by Lori Foster
Perfection—especially since she stayed busy with her own explorations. He loved her boldness, including the way she carried his hand down her body.
Such a thrill. But after waiting for two excruciating years to get to this point, he didn’t mind at all. She could rush the beginning as much as she wanted.
As long as she didn’t rush to the end.
* * *
A long time later, once her heartbeat slowed, Ember dragged a fingertip over Mike’s broad chest, swirled it around one flat brown nipple, then opened her palm to coast over his chest hair.
How could one man be so much man? Never, not in a million years, could she see him in a salon doing anything, much less being manicured. And in a fancy suit?
Okay, so he’d probably look very fine.
Not as fine as he looked right now, though.
His ex—what a dummy. Ember could almost pity her—the hell she would. That lady’s loss was her gain.
Mike’s hand covered hers, flattening it to his heart, where she felt the heavy, steady beat.
She looked up to his eyes but found them closed. “To be fair, I think I need to warn you.”
“Mmm,” he mumbled, still a little dead to the world after his stellar performance.
She smiled from the inside out. “Yes, I’m multidimensional, not just the party girl that my mother has accused me of being.”
“Already knew that...and I adore every dimension.”
“We-e-e-ell...” She dragged that out, wondering how he would react. “I am not the patient one. That much is true. Unlike Autumn, I go after what I want with all I have.”
“You want me.” Eyes still closed, he smiled. “Done and done.”
Now or never. “I also want marriage,” she blurted before she could chicken out, and then, going for gold, she added, “And a family.” She wanted kids so badly. Before now, the desire to hold a baby of her own was a vague idea, one without a specific child in mind. It was a sharp feeling, an emotional need.
Now, with Mike, she knew she wanted their child, one with his smile and her stubbornness.
He deserved to know what he was getting into. If he didn’t want forever, if he couldn’t see them as a committed couple, she needed to know now...before she fell even harder.
One of his eyes opened.
Ember swallowed, feigned nonchalance and clarified, “Sooner, rather than later.”
Turning suddenly, Mike pinned her beneath him again. Man, he went from worn-out to domineering in a blink.
She liked it.
His enigmatic gaze bored into hers. “Is that a proposal?”
How could he ask that without a single hint of emotion? Such a poker face! He didn’t look surprised or interested, not wary or hopeful. Well, screw it. She stared right back and stated, “Yes.”
His gaze warmed, mellowed. With his mouth curving in a small smile, he gave a single sharp nod. “Yes.”
“Yes?” she asked, more than a little confused.
His mouth twitched. “You proposed, and I said yes. I’d love to marry you.”
But...it couldn’t possibly be that easy. She’d gotten so used to holding men at a safe distance, that she’d expected him to do the same with her. Emotion welled up, making her voice tremble. “Because you love me?”
His gaze softened even more and his smile took on new meaning. “More than I knew was possible.”
Her heart pounded in her chest. Challenging him, more by rote than anything else, she whispered, “And kids?”
Smiling now with amusement, he asked, “Can you wait until we actually tie the knot and figure out living arrangements?”
She blinked...oh, maybe ten times. Then she swallowed as a lump of emotion choked off her air. “Just like that?”
His rough thumb stroked over her cheek. “I’m many things, Ember. Too pushy, too opinionated. Old-fashioned and sometimes crude. A little too focused on sex?”
“No.”
He smiled again. “But I’m not a dummy. I quickly figured out that you meant more to me than just sex, stupendous as the sex is.”
“It really is.”
“Thank you. We’re good together.” He stared into her eyes, maybe into her soul, showing her everything he felt...and thrilling her in the process. “I’ve spent enough long nights alone thinking of you to know I’d rather spend those nights with you.”
Be still, my heart. “Can we start tonight?”
One brow shot up. “Making a baby?”
She nearly choked. “No, your plan for that is a good one. I meant spending the night together.”
