His Marriage to Remember. Kathie DeNosky

she tell him how much his absence had affected her when she’d had the miscarriage.

      “Sam, it’s not a good time—”

      “Ah, so that’s what the deal is,” he said, his tone suddenly filled with understanding. “Why didn’t you just come out and tell me you’re having your period? You’ve never been shy about that with me before.”

      She had intended to explain that it wasn’t a good time to discuss starting a family while he was recovering from the concussion, but his misconception would keep her from having to make excuses for at least a few more days. Besides, by not correcting his assumption, she wasn’t exactly lying to him. She knew he probably wouldn’t see it that way, but it really was best for both of them.

      “I had other things on my mind,” she said evasively. Deciding it was time for a change of subject, she added, “I’ll be finished with the dishes in a few more minutes. Why don’t you go on out to the porch and get comfortable in the swing.”

      “Since it looks like that’s the most excitement I’m going to have for the evening, I guess I might as well.” He kissed the side of her neck, then releasing her, started toward the back door. “Don’t be long.”

      Bria waited until Sam had closed the kitchen door before resting her forearms on the edge of the sink to sag against it. By the time Sam regained his memory, she was going to be thoroughly exhausted from dancing around the truth, as well as fighting the temptation he posed. No matter how disillusioned and angry she had been with him over the past several months, no matter how many times she told herself that she couldn’t live with a man who was never there for her, she still wanted him.

      Deciding that she was going to need reinforcement, she quickly finished washing the last of the dishes and walked into the study to pick up the phone. When her sister answered on the second ring, Bria said, “Mariah, I need your help. Get down to the ranch as soon as you can. And plan on staying a couple of days.”

      “I thought you told me you’d only be a few minutes,” Sam said when Bria walked out onto the porch. “I was just about to come looking for you, sweetheart.”

      Instead of sitting beside him on the swing as he thought she would, she walked over to stand by the porch rail. “I was on the phone with my sister.”

      “How is Mariah?” Sam asked, unable to remember the last time he had seen his sister-in-law. Five years younger than Bria, the two sisters were as close as he and his brothers.

      “She’s coming down from Amarillo for the weekend.” Bria turned to give him a smile. “She offered to help me make dinner for Jaron’s birthday.”

      Sam wasn’t the least bit surprised that Mariah planned to attend the birthday dinner for his brother. Aside from the fact that the vivacious brunette attended all the birthday celebrations Bria arranged for him and his brothers, it was no secret that Mariah had a huge crush on Jaron. That his brother thought of her as off-limits because she was Bria’s sister and ten years younger than himself was no secret either.

      “It’ll be good to see her again,” Sam said, meaning it. He liked his sister-in-law and thought she would be good for Jaron—help settle him down. But it wasn’t his place to interfere. That was Jaron’s business, and Hank had taught them all not to stick their noses in where they didn’t belong.

      “Why don’t you come over here and sit down?” he asked when Bria continued to stand by the rail.

      She hesitated a moment, then slowly walked over to lower herself onto the porch swing next to him. “You looked comfortable and I didn’t want to disturb you.”

      Sam released a frustrated breath. “Dammit, Bria, that run-in with the brindle bull didn’t turn me into an invalid. I may still have a couple of aching muscles, but give me some credit. I’m made of stronger stuff than that.”