Page 1 of Make Me Whole

PROLOGUE – SKY

My eyes darted to the picture window behind the dining room table of our vacation home, hitting me with instant wonder. The moonlight glistened on the water and cast a magic glow on the trees around the house. San Juan Island most likely wasn’t the top romantic destination in the world, though it should be high in the list, but it was, for sure, the most romantic I’d ever visited.

And after our time here, it would also be my favorite. Considering all went according to plan tonight, of course.

A lustful smirk curled my lips as I approached the table with the bottle of wine and pitcher of grape juice. The sound of the kids playing in the other room filled the three-bedroom house with life and laughter. Considering the lives all of us had led up to that point, the sound was nothing short of a miracle.

But even miracles had to eat.

“C’mon, kids,” I called as I filled their glasses with juice. “Wash your hands and come eat. I won’t ask again.”

“ButMom. . .”

I wanted to laugh, but didn’t.

“Don’t ‘but Mom’ me, Ella.”

“The turtle will die if we leave her,” Aiden pleaded.

I looked over my shoulder and saw all the items of the marine biologist kit Aiden had chosen as his aquarium souvenir this afternoon spread out on the coffee table while the stuffed giant green turtle Ella had picked as hers lay on the couch with a throw blanket wrapped around its fins and neck. The situation was clearly dire.

My heart swelled at the sight. All I had ever wanted for my daughter was a stable home and a sibling to play with, and I was so glad she had found both with Aiden and Max. But not glad enough to stop mealtime.

“No, she won't,” I told them emphatically. “Just sedate her for now. You guys can finish your work before bedtime. Now, hand washing and walking here. Your dad worked hard on dinner, Aiden. Let’s not be rude and eat it cold.”

The kids grumbled but made their way to the washroom. I peeked over my shoulder at the kitchen to make sure that Max was still there and then quickly filled my own stemmed glass with the juice before switching to the wine bottle just in time to welcome Max and his steaming casserole.

“The food smells delicious, Max,” I told him, propping one hand on the table and reaching the other across to fill his glass with wine. His eyes moved from my face to the line of my body. I arched my lower back, popping my booty out just enough to turn his breaths audible.

From the corner of my eyes, I watched Max strut confidently toward me. He set the baking dish down at the center of the table. His arm grazed the side of mine just barely. My bare skin exploded with wonderful chills and delicious goosebumps. The way this man made me feel alive and hot and desired was something I had never experienced before, and it never ceased to amaze me.

“Youlook delicious. I wish I were having you for dinner,” he whispered in my ear.

My breath hitched, my heart skipped a beat, and the sound of little feet racing to the room reached my ears. I instantly regretted not letting them play a while longer so we could enjoy some sexy appetizers.

“Dessert is still TBD,” I teased.

Max swatted me on the ass and made his way around the table as the children invaded the room with a ruckus.

“Food smells so good,” my daughter chimed.

I exhaled a calming breath and told the butterflies in my gut to chill as I finished filling Max’s glass with wine and set the bottle down next to his place setting. Ella pounced on the chair next to mine in a most unladylike way, and Aiden did the same to the chair next to Max’s.

My heart swelled at the friendship between them. God only knew how much these kids needed each other, and as I looked at Max, his handsome face rugged with a couple of days’ worth of stubble and green eyes gleaming with the lust and security I’d only ever found in him, I realized how much I needed this man and his kid as well.

Kids,my brain chimed in, reminding me of my new reality and what was riding on my plans for tonight.

After Max said grace, we dug in. Underneath the table, Max’s foot caressed my leg in an up and down motion that set my skin on fire. My head swam so badly I was barely aware of the conversation happening around me. All I could think about was dessert.

Since Max cooked, I cleaned. When I finally joined Max and the kids in the living room, they had just finished untangling the blanket from the turtle's neck, ultimately saving its life.

Per my daughter’s request, Max and his funny storytelling voices were on bedtime duty.

“Will you wait here for me?” he asked under his breath after the kids disappeared down the hall.

The lust in his eyes made arousal pool between my legs. I shook my head, dark hair swishing around my face. “I think I’ll hit the shower.”

His sandy brows tugged. “What about dessert?”

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