by Noelle Adams
“Not always. You didn’t let me down this year.” Carter’s voice cracked just slightly. He was always more controlled than his brother. “You did everything I needed you to do, even though you believed it was wrong. Summer said she loves the man you are now. That she trusts the man you are now. And it made me... it made me realize I should do the same thing.”
“You shouldn’t do anything of the kind.” Lincoln was speaking in no more than a rasp now. “You should hate me. Forever. I’m the sinner, remember? I don’t deserve your forgiveness.”
“Maybe not.” There was a slight pause. “But you’re getting it anyway.”
“Carter—”
“Stop arguing. You’ve messed up. You’ve hurt people you didn’t want to hurt. Just like all the rest of us. Just like I messed up only a few weeks ago. You didn’t hold that against me. You came to get me. So I’m coming to get you right now. You’ve made mistakes. It doesn’t mean you can’t be loved. I love you. Summer loves you.” For the first time, his voice broke for real.
“You can’t—”
“I can do anything I want to do. I love Summer, and I want her to be happy. And I want the same thing for you. She loves you. You’re the one who makes her happy, who lets her be the person she really wants to be. I was holding on to my resentment, so I didn’t want to see it before. But I see it now. So if you love me, if you want to do something to make up for the past, then love her. Love her. And don’t ever let her down.”
“But... wait!” Lincoln sounded almost desperate.
Carter was suddenly in the doorway between the rooms. He didn’t look over at her bed as he strode to the door and disappeared into the hallway.
Lincoln tried to follow him but stopped when Carter closed the door behind him. Then he stood in the middle of Summer’s bedroom, facing the door his brother had just shut. He ducked his head. His shoulders shook slightly.
Summer made a whimpering sound and rolled out of bed, stumbling over toward him.
He didn’t turn toward her, so she wrapped her arms around him from behind.
He shook even more. He felt broken in her arms. It took a couple of minutes before he pulled himself together.
“I’m okay,” he mumbled, turning around. “I’m okay. You shouldn’t be out of bed. You shouldn’t have heard that.”
“Then you shouldn’t have had the conversation with the door open.” She hugged him from the front, relieved when he wrapped his arms around her for a few seconds. “He’s a really great brother.”
“Yeah.” Lincoln cleared his throat and straightened up, rubbing his face with both hands. “Yeah, he is. How are you feeling?”
“I’m okay. Weak and pitiful and achy, but not so feverish.”
“Well, let’s get you back to bed.” He turned her around, one arm around her.
She fought the grip. “Actually, I need to go to the bathroom and then I might take a shower, if you don’t mind helping.”
“Of course I’ll help.”
They went into the bathroom together. While Lincoln turned on the water, Summer stripped off her panties and gown.
Lincoln blinked in surprise when he turned around to find her naked. She saw his eyes run up and down her body greedily before he jerked his gaze away.
Ridiculously, she almost giggled at how hard he was trying not to leer at her.
“You can get in the shower too,” she said, stepping over and putting a hand over his heart.
“Summer—”
“I might need help in there. I’m still really weak.”
“You’re sick. You’re not thinking clearly. I can’t—”
“You can get into the shower with me, Lincoln. Nothing is going to happen. I guarantee I don’t feel up to sex right now. But I need you. I need you.”
That seemed to reach him. He nodded and helped her into the large, tiled shower. Then he shucked his clothes and got in too.
She let the warm water spray over her, streaming down her hair and skin. Then she pulled Lincoln into a tight hug.
He wrapped his arms around her. He held her as the water cascaded around both of them. She shook with emotion and relief and weakness and hope.
Hope.
He was holding her so tightly. She could feel the emotion wrack him.
Something had changed. She knew it. He wasn’t holding back like he had before.
He needed her just as much as she needed him, and she wasn’t going to let his stubbornness get in the way of what they could have.
Carter had done it. He’d changed things. He was the best friend she’d ever had in the world.
But Lincoln was the man she loved, and she was going to love him forever.
SUMMER WAS SICK FOR three more days. Her fever never got as bad as it had on the first two days, and she was finally able to keep a little food down, but her temperature kept going up and down every hour or two, paired with a sore throat, headache, and body aches.
It felt like she’d been sick forever. Like she was missing out on life. Including very important things like finalizing the Wilson Hotels acquisition.
On the day the final contract was signed, Summer felt well enough to go downstairs. She didn’t have the energy to get dressed and leave the house. The illness had completely wiped her out. But she took a shower. Put on a clean T-shirt and yoga pants. And went downstairs at about five thirty.
She had enough energy to chat for a little while with Mrs. Wilson before the older woman left to have dinner with some friends. Then, hungrier than she’d been in days, Summer puttered in the kitchen, looking for something she felt like eating.
Carter found her there, leaning over to look in a drawer of the refrigerator.
“You’re up.”
She straightened up and whirled around, smiling at the sound of his voice. “Finally.”
“Are you feeling better?”
“I am. Not great still, but way better. Thanks for all your help.”
He shrugged. “It was no problem.” He was dressed in one of his regular business suits, and he looked handsome and professional. And also utterly exhausted. His tie was slightly loosened, and he took off his suit coat while she watched. “You looking for something to eat? There’s some homemade soup in there.”
