mock surrender. “I’m going.”

  As soon as the door closed, Leanne sat on the couch. “I’m sorry about your fall.”

  “Thanks. I was at the wrong place, wrong time.”

  “Well, you’re in the right place now. Hood Hamlet will be good for you. It won’t be long until you’re exploring Main Street.”

  “I can’t wait.”

  Colorful prisms of light reflected off Leanne’s diamond ring and danced around the living room. She stared lovingly at her ring.

  “Congrats on your engagement,” Sarah said.

  Leanne beamed. “Thanks. I still can’t believe I’m getting married.”

  “Have you set a wedding date?”

  She nodded. “The Saturday before Christmas. We hadn’t been together long when my fiancé, Christian, proposed on Christmas Day so we thought a year engagement sounded good.”

  Very good. A year was long enough to get know someone, but not so long you would feel you’d wasted a lot of time if it didn’t work out. “Cullen said you’re a member of OMSAR. Does Christian belong, too?”

  “No. He climbs and thought about joining, but he thinks I need something of my own, since we work together.”

  “Smart guy.”

  A dreamy expression filled Leanne’s brown eyes. “Very smart and smokin’ hot. Ever since we got together I feel like I won the lottery.”

  “I know that feeling.”

  “With Doc?”

  Cullen had treated her with such respect from the moment they met. No other man in her life had ever done that. The cascade of memories made it hard to breathe. How had it gone so wrong? She nodded.

  “How did you meet?” Leanne asked.

  “I was attending the Red Rocks Rendezvous. We both lived in Seattle at the time and a mutual climbing acquaintance introduced us. A few hours later we ended up in the same self-rescue clinic.”

  “Sounds like fate.”

  “Only if fate has a really bad sense of humor.”

  Leanne’s brow wrinkled. “Doc mentioned you’re getting a divorce.”

  Sarah ignored the pang in her heart. “Yes.”

  “I’ve gotten to know Doc pretty well the past few months,” Leanne said. “At first I thought he took himself way too seriously and had a stick up his butt. But he’s a good guy.”

  “Cullen is a great guy. Not many men would bring their future ex-wives home to care for them.”

  “This is none of my business, but I’m still going to ask.” Warmth and concern sounded in Leanne’s voice. “Is there a possibility the two of you will reconcile?

  Sarah’s heart thudded. Her biggest fear was allowing him to get close to her again. “No chance. We eloped in Las Vegas two days after we met. It was impulsive and romantic. The first few months were like living in paradise. But we shouldn’t have jumped into marriage without getting to know each other better.”

  Oh, no. She touched her mouth. She’d said way too much.

  Compassion filled Leanne’s eyes. “Love knows no logic.”

  Neither does lust. Sarah kept telling herself what she’d felt for Cullen was lust not love. She’d been too afraid to let him fully inside her heart, afraid he would leave her like everyone else in her life had. But what they’d shared had been nice—at times, wonderful—while it lasted. She only wished it could have lasted a little while longer.

  Like forever.

  * * *

  The next morning Cullen unlocked the cabin’s front door. He yawned wide enough for a hummingbird to fit inside. His restless nights had caught up with him. He had one thought
on his brain—sleep. He’d considered pulling off the road and taking a catnap, but he didn’t want to keep Leanne. He also wanted to see how Sarah was doing. He’d pulled out his cell phone more than once during his shift, but he hadn’t wanted to wake them.

  He stepped into the cabin. The scent of freshly brewed coffee and something baking made his mouth water. He wasn’t used to coming home to such pleasant smells. Caffeine would mess with his sleep, but his stomach growled for whatever was cooking.

  Feminine laughter filled the air—something Cullen had missed hearing. Sarah’s laugh seeped into him, filling up all the empty places inside with soothing warmth. He might have a great place to live in a wonderful town with a supportive community, but something was missing from his life—a woman.

  After the divorce things will be better.

  His mantra didn’t make him feel quite as good as it had a couple of weeks ago.

