Page 102 of Counted

She’d cried enough about that already. Today was going to be good.

After a while, since she wasn’t so hot, she snuggled against Jude more fully. He adjusted her so she was lying with her head in his lap—the way she’d done for him so often.

He stroked her hair very gently. She was lying right on the ground, but she didn’t even care.

It felt like Jude was taking care of her, so she was going to soak in every second.

It wouldn’t be long before he wouldn’t be around to take care of her anymore.

They were staying in one of the best suites in a luxury hotel nearby.

Eve had grown up around wealthy people and with a family that was comfortably well-off, but she’d never stayed in accommodations like this until she’d married Jude.

The suite had a wall of windows that opened fully to a mesa view. The clean, modern lines highlighted the desert setting, andthe terrace had a private lap pool, comfortable chaises, and even an outdoor bed, walled off for privacy but open to the sky.

That evening, after they’d showered and eaten a relaxed dinner at the hotel restaurant, Eve changed into a pretty pink nightgown and went out to lie on the outside bed so she could stare at the stars in the clear night sky.

They were stunningly bright in the darkness, and there was a nearly full moon that cast so much light it barely felt like nighttime.

She was smiling up at the view when Jude’s voice surprised her. “We could sleep out here all night, I guess.”

Lifting her head, she was hit with a swell of tenderness at the sight of his lean body and loose, low-riding pajama pants. His hair was unbound, but he must have just brushed it out because it glinted in the terrace lighting.

He was so much more than handsome.

He was Jude.

And he was hers.

“We can if you want. It’s a pretty good temperature right now.”

He climbed into the bed beside her, rolling over onto his side to face her and propping his head up on one bent arm. “You tired?”

“A little, but not as much as I would have expected after that all-day hike. What about you?”

“I feel pretty good.”

“No headache?”

“No headache.”

Her chest felt achy, and there were flutters in her belly. The excitement was prompted by both the sensual setting and the expression in Jude’s eyes.

He wanted to have sex. So did she. But he also looked so much like he loved her, and she wanted that even more.

If she could, she would have crawled right inside him and never come out. That was how close to him she wanted to be.

“Well,” she began, “maybe we could…”

Jude moved over to kiss her.

“…do something,” she mumbled against his lips.

He chuckled softly as he settled himself on top of her, his amusement vibrating his body in a way she loved.

He never used to laugh that way—warm and relaxed and uninhibited. He used to be so guarded and withdrawn, never opening up even to those closest to him.

This marriage had changed him. For the better. Just like it had changed her.

---