The Winner Takes It All: Winning Back His Wife / In Her Rival's Arms / Royally Seduced

“Aren’t you getting in?” he asked.

Cullen stared at her as if she had something on her face. Left-over French toast, perhaps? She rubbed the back of her hand over her mouth. “Are you staying in here?”

“Yes.”

It was as simple and as complicated as that.

“I need to hand you shampoo,” he reminded her.

Oh, yeah. She’d forgotten about that. But still she hesitated. “This is kind of awkward.”

“Only if we make it awkward.”

“I’m not trying to.”

“Neither am I.”

“But I’m the one who is naked under my robe.”

“I can undress.”

She gave him a look.

He grinned, then faced the door. “Better?”

“Yes, thank you.” Mustering her courage with a deep breath wasn’t going to work, with her incision and ribs. She settled for a slight intake of air, untied the belt, dropped her robe and stepped inside the tub. She closed the shower curtain. “You can turn around now.”

“Is the water the right temperature?”

Hot water poured over her. Steam rose toward the ceiling. She picked up a bar of soap. “Perfect.”

“I remember you like it hot.”

She remembered the showers they’d taken together. Hot water pulsating down on them. Washing each other. Kissing. Touching.

The soap slipped out of her hand and clattered to the tub.

“Sarah—”

“I dropped the soap,” she said at the same time.

“Can you reach it?” he asked.

Bending hurt. But she wasn’t about to ask him to get it for her. That would be too awkward. Too…tempting. “No, but it’s okay. I really just wanted to wash my hair.”

“I’ve got the shampoo,” he said. “Stick out your hand when you want some.”

Once her hair was wet enough, she extended her left arm. The cooler air temperature made her shiver. Goose bumps covered her exposed skin.

He poured a dollop of shampoo onto her palm. “Is that enough?”

“Yes.”

Washing her hair was easier this time. “I’m getting the hang of using one hand.”

“Just takes time.”

Time she didn’t have. For the past twenty-four hours, Cullen had occupied the majority of her thoughts. Not Mount Baker. Once she had work to distract her everything would return to normal. She couldn’t wait for that to happen. She rinsed the shampoo from her hair.

“Need more?” he asked.

Yes, but not from him. He hadn’t been able to give her what she needed. She couldn’t be the wife he wanted. That was why they were better off apart. Still, the thought made her heart hurt. Not a want-to-throw-herself-a-pity-party aching, but a too-bad-this-couldn’t-have-worked pining. “I’m good.”

At least when it came to shampoo.

After she returned to the institute with her marriage and Cullen behind her, everything in her life would be good, too. Given how bad things had been, it sure couldn’t get any worse.

Later that evening, the doorbell rang. Sarah remained on the couch while Cullen answered the door. Her babysitter for the night, Leanne Thomas, must have arrived.

Sarah was looking forward to Cullen going to work. A physical separation from him would be a relief, even though she’d spent most of her day in bed while he caught up on things around the cabin. But she’d been thinking about him constantly. On her mind was the last place he belonged. Well, actually her heart was the last place, but that wasn’t going to happen again.

A pretty woman with long, shiny brown hair, an easy smile and wearing a huge diamond engagement ring carried in a platter of mini red velvet cupcakes. She placed the dessert on the kitchen table, then removed a green tote bag from her shoulder. “Hi, I’m Leanne.”

“I’m Sarah.” Cullen had called the by-the-book paramedic and mountain-rescue volunteer tough as nails, but Sarah didn’t get that impression at all. “Nice to meet you.”

“The pleasure is mine.” Leanne glanced at Cullen, who was sticking a water bottle into his backpack. “Hope I’m not late.”

“Right on time.” He swung a backpack strap over his right shoulder. “Thanks for taking the overnight shift. I left a list of instructions on the breakfast bar. Sarah’s meds are on the kitchen counter. She should rest as much as possible. Short walks are okay, but not outside.”

“Bummer. I thought I could take her on a midnight stroll around Mirror Lake,” Leanne teased.

His gaze hardened. “You’re kidding.”

Sarah shook her head. He needed to lighten up and not take things so seriously.

Leanne’s mouth quirked. “Give me a little credit.”

“Just making sure,” he said. “Call me if you have any questions.”

What? Sarah bit her lower lip. He hadn’t wanted her to call him at work no matter what was going on. If she did contact him, he never got back to her. Most of the times she’d tried calling had been because she missed him and wanted to hear his voice.

“I’m sure Sarah will be able to answer any questions I might have,” Leanne said.

“Definitely.” Sarah liked how direct Leanne was. “I don’t know what instructions Cullen left, but my doctor’s orders are to take my medication. Sleep. Rest. Sleep some more. Rest some more.”

Leanne frowned. “Sounds boring.”

“It is,” Sarah agreed. “I fear I’m turning into a couch potato.”