  In the living room he saw the backs of Sarah’s and Leanne’s heads. They sat on the couch.

  “Good morning, ladies,” he said.

  Leanne turned and greeted him with a wide smile. “Hey, Doc. Just in time. The muffins will be ready in a few minutes.”

  Sarah looked at him. No smile. No excitement in her eyes. Nothing.

  He would have appreciated some reaction from her. Maybe she was tired. Or hurting. But he hoped not.

  “Busy shift?” Sarah asked.

  Cardiac arrests, fractures, appendicitis, a gunshot victim and two car accidents. Not to mention earaches, asthma attacks, fevers and cuts. “Typical.”

  “That’ll change next week,” Leanne said. “Full moon.”

  “Thanks for the warning.” He noticed the two were looking at a magazine. “How did things go?”

  “Fine,” Sarah said. “I went to bed a half hour after Leanne arrived and woke up an hour ago.”

  “Easiest gig I’ve ever had. Sarah is the perfect patient.” Leanne held up a thick bridal magazine full of glossy photographs. “She also has great wedding-planning advice.”

  “Wedding planning, huh?” That surprised Cullen. “I suppose Sarah knows all about being married by an Elvis impersonator.”

  Leanne’s mouth formed a perfect O. She looked at Sarah. “You didn’t tell me that.”

  She shrugged. “I figured getting married in Vegas implied an Elvis impersonator.”

  “He had that jiggling-leg thing going on.” Cullen demonstrated. “‘Darlin’, do you take this man...’”

  Leanne laughed. “Where is my cell phone? No one will believe this. You sound like Elvis.”

  Sarah nodded. “We bought a wedding package that included a video of the ceremony. Each time I watch it, I’m amazed how well Cullen has nailed the voice.”

  His heart kicked in his chest. “You still watch the video?”

  Sarah’s gaze flew to the magazine. “I used to. It’s packed away in a box somewhere.”

  Cullen hadn’t expected she’d kept the video. He was sure she’d destroyed all evidence of their wedding. He wouldn’t have been surprised if she’d gone so far as to toss her wedding ring into the garbage. He’d thought about getting rid of his, but he’d decided to wait for the divorce to be finalized.

  The oven timer buzzed.

  Leanne stood, walked to the kitchen and removed a muffin tin from the oven. “I hope you like blueberry.”

  A tight smiled formed on Sarah’s lips. “I love them. So does Cullen.”

  He remembered lazy mornings when he wasn’t working. Sleeping in, having sex, taking long showers together, going to the corner coffee shop to pick up coffee and muffins.

  Leanne put the muffins on a dinner plate and carried them to the living room with salad plates, napkins, a butter knife and butter.

  “If you don’t mind, I’m going to take off.” She placed everything on the coffee table. “Christian is finished with his shift. We only have one day off the same since the chief put us on different squads.”

  “Go have fun,” Sarah said. “Thanks for staying with me and making muffins.”

  “Happy to help out. I’ll be back when it’s my turn.” Leanne grabbed her tote bag. “Be sure to go through the magazine and see what else you come up with.”

  “Will do,” Sarah said.

  “I’ll walk you out,” Cullen said.

  Leanne fell in step next to him. “Ever the gentleman.”

  He opened the door and followed her outside.

  “I’d been wondering why you haven’t been dating,” Leanne said.

  “I figured it would be better to wait until the divorce was official.”

  “When will that be?” she asked.

  “My attorney knows Sarah is staying with me. He thinks everything can be settled shortly.”

  “Sarah’s great.” Leanne pursed her lips. “You’re sure a divorce is what you want?”

  “Positive. Sarah wants one, too, so don’t get any ideas. Half the town has tried setting me up on blind dates. I don’t need them interfering in my estranged marriage.”

  Leanne held up her hands. “Just asking. And since Sarah’s staying with you, you’re not quite as estranged as you were.”

  “Thomas.”

  A knowing grin lit up her face. “What?”

  Cullen let it go. He knew she was only trying to help. “Thanks for staying with Sarah.”

