Closing her eyes, she fisted her hands in his hair and gave herself over to him. Fully. Completely. And she lost what little was left of her restraint as a soft moan and a shudder of overwhelming heat swept through her.

  Hands on his shoulders, she urged him upward. Not about to be the only one to find release, she whispered against his shoulder, “My turn now.”

  Sam laughed quietly, as she’d hoped he would.

  Determined to keep it light and sexy between them, she was eager to tantalize his hot, hard body as he had hers. She lay down beside him, kissing and caressing him until everything fell away but the feel and touch and taste of him. Until there was no more holding back.

  He found a condom. Together, they rolled it on. Suddenly, she was on her back. One hand was beneath her, lifting her, the other was between her thighs. She surged against him, softness to hardness. He stroked his thumb over her flesh, and she was flying, gone. And still he kissed her, again and again, until there wasn’t any place she would rather be.

  Needing him to find the same powerful release, Lulu wrapped her arms around him and brought him closer. He groaned, rough and low in his throat, and her muscles tautened as he found his way home in one long, slow, purposeful slide. Allowing her to adjust to the weight and size of him, he went deeper still.

  Needing more, she wrapped her legs around his waist, opening up to him, and then there was nothing but the sensation of being taken, possessed. Treasured. And for the first time in an extremely long time, she felt connected to him in that very special man-woman way.

  * * *

  Sam had known it was a mistake to make love to Lulu on a whim. Because it was when Lulu did things on impulse that she was most likely to regret them later. But when she’d reached out to him, he hadn’t been able to resist. Now, he was beginning to wish he had, as he watched Lulu silently come to the same conclusion that he had already reached. That once again, they’d let their emotions get the best of them, and had gone too far, too fast. “Us being together this way doesn’t have to complicate things unnecessarily,” he said, stroking a hand through her hair and soothing her as best he could. “We can still take things one day, one moment at a time, darlin’. Do whatever feels right.”

  Like make love.

  And get closer yet.

  “You’re right.” Lulu let out a long sigh. Pressed her hand against the center of his chest, insinuating distance between them. As their gazes locked, something came and went in her pretty eyes. “This doesn’t have to mean anything more than any other fling would.”

  He held tight when she would have fled, aware once again she was taking his intentions all wrong. “That’s not what I said,” he told her gruffly.

  “Isn’t it?” she returned with a casual smile that did not reach her eyes. Before he could say anything else, she lifted a hand. “It’s okay, Sam.” With typical grace, she eased away from him. “We’re both sophisticated enough to handle just having sex.”

  Which was obviously all it had been to her.

  “And you’re right,” she finished with a weariness that seemed to come straight from her soul. “It really doesn’t have to change anything.” She rose and pulled on her panties and his shirt, then, scooping up her damp clothes, padded down the hall to the guest room where she’d been stowing her belongings.

  He rose and dressed, too, in dry clothing. Emerging from his bedroom, he caught sight of her as she headed downstairs, small mesh bag of dirty clothes in hand.

  Sam went back to gather up his own laundry, then found her in the utility room, sorting clothes, her head averted. He noted she had added an above-the-knee denim skirt and pretty sandals to her ensemble.

  “Are we really just going to leave it like this?” he said, dumping his own clothing into a separate hamper.

  Cheeks slightly pink, she kept her attention on her task. “What’s there to say?” They both reached for the detergent at the same time. Their shoulders and arms brushed before they could draw back.

  Wishing he could make love to her again—without driving her further away than she was at this moment—he stepped back to give her the physical space she craved. He focused on the tumult in her eyes.

  “Maybe you should tell me.”

  She looked at him for a long moment. “Well, it was probably important for us to satisfy our curiosity, given the situation.”

  She focused on her task, added soap, set the dials and closed the lid. Turned on the machine.

  He stayed his ground. “Curiosity,” he repeated. So that’s what they were calling it now.

  “We probably also needed to find out if the sparks we used to have still existed.” She drew in a deep breath and finally pivoted to meet his gaze. Her chin lifted. “And now we know.”

  Now they did know. Though he had the intuition that they had arrived at completely different conclusions...

  “Meaning what?”

  She walked past him, down the hall, peered around the corner into the living room. The triplets were all still fast asleep. She returned to the kitchen, still not clarifying what she meant.

  Knowing nothing would ever be solved by pretending there wasn’t a problem, he edged closer. Needing to know where he stood with her. Guessed, “Meaning...it’s not going to happen again?” Or it would?

  She leaned against the kitchen island, her back to the still-pouring rain, and let out a slow breath. “I’m not sure.”

  He switched on the overhead lights, bringing light to the gloomy room. He moved so she had no choice but to look at him. “Hey,” he said softly, not about to let her deny it. His gaze roved her. “I know it was good for you.”

  She blushed at his needling tone. “I know it was good for you, too.” Seeing Beauty heading for the back door, she moved to open it. Stepped out under the overhang. “But as you noted earlier, our life is pretty complicated right now, with the kids and all,” she said, keeping her voice low as the damp warmth surrounded them.