Nuzzling into her neck, he whispered, “I was hoping you’d stay. Tonight, tomorrow. From now on.”
Huh. Well that plan suited her just fine.
* * *
Autumn had just gotten down the coffee can when the connecting door opened and a half-dressed Ember surged in, carrying two full cups, Pavlov at her side.
“Oh, thank God.” Autumn reached for one.
Ember pulled them out of reach. “How do you know they aren’t both mine?”
“Because you enjoy living?”
Grinning, Ember gave up one steaming cup and Autumn sipped. Heaven. “Oh, I needed that.”
“Same.” Appearing more asleep than awake, Ember slumped into a seat at the table.
Autumn dragged herself over to fill the dog’s dish before joining her. “Pavlov spent the night with you?”
“When I was busy rocking Mike’s world? No way. He stayed with Mom and Dad.” Ember propped her head on a fist. “Mom caught me sneaking out of the loft this morning.”
“Sneaking?” Picturing that, Autumn grinned.
“Since I wore him out, I figured Mike should sleep in a little.”
More awake by the moment, Autumn grabbed a pack of cookies from the cabinet and took the seat across from her sis.
Ember grabbed two cookies. “Now Mom is full of questions—well, mostly praise for me, because I did the expected by seducing Mike.”
Autumn nearly choked on her coffee. “Why do I think you’re tilting the facts?”
Shrugging, Ember continued. “For you, she has questions galore.”
Uh-oh. “Me? But why? She doesn’t even know about Tash.”
“Actually she does...because I told her.”
The cookie fell from her hand. “Ember!”
“I needed to deflect her, all right? You weren’t there, face-to-face, squirming like a teenager, so I figured you’d have time to plan a strategy.”
Her strategy would be avoidance for at least twenty-four hours! If she wasn’t too tired to move, she’d throw Ember out. “So...how’d Mom take it?”
Wincing, Ember said, “She’s skeptical.”
“Skeptical?”
“You know how Mom insists on thinking you’re too responsible—”
“Aka, dull?”
“—to get laid.”
Well, hell. The implied insult flattened Autumn. Was she such a hopeless cause with her big bones and responsible manner that her own mother couldn’t picture her as a woman?
Enough already. More than enough.
Leaning over the table, pointing at Ember with her cookie, Autumn said, “I’ll have you know I was thoroughly laid!” She punctuated with the cookie. “Completely laid.” Cookie in the air. “Utterly and demonstrably laid.”
Mike poked his head through the connecting door. “Um, I probably shouldn’t have heard that.” He stood there with his hair mussed, stubble on his face, shirtless, barefoot and his jeans unsnapped.
Obtuse to her distress, Ember turned with a happy smile. “Mike! You’re awake.”
“You snuck out on me,” he replied, striding in to put a warm, firm kiss to her lips. “Your front door was unlocked, so I came looking for you, then heard voices in here.”
>
“I wanted to let you sleep.”
“Would’ve worked...if you’d stayed with me.”
Gah! The new, recently liberated Autumn spoke up, saying, “Who needs cookies?” She tossed hers aside. “This is all so sugary sweet I’m getting a stomachache.”
Pavlov gave Mike a quick greeting and then, true to his name, went through the open door into Ember’s section of the house.
Mike laughed. “Sorry, Autumn. But so you know, glad to hear the thoroughly, utterly, et cetera part. You deserved it.”
She hid her suddenly burning face. “Seriously guys, it’s way too early for this.”
“You’re just jealous,” Ember accused, “because my hunk is close at hand and yours isn’t.”
“Eh, possibly.” How nice would it be to wake with Tash? Then again, she didn’t wake up looking like Ember. Her sister, dressed in the same clothes she’d worn yesterday and with her hair in a high, sloppy ponytail, looked adorable.
Autumn resembled someone who’d been unearthed from the bottom of the laundry pile. After several weeks existing there.
What would Tash think of her morning face?