  “You’re welcome,” she said. “See you soon.”

  He went back inside to find Sarah looking at the bridal magazine. The muffins sat untouched. “Aren’t you going to eat?”

  She closed the magazine. “I was waiting for you.”

  That was polite. He sat next to her. “Do you want me to butter yours?”

  “Thanks, but I’ve got it.” Sarah placed a muffin on a plate. She awkwardly sliced the top then added a pat of butter. “These smell so good.”

  Cullen took one. “Leanne’s got a thing for muffins and chocolate.”

  Sarah rested her plate on her lap. “She’s nice. I like her.”

  “I thought you might,” he said. “Leanne reminds me of you.”

  “I’m nothing like her.”

  “You both work in male-dominated environments. You’re competent and intelligent. You ski and climb.”

  “Okay, I see the commonality.” Sarah bit into the muffin. “But I wish I cooked as well as she does.”

  “Yeah, that would be nice.”

  She swatted his arm. “I’m not that bad.”

  “I’m joking. You’re a good cook.” He noticed the bridal magazine on her lap. “I’m curious how you know so much about wedding planning, when we eloped.”

  She wiped her mouth with a napkin. “I told you I was engaged.”

  “I assumed it was a short engagement.”

  “Two and a half years.”

  He drew back. “That’s a long time.”

  “Longer when you add in the years we dated.”

  “When was this?”

  “Four years before I met you.”

  He did a quick calculation. “You must have been really young when you met him.”

  “Too young. And stupid,” she admitted. “But I thought I knew better.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked.

  “You and I got married two days after we met. I figured it didn’t matter.”

  He set his half-eaten muffin on his plate. “What happened?”

  She stared at the magazine. “Dylan entered my life at a time I felt very alone. I thought I was so lucky he wanted to be with me. There were some red flags, but I charged ahead with wedding plans. That morning...”

  Cullen leaned toward her, feeling as if a cornice of snow had collapsed on top of him. “The morning of your wedding day?”

  She nodded. “I w
as in a small room at the back of the church. I’d worked two jobs to buy my wedding gown and pay for the reception. I was fixing my veil when Dylan entered. He said he’d been up all night thinking about things, about us, and had come to a conclusion. He couldn’t marry me. The wedding was off.”

  Anger surged at how badly Sarah must have been hurt. Cullen balled his hands. “What a loser.”

  She shrugged. “He said I wasn’t anything special. I would have held him back. I don’t blame him for not wanting to marry me.”

  “Don’t say that. The guy had some serious issues if he thought any of those things about you.”

  “Yeah, issues with me.” If Sarah was trying to sound lighthearted, she hadn’t succeeded and that bothered Cullen even more. “But I got over him. Moved on. Met you.”

  The conversation they’d had outside the wedding chapel in Las Vegas rushed back.

  Why don’t we go inside and make things official? If we elope, you won’t forget about me when we get back to Seattle or leave me standing at the altar after we’ve dated for years and I’ve planned a spectacular wedding for us.

  Cullen remembered his reply.

  I would never leave you like that.

  Guilt lodged in his throat. He had left her. The minute she mentioned divorce he’d hightailed it out of the apartment. Had mentioning divorce been a test? To see how committed he was? Part of him wanted to be angry if she’d been testing without his knowing it, yet...even if she hadn’t been doing that, he’d failed. He’d run the second he had a chance. No wonder she’d freaked out on him whenever he tried to contact her about the divorce. “I’m sorry.”

  “No apologies needed. Getting jilted happened way before you.”

  “I know, but I left you, too. If I’d known...”

  “Would it have changed anything?” she asked.

  He thought long and hard. Things hadn’t been going well between them. She’d been pulling away from him. He hadn’t like how out of control he felt around her. “Probably not.”

  Sarah’s lip quivered. “I appreciate your honesty.”

  “I appreciate your telling me about this.”

  A marble statue had a warmer smile than hers. “Better late than never.”