“I know. But all I’ve had all week is soup. I’m looking for something a little more substantial.”
“Ah.” He gave her a familiar smile and came over to stand in front of the refrigerator beside her. “Somewhere in here there’s half a leftover chicken potpie that Mom brought home yesterday. All we’d have to do is warm it up.”
Summer perked up. “That sounds perfect. It hasn’t been eaten, has it?”
“It’s got to be here. No one’s been around who would have eaten it.” He dug out a covered container from behind some fresh produce. “Here it is.”
“Yum. Will you eat with me?”
“Yeah. I’m hungry too.”
They heated the potpie up and poured ginger ale over ice in their glasses. Then they sat at the kitchen table to eat.
Summer was almost happy as she took her first bite. Then she reached over to put a hand on Carter’s arm. “How did things go today? No problems?”
“No problems. Lincoln came through. It’s all done.”
“I’m so glad.” She hesitated before she added, “I guess he has to work this evening.”
“Yeah. He went over early to the bar to do something. Open up for a delivery or something. But everything’s good. It’s all over.”
She nodded as she took another bite. That meant the reason for her marriage to Lincoln had also ended. They could get divorced now with no harm to the acquisition.
She hoped he didn’t want to, but he hadn’t said anything yet.
“Have you decided on your plans to redo the new properties?” she asked.
“Yeah. I think so. We’re going to split the difference between my timeline and Lincoln’s.”
Her eyes widened. “Really.”
Carter’s exp
ression wasn’t guarded. He looked natural. Slightly sheepish. “Yeah. I don’t think we need to move as slow as he wanted to move, but he was right about being a little more careful. I didn’t want to hear it from him because... well, because I didn’t want to hear anything from him. But he wasn’t wrong. I don’t want to blow through your investment and have it come to nothing. I want this whole thing to be worth it to you.”
She’d been eating, since the potpie was good, but at that she put down her fork and reached over to cover Carter’s hand on the table. “It’s worth it. It’s already worth it to me, even if Lincoln never... It’s worth it.”
“Thank you. But I want to make money for you, if we can. Or at least give the money you gave us back. So I’m not going to rush. Part of me still feels kind of... desperate.” He looked down at his half-eaten plate of food. “Wanting to prove stuff to Dad even though he’s dead.”
“I know.”
He finally met her eyes. “But I’m trying to work through that and make good business decisions. I think we’ve got a good plan. I think we can save the brand and the company. We’re going to try our best.”
“Lincoln’s still planning to give you the company, isn’t he?”
“Yeah. He said he’d still like to be involved, if I’ll let him—which of course I will—but he knows he’s not equipped to run the whole thing. Honestly, I’m not sure I’m equipped either.”
“You are. I know you are, Carter. You’re going to do great.”
“I hope so. I’ll try my best.” He let out a long breath and then smiled at her. “I’ve missed you.”
Her smile in response was a little wobbly. “I’ve missed you too. I’m so glad to have you back.”
“I was afraid for a while that I’d lost you.”
“Well, you didn’t. You’re not going to. You’re keeping me, and you’re also getting your brother back. So hopefully that’s... that’s...”
“I’m not sure I’d ever have gotten my brother back without you,” he said quietly, soberly. “So thank you for that. Has...” Carter cleared his throat. “Has Lincoln said anything to you yet?”
She shook her head. “Not yet. But I think... I think he will. What you said to him made a real difference. I know how hard that must have been for you to do. I can never thank you enough.”
“You don’t have to. I should have done it ages ago. The situation I’m in is entirely my fault—for being blind about you for so long. It’s not Lincoln’s fault. And it’s definitely not your fault.”
He was trying to be casual, but his features looked too tight. Just slightly pained. It made Summer’s heart twist. “Are you okay, Carter?”
“I don’t know. But I’m making it. And I’ll be okay eventually.”
A single tear streamed out of her eye as she reached over to squeeze his hand again. “You’ll be better than okay. You’re going to find someone who blows the roof off your world in a way I’ve never done. And she’s going to love you more than anything because everything about you deserves to be loved. You’re going to be so happy, Carter. I know you will.”
His mouth twisted briefly into almost a smile. “Maybe,” he rasped.
“No maybe. I know it for sure. Because if anyone should be loved like that, it’s you.”
THAT EVENING, SUMMER was determined to talk to Lincoln. If he’d changed his mind about their relationship, she wanted to know right now. And if he wasn’t going to change his mind, then she needed to know that too.
So she took a long bath and rubbed on scented lotion and dressed in the pretty black chemise that Lincoln had teased her about on the day she moved in. Then she climbed into Lincoln’s bed, found a show to watch on television, and she tried to stay awake until Lincoln returned from work.
She really tried.
Didn’t succeed, however.
She made it until midnight—she knew because she looked at the clock and mentally patted herself on the back for staying awake so long—but sometime after that she drifted off. The next thing she knew was Lincoln climbing into the bed beside her.
“Lincoln,” she mumbled as she became aware of his scent surrounding her and the feel of the mattress shifting with his weight. “You’re finally here.”