Yeah, maybe it was a good thing he wasn’t here. She needed to fully reel him in first, make him love her enough that he’d overlook her less-than-appealing just-awakened mien and grumpy precoffee disposition.
Because it wasn’t about to change. For her entire adult life, she’d been the same.
“Got any more of that?” Mike asked, nodding at Ember’s almost-empty cup.
“In my kitchen.” She waved a lazy hand. “Bring back the pot, will you?”
“Sure thing.” Since he’d been in both sides of the house multiple times, Mike knew his way around.
Once he left, Ember leaned forward. “Quick, before he returns. It was good?”
Ah, a subject to brighten her mood. Autumn sighed. “Better than I knew was possible.”
“Well, duh. I mean... Chuck? Blech.” With a roll of her eyes, Ember quipped, “Tash was bound to be an improvement.”
“Tash was amazing. Beyond amazing. It couldn’t have been more perfect.” Unless they’d had more time. Honestly, she didn’t have the words to describe the pleasure. “How about you and Mike?”
“Same.”
They shared wide grins.
Sighing, Ember sat back again. “That crack about Mike being close? It is nice, no doubt about it. But you’ve got something that makes me jealous, too.”
Not believing that for a second, Autumn said, “Uh-huh.”
“Sadie? Oh, my gawd, Autumn, that little girl is personality personified. I lost track of how many times she charmed me yesterday. She kept me smiling, tugged at my heart, and then with the kittens...?” Dramatically, Ember pressed a hand to her heart. “I love Mike, he loves me—yes, close your mouth. We cleared that up last night. Actually, leave it open, because we’ve agreed to start baby-making as soon as we get married, which will be soon.”
Autumn had a hard time catching her breath! “You—”
“I want a baby.” Ember smiled—a small smile, soft with love. “I want that so badly. And Mike, bless him, agreed.”
Squealing, her exhaustion forgotten, Autumn shot from her seat and raced around the table. Grinning from ear to ear, Ember jumped up to catch her, and they hug-danced in crazy circles and excited chatter.
Mike found them like that, which put a masculine smile on his face, too. He paused in the doorway, a mug in one hand, the pot in the other. “I don’t mean to intrude...”
Autumn reached out, waggling her fingers for him to join them. He quickly set the coffee pot on the stove, his mug on the counter, and then encompassed them both in his long arms.
Oh, this was perfect. Two of her favorite people, together. “I love you both,” Autumn said, meaning it with all her heart. “I’m so happy for you.”
Ember did a mix of laugh-crying—or cry-laughing—but went mute when a knock sounded on the kitchen door.
Chapter Fifteen
Their trio swiveled as one, arms tangled, to see Tash smiling through the glass and Sadie bouncing, anxious to join in.
Heart soaring at the sight of him, thoughts of her ragged appearance forgotten, Autumn disengaged and rushed to open the door. Pavlov had already gone out his doggy door and circled around to greet them, so he came back in, too.
The second Sadie cleared the door, she squealed and joined Ember and Mike. Mike scooped her up, and Ember, who clearly did adore Sadie, accommodated her by laughing as she spun them all in circles.
Tash’s arms came around Autumn from behind and he pressed a kiss to the sensitive spot just below her ear. “Want to tell me what my daughter is celebrating?”
Oh. Right. It was hard for her to think with Tash holding her like that. Autumn turned her face toward him. “They’re getting married, and apparently making a baby is a priority.”
He went comically still. “Really?”
She’d never told him about Ember’s miscarriage, but maybe it was time.
“Hey,” Ember said, “we’re heading over to my place to find better cookies.” Since she held Sadie’s hand, Autumn knew this was another maneuver to leave her alone with Tash.
There were times when Ember was the best sister ever.
“Once you’re dressed and ready to get to work, come find us.” Ember waved and headed through the door. Pavlov, of course, followed. With a sly grin, Mike closed it behind them.
And she and Tash were alone.
