Texas Lullaby

Author:Cynthia D'Alba
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Published: 2016-04-11T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Jason studied Lydia standing there against the door, one leg bent, her hand trapped behind her ass on the door.

“Darlin’, nothing looks better to me right now than you.”

She smiled and a zing of lust rattled through him.

“I meant food.”

He shook his head. “No, you didn’t. You knew exactly what you were asking.”

“Maybe,” she said and tilted her head to one side. Then her posture changed and she stood straight. “Probably not a good idea. I don’t know what I was thinking.” She strode across the room, picked up the in-room menu and began flipping through the pages. “What sounds good? Steak? Burger? Club sandwich?” She glanced up and their gazes locked.

“What’s going on, Lydia?”

“I don’t know what you mean?”

“Yeah, you do. Ever since you got Meredith’s children, you’ve kept me at arm’s length…well, except for one night. I’ve been there for you every step of the way. I haven’t asked you to choose between me and the children. So what’s wrong?”

She sighed and sat on the foot of his bed. “We’re both tired tonight. I know I am. I’m physically and emotionally beyond exhausted. Let’s not have a serious talk tonight. It won’t go well.”

Shoving his fists on his hips, he asked, “What does that mean? ‘It won’t go well’?”

Dropping flat on her back, she stared at the ceiling. “I don’t know. I really don’t. My plate is full, overflowing. I feel like someone’s handed me chainsaws and expects me to juggle them even though I don’t know the first thing about juggling or chainsaws. For tonight, can we just eat and worry about tomorrow tomorrow?”

Unease gnawed at him. She was slipping away. He could feel her growing more distant each day. If he pushed her, fought for her, he was sure what her reaction would be. She would drop him from her juggling act, as she envisioned her life. Dealing with a pushy boyfriend could be easily solved by erasing that stressor from her life. That’s not what he wanted, so he’d back off. She’d come back to him when things settled down.

“You’re right,” he said, dropping on his back beside her on the bed. “It was a long day. I’m tired and a little punchy.”

She rolled to her side and grinned. “You? Punchy? No, surely not?”

She poked his ribs. He caught her finger in his hand and rolled on top of her. “I’ll give you punchy,” he joked and began to tickle her. She laughed and pushed at his shoulders, trying to get away, but he was too heavy, too strong for her to throw off.

Remembering his vow to ease up on the pressure to get their relationship back on track, he rolled off her and sat up with a sigh. “Okay, let’s eat. Did they have prime rib on that menu?”

They stayed two more days in Wichita filling Jason’s SUV with the children’s toys and clothes. The valuable jewelry was packed away to be put into a lockbox until the kids came of age. Everything

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