Page 87 of Branded

My baby sisters look at me with concern. Lark grew up in a family with two sisters and she can read me like a book. They want to help; all I have to do is let them in.

But I can’t. Because the truth will destroy all three of them. “I’m fine,” I lie. “Really. I wasn’t planning on getting married, so it’s been an adjustment: new family, new place, new life. That’s all.”

“Lenny,” Emma begins.

“Please.” My voice cracks. “Please just let this go, I can’t talk about it right now. I just need a few days of normal. Of being here with you all and not thinking about Texas or Sebastian or any of it. Can you give me that?”

My sisters exchange looks, clearly not satisfied but also seeing I’m on the edge of breaking.

“Okay,” Emma finally says. “We’ll drop it. For now. When you’re ready to talk, we’re here. Always.”

“I know. Thank you.”

We finish cleaning in silence, and then I escape to my room. I pull out my phone and see a text from Sebastian.

Sebastian

Landing around 6 pm tomorrow. Will rent a car and drive to your family’s ranch. What should I expect?

Me

My father’s going to interrogate you. My siblings are suspicious. And everyone’s going to be watching to see if you’re treating me right. So basically, it’s going to be hell.

Sebastian

Looking forward to it.

Me

You’ve got to be joking.

Sebastian

Well maybe not the part where I have to deal with your father and brothers, but I’m looking forward to seeing you.

Me

Oh yeah? Do you miss me, husband?

What am I doing? I shouldn’t be flirting with him, but here I am biting my lip waiting to see the text bubbles pop up.

Sebastian

I miss you very much, wife.

I miss you being here, your stubborn streak that I’m learning is because you’re right and you know it. The house feels wrong without you in it, and I miss having you in my arms.

Every butterfly in my stomach flies lower at those words. I miss his touch, his presence when I least expect it. And the ache of the last week settles over me because I truly do miss him. I miss fighting with him, challenging him, and God help me, making love to him.

Me

I miss watching you work. Before everything happened, I would keep watching you from the kitchen window, waiting for you to notice. Which is ridiculous because you’re so far away down in the corrals, you’ll never see me. But I keep hoping you’ll see me looking and then will ride up the slope, tie your horse to the railing and take me right on the countertop. Then when we’re done you’d go right back to work and make me wait for you to come home and take me again.

Oh my God, I can’t believe I just admitted that to him! What am I thinking?

Sebastian

God Len, you know how to make a man hard. And for the record, you better be waiting at the window daily now that I know what you want.