  Sam gave his pet room to move down the steps, into the yard, then eased next to Lulu. “And making love just now makes it even more so. I get that. It doesn’t mean we can pretend it didn’t happen,” he pointed out. Or that he even wanted to.

  Regret pinched the corners of her mouth. “Sure about that?”

  Because she sure seemed able to do so, Sam noted bitterly as Beauty came back up the deck steps and walked on into the house.

  Lulu grabbed a dog towel off the hook and bent to dry off Beauty’s thick coat. When she was done, she gave the Saint Bernard a fond pat on the head and watched as the dog padded soundlessly back to the living room, to stand guard once again over the kids.

  Lulu hung up the towel, then, glancing over at the family room, zeroed in on the toys that had been left all over the place. She breezed past him and began picking them up. Although he didn’t care whether the toys were neatly put away or not, he followed and began to help.

  An even more conflicted silence fell. Which was a shame, Sam thought, since they didn’t often have time to themselves. “You really don’t want to talk about this any more?” he said, wishing like hell that she would.

  Still bearing the glow of their lovemaking, she bit her lip. Ambivalence flooded her expression. “I really don’t,” she returned, just as softly.

  And suddenly, Sam knew what the real problem likely was.

  “Then how about you tell me what happened at the picnic today, when you and your parents went off for a private chat?”

  Chapter Eight

  The last thing Lulu wanted to do was tell Sam her folks’ doubts about her ability to make wise decisions in her life. On the other hand, he was involved, too, if only by circumstance.

  She knelt beside the wooden toy box emblazoned with the triplets’ names. He knelt on the other side. Wearing a washed-till-it-was-soft cotton shirt, much the same as the one she had borrowed and was still wearing, and faded jeans, he was every inch the indomitable Texan.

  Trying not to notice how sated and relaxed he looked post-lovemaking, she forced a smile and an attitude of nonchalance. “My mom and dad cornered me.”

  Handsome jaw tautening, he regarded her. “And?” His voice dropped another husky notch, in a way that sent heat flashing through her.

  She flushed under his scrutiny. As always, his ultramasculine presence made her feel intensely aware of him. “Bottom line? They’re concerned I’m getting too involved with you and the kids.”

  Something flickered in his gold-flecked eyes, then maddeningly disappeared as he watched her drop more toys into the storage container.

  “Is that what you think?” he asked, his expression closed and uncommunicative.

  No, I think I’ve had the brakes on for way too long. But maybe that was the old Lulu talking. The reckless, restless, impulsive Lulu who once fell in love with Sam and ran off with him and then panicked and made the biggest mistake of her life...

  The Lulu who was ruled more by emotion and the fear of disappointing anyone than logical, practical thought.

  The Lulu who just gave in to the buildup from the most emotional four days of her life and recklessly made love with Sam again.

  And worse, she couldn’t quite bring herself to regret it. Much as the practical side of her wished that she could.

  Not that he looked as if he were lamenting it, either...

  Even though, as he said, none of this had to change anything between them.

  When to her, it already had...

  Oblivious to the conflicted nature of her thoughts, Sam persisted, “What did you say to them?”

  Feeling a little unsteady, she drew a deep breath, glad to have someone to confide in about this. “I told them they were wrong,” she said softly, lifting her chin. “That the kids need us both.”

  “They do.” Finished picking up, he lifted the box and carried it over to the corner where it usually sat. Taking her by the hand, he led her to the breakfast room table. The corners of his eyes crinkled. “Which is why I’ve been thinking, you shouldn’t just be their nanny, Lulu. Or a concerned friend helping out.” He waited for her to take a seat and then settled opposite her.

  He paused to look her in the eye, then said, even more resolutely, “You should be their legal guardian, too.”

  Legal guardian!

  She caught her breath, feeling thrilled and stunned. Still, this was awfully sudden. Too sudden, maybe?

  Swallowing, she lifted a halting hand. “Sam...”

  He reached across the table to take her hands in his. “I’m serious, Lulu. Your parents were right. It isn’t fair for you to be so involved if you’re not a guardian. So why not be a co-guardian with me? It’s obvious I can’t do it alone.”

  Lulu sighed. “Neither could I.”

  Sam nodded his agreement, all matter-of-fact rancher now. “Even more important, you love the kids and they love you. They need a mom.” Warmth spread throughout her body as his fingers tightened on hers. “I need a partner...”

  Aware his grip felt as masculine and strong as the rest of him, she withdrew her hands from his. “Are you saying that because I just put the moves on you?”

  A look of hurt flashed in his eyes, then disappeared. “Our lovemaking just now has nothing to do with this.”

  “Doesn’t it?” she returned.

  He kept his gaze locked with hers. “No.” His expression sobered, becoming all the more sincere. “These are two separate issues.”

  For him, maybe. But for her?

  Her desire for him seemed an integral part of her. Aware she could fall way too hard for him if she wasn’t careful, she folded her arms.

  “You say that now.” She drew a deep breath, wishing he weren’t so sexy and capable and kind. So tender and good with the kids. “But what happens if you and I start down that road again and then don’t work out as a couple again?” she challenged, feeling self-conscious, as he zeroed in on her nervousness. “How would you feel about sharing guardianship duties with me then?”

