Page 35 of His Secret Wish

“So, once upon a there was this princess, and she was brave and strong...”

Isabella crept up the stairs to the third floor, trying to be quiet. She’d woken up absolutely starving, and so thirsty she could barely swallow, so had snuck downstairs to get something to eat. It was no wonder, given all the energy she’d expended with Owen earlier. She was surprised she hadn’t crumbled into a dried-out husk and blown away in the wind.

Now full on a reheated cinnamon roll and a cold tamale, she was ready to climb back into bed and sleep for at least the next week. Her eyes felt gritty and dry, and she blinked a few times, at the point where she could barely keep them open. The bed was calling her name like a siren to a sailor.

And climbing in with Owen was just icing on the freshly baked coffee cake. Which, if she knew her bisabeula—and she did—would be on the menu tomorrow morning.

In fact, Isabella was surprised she hadn’t run into Yaya in the kitchen. Then again, it was a bit too early. Yaya usually started her day around four thirty. Isabella was about an hour too early.

She stepped onto the third-floor landing and stopped. Not only was the door to her and Owen’s bedroom open, but the light was on in the room. Which was weird. Owen slept like the dead. It was unlikely anything would have woken him. And it also wasn’t like him to wake up alone and not come and find her. Especially since she’d been gone for almost an hour.

Then again, she didn’t know how long he’d been awake. Maybe he’d just woken up and was about to head out in search of her.

She stepped closer to the door. He was talking to someone. His voice was low, but he was definitely having a conversation. Was he on his phone? Seemed unlikely since it was the middle of the night. And even if they were on the east coast, it was still way too early for someone out there to be doing business.

Maybe he was talking to Becky Lynn Collins. He’d woken up, realized Isabella was gone, and decided to call his girlfriend, or booty call, or whatever she was to him.

Acid green jealousy streaked through her, the back of her throat burning with bile. She knew it was unfair, since they technically weren’t together, and she was the one who’d ended things between them, but that didn’t seem to matter. The idea of him with anyone besides her enough to make her want to scream.

Better get used to it. As soon as the divorce is final, he’s free to do who and what he pleases. And if that means booty calls with Becky Lynn Collins, so be it.

She frowned at that unpleasant thought, shaking her head to dislodge it. Stressing over things that may, or may not, happen in the future stupid.

She couldn’t deny that being with Owen physically was amazing. And she wasn’t foolish enough to think she’d be able to stop, especially now that she’d gotten a taste. She was adult enough to admit it. She craved him physically, and that was fine.

What she couldn’t let happen was get her heart involved in any decisions this weekend. Leaving him the first time had been one of the hardest things she’d ever had to do in her life. Falling back in love with him, and having to give him up again would kill her, she was sure.

Not that she’d ever fallen out of love with Owen Callahan. She would always love him. But things between them were too complicated, there was too much baggage, on both sides, for this to be anything more than the weekend-out-of-time they’d agreed to.

She straightened her spine. Sexy times were a go, but no more feelings. Easy as pie. Except, pie wasn’t easy to make, it was actually quite complicated. Especially if you insisted on making your own pastry.

And clearly, she was too tired for this internal lecture. Her tangents were getting ridiculous.

A clap of thunder sounded outside, a little less loud than before. Thankfully, the storm was moving on. She’d been sure earlier that the windows shook when the thunder cracked. Always a fan of storms, she’d stepped out on the back porch and watched the rain fall, the lightning flash. Goosebumps had dotted her flesh. She’d felt alive.

There was a small squeak from the bedroom, and then Owen said something, his voice smooth and calm. That was weird. And he obviously wasn’t talking on the phone.

She inched closer to the door, and holding her breath, peeked into the room. Her lungs locked up, and her stomach flipped so quickly, it could be a house on one of those reality shows on the home improvement network.

And then, just as quickly, every cell in her body turned mushy and soft.

Owen sat in the middle of the bed, his legs stretched out in front of him, crossed at the ankles. He was on top of the covers. Claudia was nestled in the bed, under the covers, between him and the wall, her little hand pressed between her cheek and the pillow. Her eyes were almost closed, and she was definitely moments away from sleep. Owen was rubbing her head gently, murmuring soothing words to her softly.

Marissa was tucked in on his other side, already sound asleep, her thumb stuck in her mouth. His other arm was wrapped around her, holding her close to his side.

“And then what happened?” Claudia’s voice was sleep filled, the words almost slurred.

“Well,” he said, keeping his voice soft and soothing. “The princess and the dragon came to an agreement. She would make sure the king’s men left him alone, and he would leave the tower and fly back to his cave in the mountains.”

“The one with... all the.. gold?” Claudia’s eyes fluttered closed the rest of the way.

“That’s right.” He brushed the hair off her forehead. “The one with all his gold and riches. And he would stay there with his wife dragon, and all their babies forever, never bothering the village again.”

Claudia made a humming noise, like she was still listening, but was in that space halfway between sleep and awake. Isabella held her breath. This was a pivotal moment. If he stopped, Claudia would most likely force herself awake and demand he continue. Then she’d likely be unable to fall asleep, would get over-tired, and be extremely cranky. Isabella’s nephew, James, her brother’s oldest son, used to do that to her all the time when she babysat.

If Owen continued quietly, Claudia would fall asleep, and he’d be safe.

A sweet smile spread across his face. “And, as the dragon flew away, back to his cave, the princess walked out of the tower. When the knight in shining armor came up to her, trying to get her attention, she walked right by him, knowing that she didn’t need anyone to save her. She was perfectly capable of saving herself. The end.”