Autumn groaned. “I didn’t expect you this early or I’d have tried to look a little more presentable.”
He glanced past her to the clock. “Fifteen minutes early. Sorry.”
“Oh, no, I didn’t mean that.” Heck, she was thrilled to see him. Turning, she smiled up at him. “It’s just that I usually consume some caffeine and get a little more awake before anyone sees me.”
“You look beautiful, as always.” He combed his fingers through her loose hair. “How can you think otherwise? Big blue eyes, naturally dark eyebrows and lashes, and this mouth...” He bent for a kiss, but kept it brief. “You fit so perfectly against me.” Saying that, he drew her closer, aligning her body with his.
With his arms around her, his heated scent enclosing her, Autumn whispered, “Thank you.”
Tash gently rocked her from side to side. “For?”
How did she articulate all the ways he made her happy, how he buoyed her spirits? With Tash, she wasn’t just living anymore. Now she took pure pleasure in every moment. “Thank you for making me feel better about...” She shrugged, feeling a little silly. “Actually, about everything.”
“You do the same for me, you know. Probably for everyone, because that’s the kind of person you are.”
There he went again. The way Tash saw her was unique from everyone else. Far more flattering. Thanks to his sincerity, she actually saw herself differently, too.
He glanced at the connecting door. “Why the celebration?”
Standing there, held in Tash’s arms, Autumn explained about Ember’s miscarriage and how terribly it had affected her. As usual, Tash listened intently.
“That day at the beach,” he mused. “You were worried, and she worked so hard at having fun...”
“The memories sometimes hit her and it lays her low all over again.”
“That’s why you came out,” he said, piecing it together. “I know it’s not the norm for you to take part in an evening party, so I’m guessing it was your worry for Ember?”
“You,” she teased, “are a very observant man.” A wonderful man—who thought she was beautiful with bed-head hair and sleep-puffy eyes. A man who acknowledged that she cared and always tried her best. “Mike and Ember are now official—not only planning to wed, but ready to start a family right away.”
He bypassed everything about Ember to
focus only on her. “And you, Autumn? How do you feel about family?”
Odd, but no one had ever asked her that—not even Chuck, and they’d been engaged. “I love kids,” Autumn said, thinking it through. “I love the idea of being a parent.” She’d especially love to call Sadie her own, but that wasn’t something she could say right now. “I guess I’ve been so busy with my interior-design business, the farm and my father’s health, I’ve never really thought that far into the future.”
After Chuck, she’d written off men—a decision that now seemed absurd. Judging all men by Chuck was as wrong as it got. She knew good men, darn it. Her dad, Mike...so many men she worked with, so many who ran the little shops in her beloved town.
Why hadn’t she seen that before?
Hurt feelings, of course. It infuriated her to see just how badly Chuck’s defection had leveled her.
Sliding his hands down her back to her hips, Tash said, “You would be an amazing mother.”
And just like that, she shook off her bad mood. “That might be the nicest compliment of all.”
“It’s the truth.”
“You really think so?” Did he believe she’d be a good stepmother to Sadie? The thought of it put a grip on her heart...and then didn’t let go.
“Autumn.” Tash rested his forehead against hers. “You’re amazing at everything you do. You haven’t realized that yet?”
Such a sweet-talker. Despite her confidence in her work, no one had ever before praised her so elaborately. In some ways, it felt like she was finally getting her due, especially since she knew Tash meant it, that to him it wasn’t simple flattery.
Having her worth recognized filled up all her empty spaces. “I think you’re pretty amazing, too.”
Right before he kissed her, yet another knock sounded on her door, this one more strident.
Even before Autumn looked up, she knew. Still, she peeked around his shoulder.
Yup, there stood her mother. In her haste to intrude, she’d forgotten two curlers in the top of her hair. A billowing leopard-print muumuu swallowed her body and hid her feet, but did nothing to disguise the frown on her face.