had been calling Kelly “Mom” for a year or so by that point. Every once in a while when she got sick or was upset or tired she’d revert to the days where she’d hug Kelly’s neck and let Momma fix everything with kisses and a cup of hot chocolate.
Kelly pulled her phone from a pocket. “What do you want to hear?”
“Star Is Born!” Kensey chimed in.
“Yes. Guess which one I want.”
They’d watched the edited-for-television version of A Star Is Born with Kristofferson and Streisand at least three times that winter and spring so the soundtrack had become a favorite around the house.
“I think I might know.” Kelly connected to the wireless system in the house and found the song. She went to her knees to kiss Maddie’s forehead before settling on the floor again.
As the piano began Vaughan grinned. “‘Everything.’ I love this song.”
Maddie sang along softly. Normally she could belt this one out but as the kid had just been sliced open the day before yesterday, Kelly thought it could be excused.
Kensey joined in and Vaughan came along, harmonizing, and Kelly sat back, watching these incredibly talented creatures, singing together because they were all born for such things. And because they all had that basic joy they took into most situations.
She was still smiling as she turned off the light in Kensey’s room after tucking her into bed. Maddie was fast asleep already. Vaughan stood a few feet away at the top of the stairs.
“She’s waiting for you to come in to kiss her good-night,” Kelly said on her way past.
“Awesome.” He headed down the hall, a smile he wore just for his youngest daughter on his face.
KELLY OPENED THE DOOR to her bedroom to find him there. He’d changed into sleep pants and a T-shirt.
“Hi.”
She gave him a look. “Hi.” And then she let him in. Like an idiot.
“Can we talk awhile?”
“I was thinking about having a glass of wine. Do I need one for this conversation?”
His grin was slow and sexually charged. “Maybe.”
Being alone and in close quarters with Vaughan was an iffy proposition. But as she was already taking the express train to bad-decision town, she may as well relax on the trip.
“Okay, then, I’ll be right back. You want a glass?”
He nodded.
“I’ll be right back.” She waved at the room in her wake. “Make yourself comfortable.”
In just a few minutes she’d returned to her room with a bottle of wine and two glasses.
Avoiding the bed and anything bed-related, she settled on the love seat and poured two glasses of red before settling in.
“How are you feeling?” Vaughan asked at last, after draining half his glass.
“Tired. Like I could sleep three weeks.”
“And the broken engagement?”
She blew out a breath. “How do you feel about it?”
“I’m sorry his feelings got hurt, but I’m not sorry the engagement is broken. Is this...? You changed the locks. It’s for sure, then?”
“He and I had some elemental differences in parenting styles. It wasn’t a sacrifice I was willing to make. He was upset today, but I believe in time he’ll see my point and know I was right. I’ll miss his daughters.” Probably more than she’d miss Ross.
“He didn’t like me much.”
Kelly snorted. “You didn’t like him much.”
“We both wanted the same thing.”
She slammed her lips against the first reply she’d thought of giving. And then the second. By the third she was better able to get her thoughts together.
“And what was that?”
He smiled and her toes curled.
He was a human churro. He smelled good and she knew for damn sure he tasted good. She’d gorge herself on him and in both cases, she’d end up sorry later that she’d lost her control.
But she never missed a chance to attend an event where churros would be available.
And there he sat, in her bedroom, with a boner. Oh, holy shit he had a hard-on.
She blushed and looked down to her wine.
“He and I wanted you.”
Still blushing, avoiding looking anywhere but his face, Kelly waited for the rest.
“I’d like for you to give me a chance to prove myself. And once I do, I want you back.”
Kelly waited for more. This was a good start, but it wasn’t anywhere near enough.
He put his glass down, leaning forward, elbows on his knees. “I let you go before. I shouldn’t have. And then I waited too long to come to my senses and get you back. But I’m here now and ready to prove how much I’ve changed. I never stopped loving you.”
“Is that it? Because if it is, my next words are going to be fuck you.”
Surprise and then pleasure slid over his features. “You’re pissed.”
“Why does that make you happy? Did you hit your head on something?” She did such a bad job of picking men. Jeez.
“You’re sexy when you’re pissed. Course, you’re sexy when you’re not pissed, too.”
“Keep it up. See where cute gets you.” She frowned. “You’ve been gone nearly eight years by this point. A lot has changed. I’ve changed. Just because I’m not with Ross anymore doesn’t mean anything as far as you and I are concerned.” Which was a lie. At least she didn’t feel guilty when she’d thought about licking sugar and cinnamon off his abs just now, though.
He did have the good sense to be chagrined. “I know you’ve changed. I’ve changed, too. I’m not the same young, cocky asshole who let his whole life slip through his fingers.”
“And what does all that bullshit mean?”
“You’ve gotten hard.” He tried for saucy and she wanted to flick him in the nose for it.
“You haven’t said anything much more than that you still loved me and wanted a chance to get me back. What does that mean to you? Why should I give you a
