“How did she like to celebrate her birthday?”
“Cake,” he answered immediately, amusement in his voice. “She loved cake. But she didn’t indulge much because she wastrying to keep a perfect figure. As if that would’ve stopped the bastard from cheating on her.”
I smoothed a soothing hand over his chest.
“But on her birthday we’d have lots of cake. When I was around twelve or thirteen, I started taking her out for her birthday and we’d go for afternoon tea, except I’d arrange it so there were more cakes than sandwiches and tarts.”
I grinned, imagining little Theo doing that for his mum. “I bet she loved it.”
“She did. We’d have a lot of fun together. We did that every year until …”
A deep empathy came over me and I turned, blinking back tears, to press a kiss to his chest.
“She deserved so much better,” Theo whispered, such sadness in his voice. “My mother was the kindest woman I’ve ever known … until you.”
My tears threatened to spill.
“It seems so unfair that someone with such goodness in her was treated so abominably by the people she loved.”
“Theo,” I forced words past the emotion thickening my throat. “Your dad might have treated her poorly and your brother might not have been the best son, but you clearly adored her and she knew that. I know she knew that. Being that loved by one person … it can make everything else bearable. Trust me.”
His grip on my arm tightened and he squeezed me closer to him, I think to let my words percolate. We lay together in silence for a while.
Eventually, he rubbed my arm. “How are the cramps?”
My cheeks heated at how casually he asked. “A bit sore. I might see if there’s a hot water bottle lying around.”
“I’ll get up and get the fire going in the living room and have a look. You stay here.” He pressed a quick kiss to the top of my head before he slipped out from under me. Uncaring of hisnakedness, he strode out of the room in search of a hot water bottle. I nestled into the sheets, soaking up the body heat he’d left behind.
Five minutes later he appeared in the doorway, totally naked still. He reached up, easily touching the doorframe above as he stretched, eyes pinning me to where I lay on his side of the bed.
We held each other’s gaze for what seemed like forever, the moment charged. Sexy, yes, but more intimate than that. My heart raced.
Finally, he released the doorframe and crossed the room to me. He didn’t address the moment. “Can’t find a hot water bottle. Does anything else work?”
I shrugged. “Not really. I better check to see if … well, ifit’sarrived.”
Theo grinned as he braced himself over me. “You mean, your period?”
Scowling, I huffed, “You know that’s what I mean.”
“Say it.” He tickled me under the arms and I shoved him off, laughing. “Say it, little mouse.”
Laughing but growling at the same time, I tried to escape his tickling fingers. “Don’t call me that!”
“Tell me you have your period or I’ll keep tickling you.”
“You’re so immature!” I squealed, giggling as his fingers caught on my ribs.
His deep laughter filled the room. “I’m not the one who can’t say I have my period.”
That only made me laugh harder.
It was probably why it took a minute for us to become aware of the pounding noise and a familiar voice shouting angrily, “Sarah, open up!”
I stiffened as Theo stopped tickling me and turned his head toward the doorway.
“Jared,” I whispered.