  “If that happens, and I don’t think it will, we’ll do exactly what we’re doing now and figure out how to continue to make things work—as friends,” Sam said firmly. “But instinct tells me that we will work out, Lulu. And if you listen to yours, I imagine you’ll be convinced of the same thing.”

  He was right about that. Only it wasn’t her feminine instinct doing the talking. It was her heart that wanted to be with Sam and the kids...

  “So what do you say, darlin’?” he proposed softly, gripping her hands again and looking deep into her eyes. “Will you be their co-guardian with me?”

  Lulu might still be confused about what she wanted when it came to Sam, but there was no doubt at all about what her heart wanted in regard to the three little boys. Or what would be best for them. They needed both a mother figure and a father figure in their lives.

  Joy bubbled up inside her. She’d imagined she would have to fight to make this happen. Instead, once again, she and Sam were on the exact same page.

  She returned his searching gaze and said, ever so softly, “Yes, I’d love to be legally responsible for the triplets, too.”

  Their new deal would inadvertently solve another problem she had not been looking forward to contending with. She pushed back her chair and rose, aware it was time for them to wake the children for dinner. “This way, you won’t have to pay me for caring for them.”

  “I’ll still owe you...”

  “No,” she cut him off, feeling vaguely insulted by his insistence, although she wasn’t sure why, “you won’t.”

  Their stare-down continued.

  “This isn’t about the money, Lulu,” he warned.

  “I know it isn’t,” she agreed. “For you.” But for her...the thought of him being her boss...giving her a paycheck... Well, that might have been their initial agreement, the only way she’d gotten herself in the door to help. Yet from the first moment the children arrived at Hidden Creek Ranch, she hadn’t felt like his employee so much as she’d felt like his comrade in arms.

  “But I still prefer it this way,” she reiterated, “with us equally responsible. And absolutely zero money changing hands.”

  “I owe you...”

  “And you’ve paid me,” she stated, just as vehemently, “in room and board.”

  His eyes glinted, the way they always did when he let her have what she wanted. He exhaled, his gaze drifting over her with lazy male appreciation before finally returning to her face. “I’m not going to win on this. Am I, darlin’?”

  “No, cowboy,” Lulu shot back sassily. Knowing the only way they would ever truly be able to come together was as equals. She whirled on her heel and marched off. “You are not!”

  As for the rest...

  She sighed.

  Sam was right. They could figure it all out later. In the meantime, the first thing they needed to do was take care of the legal formalities.

  * * *

  “I think that’s wonderful,” Hiram said when Lulu and Sam called his office the following morning, just after breakfast.

  Sam looked over at Lulu, who was smiling from ear to ear. He felt relieved and happy about their new agreement, too. As far as it went, anyway. They still had a lot to work out about their own relationship, but he could be patient on that front. In the meantime, as far as the caretaking went, he and Lulu were in this together. And as they’d already more than proved, he thought, returning her excited grin, they made a very good team.

  As unaware as Lulu of the romantic nature of Sam’s thoughts, Hiram concluded, “I’ll send the appropriate papers to Liz and Travis. You can go to their law office to sign them.”

  “Thank you, we will,” Lulu replied.

  They all signed off.

  And just in time, too, Sam thought. Behind them, a cacophony of toddler voices sounded.

  “Horsey!” Theo yelled.

  “Me ride!” Andrew insisted.

  “No! Doggy,” Ethan disagreed. Not sure what was going on, since the boys had escaped to the living room while they were on the phone, Sam and Lulu headed off in their direction. They found Beauty standing parallel to the big leather sofa. Ethan was standing just in front of her and petting her face gently while Theo and Andrew tried to simultaneously climb on her back and ride her like a horse.

  “Oh dear!” Lulu rushed to rescue the remarkably patient Saint Bernard.

  Sam plucked both little cowboys off her back and deposited them on the far end of the sofa, out of harm’s way. “Fellas, Beauty is not a horse,” he scolded. “So you cannot climb on her back.” He gave his dog a consoling pat on the head, then lifted Ethan out of the way, too. With a beleaguered sigh and the way now clear, Beauty lumbered down the hall, over to her cushion in the corner of the kitchen, and sank into the bed.

  All three boys began jumping on the sofa, as hard and high as they could. “Want friends,” Theo shouted loudly.

  “Play now!” Andrew agreed.

  “Go car,” Ethan explained.

  Lulu went to her phone. “I’ll see if I can arrange a playdate,” she called over her shoulder.

  She came back five minutes later. The triplets had given up jumping but were now attempting to climb onto and slide down the bannister. Every time Sam plucked one off, another climbed on.

  “Everyone is at preschool,” Lulu informed him, lifting her brow at the boys. Like magic, they all stopped climbing on the stair railing. Only to resume jumping and shouting from the sofa. Lulu shouted to be heard above the bedlam. “Kelly said the triplets could be visitors in her three-year-old class today, which in the summer runs from nine to one o’clock.”

  Knowing the only thing that ever entertained the boys for long was other children, Sam replied, “Sounds good.”

  The boys were even more delighted.

 

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