Page 14 of Season of Mercy
Her lower lip trembled. “Sometimes I felt it was my fault somehow.”
His jaw dropped. “How could it be your fault?”
“I wasn’t enough, so Cole had to seek something outside our marriage.”
“You’re more than enough.” Ethan’s heart nearly broke for her.
Mercy shook her head. “I was never enough for you, either. I’ll tell you a little secret. At fifteen, when I met you, I had a crush on you. But you dated a different girl every week, and I was just a buddy for you. And let’s face it, I was a late bloomer.” She withdrew her hand.
He missed the warmth of her fingers immediately.
They had never been on the same page.
Ethan could’ve kicked himself.
“On the other hand, if I hadn’t married Cole, I wouldn’t have had Stevie. And I wouldn’t trade my little boy for the world.” Mercy smiled.
A man could have only so much patience.
Ethan leaned to her and cupped her face. “I’m glad we got this chance to start anew. In case you haven’t figured it out, I like you. I like you a lot.” He much more than liked her, but he didn’t want to scare her off.
She’d changed a lot during the years he’d forced himself to stay away from her. The new Mercy was much more cautious and careful than the Mercy he’d once known.
Her eyes darkened. “You don’t need to use your techniques on me. I’m already your wife, and I know the rules of the arrangement.”
Ethan tensed. Apparently, the new Mercy was even more cautious than he’d thought.
“I mean it. Don’t you know how lovely, kind, and sweet you are?” He moved his thumb over her smooth skin slowly.
With a soft sigh, she shifted closer, and his pulse went into overdrive. Several more inches, and he’d be able to kiss her. His breath caught in his throat just at the thought.
Reallykiss her.
The kiss at the wedding had been so fast, as Mercy had withdrawn much sooner than he would’ve liked.
Her lips opened.
Yes, a man could have only so much patience.
Ethan brushed his lips against hers tentatively, half expecting her to pull away. When she didn’t, he deepened the kiss ever so slightly, and the world became vibrant with colors. His heart was beating wildly against his rib cage. A wave of elation swept him up and carried him away, somewhere where only the two of them existed.
When Mercy pulled away, the expression in her eyes was dazed.
She touched her mouth with her fingertips. “That was incredible. But it doesn’t change the truth.”
The elation he’d felt a moment ago evaporated. “And the truth is...?”
Her expression hardened. “Cole couldn’t wait to find diversion away from me. Besides, I’m sure you’ve met plenty of lovely, kind, sweet women. You didn’t stay with any of them.” She rose to her feet. “I need to check on Stevie.”
As Mercy disappeared down the hall, Ethan whispered to nobody in particular, “I didn’t stay with any of them because none of them was Mercy.”
But was that the only reason?
***
AWEEK LATER, MERCYglanced at a little hill of cornhusks and masa on the table. Making tamales from scratch was a time-consuming task. It was best when several people made them, like when she’d made them with her mother.
No matter.