“What are you doing here, baby?” He didn’t sound annoyed or particularly surprised. He sounded slightly amused and very tender.
“Waiting for you. I tried to stay awake.” She scooted over until she was pressed against his side. He was wearing his pajama pants, and he smelled like he’d just taken a shower.
He chuckled as he wrapped an arm around her. “Well, you didn’t do a very good job.”
“Well, it’s late, and I was tired.”
“I know you are.” He pressed a few kisses against her hair. “You’ve been sick. You should be sleeping in your own bed and getting better.”
“I’m better. Just tired. And it took you forever to get here.”
The pause that followed was a little longer than it should have been. “I know it did. I know it did. But I’m here now.”
The rasp in his voice went straight to her heart. She blinked to clear her vision and lifted her head so she could see his face.
The television was still running, and it lit his face enough for her to see his expression. He was gazing at her with his heart in his eyes.
She made a silly little whimper as hope leaped from her chest to her throat. “Lincoln?”
“I love you, baby. I love you so much.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” He lifted a hand to stroke her hair back from her face very gently, as if she might break. “You knew that already, didn’t you?”
“Yeah. Yeah, I knew.”
“Didn’t do a good job hiding my feelings, did I?”
“No. You’re not very good at that.”
“I know I’m not. I’m surprised it wasn’t painfully obvious the day of the funeral how completely gone I am on you. Did you know it then?”
“No. I didn’t. I thought you were just being mean. But I put a few things together afterward. You were too... you were too angry about my feelings for Carter.”
“I feel like maybe I’ve loved you forever. Like I’ve been waiting all this time, watching you, wanting to see you...”
When he hesitated, Summer slanted him a teasing look. “If you dare to say something maudlin like bloom...”
He laughed out loud and pulled her into a soft hug until she was cuddled halfway on top of him. “Not bloom. But maybe... come alive. Show the rest of the world who you’ve always been, who I’ve always known you to be. I feel like I’ve always been watching and wanting you, even when I was too clueless to know what these feelings meant.”
She kissed his chest since it was the closest part of his body to her lips. “Maybe I was waiting for you,” she whispered, too emotional to speak in her normal voice.
His arms tightened. “Maybe so. I know I don’t deserve you. And part of me is still terrified that one day you’ll wake up and... come to your senses... decide the feelings for Carter have come back now that he wants you in the same way.”
“Lincoln, stop it!” She straightened enough to give him a sharp glare. “I don’t ever want to hear anything like that again. I love Carter. I always will. I’m in love with you.”
He pulled her face toward him so he could kiss her lips softly. “I guess I’m still a sinner because I’m not noble enough to keep saying no, when you’re everything I’ve always wanted.”
She kissed him back before she dissolved into blissful giggles. “Good. That’s exactly how it should be. You need to stay a sinner all your life if it means you’ll let me love you, because I’m never going to stop.”
“Me either,” he murmured thickly, rolling her onto her back and moving over so he could kiss her more fully. “This is it for me. You get that, right?”
“Yeah. I get it.”
“So...” He pulled out of the kiss so he could meet her gaze. “So what do you think about not getting divor
ced like we planned? Do you think you might want to stay married to me for a while?”
She tried to smile and respond in a clear, articulate way, but her response was another helpless giggle.
He arched his eyebrows. “Was that a yes?”
“Yes, that was a yes. You need to get better at interpreting the sounds I make, even when they don’t form traditional words.”
“Is that right?”
“Yes, that’s right. Sometimes I’m communicating without words, and you need to understand what I’m telling you.”
His hands started moving under her chemise, stroking her belly and sliding up to her breasts. She made a little yelp of surprise when he tweaked her nipple.
His voice was deliciously teasing as he mouthed her neck and murmured, “So just so I get some practice. That little sound meant Oh fuck, Lincoln, you make me feel good. Please, please do it again. I’m begging you. Didn’t it?”
Her body was definitely starting to respond to his touches, but she couldn’t give in too easily. So she sniffed and said coolly, “Something like that, but without the unnecessary stroking of your ego.”
His chuckle wafted against the sensitive skin at the crook of her neck. He gave her a little nip that made her arch and gasp and then fondled both her breasts until she was moaning helplessly. “And that particular sound means No one in the world touches me like you do. No one makes me feel as good as you do. Never, ever stop. Am I right?”
“Well...” She was shifting restlessly as arousal tightened inside her. He was still kissing and caressing her even as he teased her. “That was quite a bit more inflated than I’d ever say out loud, but you’re not wrong in theory. Better keep practicing.”
He pulled her chemise off over her head and gazed down hotly at her naked body. “Oh fuck, baby. I love you so much. But I’ll never deserve you.”
She reached up and took his face in both her hands. “It doesn’t matter. That’s not what this is about. I love you too. I love you, Lincoln. That’s what this is about.”
He kissed her deeply and kept kissing her as his hands moved over her body. It wasn’t long before she was wet and urgent with desire, and he was tense above her. She squeezed her hands down until she could reach his erection. She stroked him through the fabric of his pants until he broke the kiss and groaned.