His Marriage to Remember - By Kathie DeNosky Page 0,12
Sugar Creek Ranch for good. She needed to keep that uppermost in her mind.
Concentrating on the plate she was washing to keep from doing something she knew she would later regret, Bria shrugged. “Since Rosa is visiting her sister and no one’s been here for the past few days, there really weren’t enough dishes to warrant using the dishwasher. Besides, after we hired her to do the cooking and cleaning, the only time I get to be domestic is when one of the guys has a birthday and I make a celebratory dinner. I’ve missed doing things like cooking and washing a few dishes. It makes me feel useful and needed.”
“I can think of something a lot more fun for an after-dinner activity that will make you feel just as needed,” he said, his tone low and intimate. He brushed her long hair aside to slowly nibble kisses from just below her ear, down her neck to her bare shoulder. “Why don’t you put the rest of the dishes in the dishwasher and go upstairs with me. I can’t remember the last time I made love to you, but it feels like it’s been a while.”
She wasn’t certain if it was the temptation of once again being loved by Sam, of experiencing his tenderness and the mastery of his touch, or the fear that she wouldn’t be able to resist him, but Bria’s heart skipped erratically, then took off beating as if she had run a marathon. “I don’t think that would be in either of our best interests,” she said truthfully, pulling the thin strap of her sundress back on top of her shoulder.
He stopped his sensual assault and turned her to face him. “You want to explain that?”
The frown on his handsome face was a good indication that whatever explanation she came up with needed to be reasonable and something that he would have no trouble accepting. Thinking quickly, she smiled. “The doctor told both of us that you need to take it easy for a few more days. I’m going to see to it that’s exactly what you do.”
“Okay,” he said, his grin wicked. “I’ll just lie there and let you make love to me.”
Staring up at him, she was reminded of how things had been during the early days of their marriage—the playfulness, the inability to keep their hands off each other. That had been before the Sugar Creek Rodeo Company had become a resounding success and Sam had become obsessed with making it bigger and better than any of his competitors.
“I’ve got a better idea,” she said, turning back to the sink when he started to lower his head for a kiss. “Why don’t I finish the dishes and then we can go out onto the porch and watch the sunset together.”
“Seriously?” She could hear the frustration in his voice and knew that he wasn’t going to give up easily. “You’d rather watch the sun go down than to go upstairs and try to make a baby with me?”
Her chest tightened with the mention of the baby they had both wanted. He couldn’t remember and she couldn’t tell him that there had been a baby—a baby they had both wanted and that she had lost. Nor could she tell him how much his absence had affected her when she’d had the miscarriage.
“Sam, it’s not a good time—”
“Ah, so that’s what the deal is,” he said, his tone suddenly filled with understanding. “Why didn’t you just come out and tell me you’re having your period? You’ve never been shy about that with me before.”
She had intended to explain that it wasn’t a good time to discuss starting a family while he was recovering from the concussion, but his misconception would keep her from having to make excuses for at least a few more days. Besides, by not correcting his assumption, she wasn’t exactly lying to him. She knew he probably wouldn’t see it that way, but it really was best for both of them.
“I had other things on my mind,” she said evasively. Deciding it was time for a change of subject, she added, “I’ll be finished with the dishes in a few more minutes. Why don’t you go on out to the porch and get comfortable in the swing.”
“Since it looks like that’s the most excitement I’m going to have for the evening, I guess I might as well.” He kissed the side of her neck, then releasing her, started toward the back door. “Don’t