you would have brushed it off. If I had complained every damn time she did it, you would’ve thought I was being overly sensitive and brushed it off too.”
Guilt flashed across his face.
“It wasn’t bad at first. But as the years wore on, her comments became a little sharper. I didn’t want to cause family problems or make waves so I didn’t tell you.”
“Dammit, Libby, I didn’t know. I’m sorry. So damn sorry.”
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“You can’t control her. I’ll admit I was jealous when your cousins started having babies. It embarrassed me at McKay functions hearing your mother complaining to the other women in the family that she didn’t have a grandchild to spoil yet.”
“And yet, she never said a fucking word to me. Sayin’ sorry doesn’t seem like enough. No wonder you resented me. No wonder you wanted to rid yourself of me and this overbearing family.”
“Your mother didn’t cause our marital problems.”
“I realize that, but her behavior, coupled with my ostrich-like mentality, didn’t help matters.” He blew out a frustrated breath. “Enough.”
“We still have a lot to talk about, but you’re right. Let’s take a break. No more discussions about babies, fertility tests, mixed signals, meddling mothers and sisters.”
“For how long?”
“A while. Look, we can’t solve anything in two days, and with the resentment and confusion on both our parts, some issues we weren’t even aware we had…frankly, I’m too emotionally raw to deal with any of it right now.”
“Amen. And I ain’t sayin’ that because I’m hopin’ you’ll forget about it. I know we have to talk about this. Sooner, rather than later. But when we’re ready…well, I ain’t opposed to talkin’ to a fertility doctor to see if there is something wrong, if that’s still what you want.”
Feeling a little misty eyed, Libby walked straight into Quinn’s arms.
“You all right?”
“No. My head is spinning.”
“You wanna go up to the house and lay down?”
“Maybe for a bit. Then can we just hang out at home today? Screw around. Take the four wheelers out, maybe snuggle up and watch a little TV?”
“You sure?”
“Yeah, why?”
“I thought you’d wanna do something more exciting.”
She pushed back and looked at him. “Is that what you think? I have to be doing something new and exciting all the time? I find being on the ranch with you…boring?”
Quinn gave her a half-shrug and ducked his head.
Another truth hit her. “I’ve hurt you by letting you believe you and our home weren’t enough for me anymore.” Libby rubbed the tips of her fingers over his morning whiskers. “Oh Quinn. Oh, honey, that’s not why I wanted the separation. I’d hoped if we were apart we’d miss each other. We’d be forced to communicate beyond ‘What’s for supper?’ and ‘I washed your coveralls’ and we’d work harder to stay together.”
“Has it worked? Us spendin’ the weekend together?”
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Strong Silent Type
Libby laid her head on his chest and listened to his heartbeat. So strong. So steady. “We’re off to a damn fine start.”
Quinn stayed silent a beat too long and Libby knew she hadn’t given him the answer he wanted.
***
“Whatcha doin’?”
She shuffled the papers as the printer spat them out. “Research.”
Why did she look so guilty? “Can I see?”
“What time is it?” Libby asked, avoiding his question.
“Almost eight. Why?”
She unplugged the printer cable and powered down her laptop. “I thought it’d be fun to play cards.”
“I’d be up for a game of strip poker.” Quinn waggled his eyebrows.
“I was thinking a game of hearts and you were thinking with a hard-on.”
“I can’t help it. All the smokin’ hot sex yesterday, in the shower this mornin’, and my mind is runnin’
on one track.”
“Hold that thought. And get your money out. After I’ve finished packing I’m
Guilt flashed across his face.
“It wasn’t bad at first. But as the years wore on, her comments became a little sharper. I didn’t want to cause family problems or make waves so I didn’t tell you.”
“Dammit, Libby, I didn’t know. I’m sorry. So damn sorry.”
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Lorelei James
“You can’t control her. I’ll admit I was jealous when your cousins started having babies. It embarrassed me at McKay functions hearing your mother complaining to the other women in the family that she didn’t have a grandchild to spoil yet.”
“And yet, she never said a fucking word to me. Sayin’ sorry doesn’t seem like enough. No wonder you resented me. No wonder you wanted to rid yourself of me and this overbearing family.”
“Your mother didn’t cause our marital problems.”
“I realize that, but her behavior, coupled with my ostrich-like mentality, didn’t help matters.” He blew out a frustrated breath. “Enough.”
“We still have a lot to talk about, but you’re right. Let’s take a break. No more discussions about babies, fertility tests, mixed signals, meddling mothers and sisters.”
“For how long?”
“A while. Look, we can’t solve anything in two days, and with the resentment and confusion on both our parts, some issues we weren’t even aware we had…frankly, I’m too emotionally raw to deal with any of it right now.”
“Amen. And I ain’t sayin’ that because I’m hopin’ you’ll forget about it. I know we have to talk about this. Sooner, rather than later. But when we’re ready…well, I ain’t opposed to talkin’ to a fertility doctor to see if there is something wrong, if that’s still what you want.”
Feeling a little misty eyed, Libby walked straight into Quinn’s arms.
“You all right?”
“No. My head is spinning.”
“You wanna go up to the house and lay down?”
“Maybe for a bit. Then can we just hang out at home today? Screw around. Take the four wheelers out, maybe snuggle up and watch a little TV?”
“You sure?”
“Yeah, why?”
“I thought you’d wanna do something more exciting.”
She pushed back and looked at him. “Is that what you think? I have to be doing something new and exciting all the time? I find being on the ranch with you…boring?”
Quinn gave her a half-shrug and ducked his head.
Another truth hit her. “I’ve hurt you by letting you believe you and our home weren’t enough for me anymore.” Libby rubbed the tips of her fingers over his morning whiskers. “Oh Quinn. Oh, honey, that’s not why I wanted the separation. I’d hoped if we were apart we’d miss each other. We’d be forced to communicate beyond ‘What’s for supper?’ and ‘I washed your coveralls’ and we’d work harder to stay together.”
“Has it worked? Us spendin’ the weekend together?”
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Strong Silent Type
Libby laid her head on his chest and listened to his heartbeat. So strong. So steady. “We’re off to a damn fine start.”
Quinn stayed silent a beat too long and Libby knew she hadn’t given him the answer he wanted.
***
“Whatcha doin’?”
She shuffled the papers as the printer spat them out. “Research.”
Why did she look so guilty? “Can I see?”
“What time is it?” Libby asked, avoiding his question.
“Almost eight. Why?”
She unplugged the printer cable and powered down her laptop. “I thought it’d be fun to play cards.”
“I’d be up for a game of strip poker.” Quinn waggled his eyebrows.
“I was thinking a game of hearts and you were thinking with a hard-on.”
“I can’t help it. All the smokin’ hot sex yesterday, in the shower this mornin’, and my mind is runnin’
on one track.”
“Hold that thought. And get your money out. After I’ve finished packing I’m
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