Read Online Wild Flower by Abbie Williams - Free Book Online

to face. His dark eyes were tender on me as he added, “I wouldn’t like it either, if the situation was somehow reversed.”
    He was always so careful, tread so gently when it came to an even indirect reference to Clint’s dad, Christopher, who had died in a snowmobile accident the winter Clint was three. The aching sadness that had permeated my every movement for years after had finally let me be, replaced by a sense of fading sweetness at the memories of the time we’d spent together.
    I said honestly, “I was so jealous of Aubrey once, I guess it’s still in the back of my mind.”
    Justin traced the side of my face with his fingertips, studying me somberly. He whispered, “There’s nothing to be jealous of, not ever. You know that.”
    â€œI do,” I assured him, as his hand glided down my side, stroking me softly. I added, “She just…the way she talks…”
    â€œI know,” he said. “She loves to make a scene. She’s not content unless she feels like everyone is paying attention.”
    â€œLike Jackson,” I said, referring to Joelle’s ex-husband. Justin’s thumb was moving in slow circles over my bare thigh and I squirmed a little, desire sparking along my nerves.
    Justin agreed, “Exactly like him.”
    I admitted, “I still hate her.”
    â€œAw honey, don’t waste your time.”
    â€œI know it’s stupid…”
    â€œJillian Rae Miller, my wife, my sweet little woman, it’s not stupid, and I don’t mean to change the subject, but I have kind-of a problem right now…”
    I felt a smile moving inadvertently over my lips at that. He had a ‘problem’ that needed my attention at least once a day. I skimmed my left hand slowly down his chest.
    â€œI really am flattered that you were jealous,” he couldn’t resist, and at that I pinched his belly.
    He smothered a laugh even as I sputtered in a whisper, “You really want to talk that way to the woman who planned to help you with this?” My hand had reached its destination and I observed, “It seems like a pretty gigantic problem to me.”
    He made a sound deep in his throat and pressed against my palm, covering the back of my hand with his own. His dark eyes blazed, igniting a similar fire in me, as he kissed the corner of my mouth and promised in a whisper, “I’ll stop talking.”
    â€œYou do that,” I said against his lips, and felt him grin as he got us both completely naked almost before I could blink.
    Monday morning dawned clear and fresh, the scent of dewy grass and the blue spruces flowing in the open window. Justin usually got up for work around seven-thirty, and Rae normally rolled out of bed around the same time; Clinty, my night owl, rarely appeared in the kitchen before ten. I still worked lunch shifts a few days a week, and even though the café was closed today Rae and I walked through the woods to Shore Leave after breakfast. I knew Aunt Ellen would have a fresh pot of coffee perking, and probably something delicious just coming out of the oven, and I craved the company of the womenfolk. We waved to Justin as he headed for the filling station and his and Dodge’s mechanic shop. He blew us a kiss, and then I collected Rae’s hand into mine and let her lead the way through the familiar trees.
    â€œLookit, Mama, a blue jay!” she said as we ambled along the path through the woods, sun dappling our shoulders with little leaf-cutout shadows. I smoothed my hand over her golden hair as she grinned up at me with her long-lashed brown eyes that were just exactly like Justin’s. I thought of how she liked to kneel on his lap and pat her hands and trace her little fingers over the scars on his face; she had never been afraid of them, calling them ‘Daddy’s scratchies.’ She asked him once if they hurt, to which he’d replied, “No, sweetheart,