“I was planning to walk them to the bus stop this morning anyway and to pick them up and take Maddie to piano and Kensey to ballet. If you left now you could miss traffic and spend the day. I know you miss them, Vaughan. It’s one of the best things about you. I’d never ask you to give that up. It’s as much a part of you as the color of your eyes.”

“You think so? Even with all the shit between you and them?”

“I’ve thought about this over the years. About why your family and I never clicked. Most of it is about how I came around. They didn’t know me at all and there I was, young and pregnant and your wife. And there was no prenup.”

Oh, Sharon had shit the bed over that. It had been the biggest weapon in her arsenal during the divorce and the year or so after when things were at the very worst.

“She had no right to do or say any of that.”

“No, she didn’t. And it was your job to tell her that. But you didn’t. So you both failed.” Kelly cleared her throat as the shock passed over Vaughan’s face. She’d never tell him, but Kelly had wanted to say that for years and now that she had, another layer of weight lifted and the space between them wasn’t bigger at all.

Just the opposite.

He listened to her, which was why he’d reacted the way he had. Regret replaced the surprise.

Kelly let out a long breath. “That’s in the past for me. I needed to say that. And now that I have, it’s gone. I told myself I’d forgiven you, but I hadn’t. Not until right now.”

He hugged her again and she let herself believe he’d changed. Let herself believe she’d changed, too.

“Thank you,” he murmured as she stepped back.

“As I was saying. First impressions are important and mine was not good. Not that there was anything wrong with me and they should have tried to get past their preconceptions.” That needed to be said, too. “But you come from a good family. A strong family. That family loves our children and even if I’m never as liked as anyone else, I want that for them. Don’t cut yourself off from that over me.”

* * *

“WELL, I DON’T want my daughters to grow up seeing their mother not welcomed by their father’s family.” Vaughan shoved a hand through his hair, beginning to pace.

“There’s no way our relationship will work if they don’t welcome you. Not if I stay close with them.” He knew that with utter certainty. “You’d resent me if I didn’t stand up for you.”

She nodded. “Yeah. I did. And I would. I’m not sure how we get around that, but I’d like to try to work out our differences and be nicer to each other if for no other reason than Maddie and Kensey. And I admit it, I want them to like me.”

Vaughan took her hands. There she was, putting herself to the side for someone else and he was done seeing that happen.

“I failed you before. You’re totally right. But you’re also right that my family is a good family. And because of that, I think we can fix this.” Vaughan didn’t believe his mother wanted this tension between them to continue and after his dinner with his brothers at the ranch the week before, he believed they all would welcome Kelly happily.

“I won’t lose you again. I’m not just going over there to eat and then hang out or help Ezra. I’m going to talk to my mom and dad about you. About us. And I’m going to be sure they know the truth I’ve been dodging for a long time.” In just a few days he’d have been staying with them for five weeks. So much had changed. Enough to give him the strength and will to do the right thing.

Kelly’s features lit and he reversed his pacing and moved back to her.

“I broke us. I cheated and betrayed you and then I let my family think the worst of you because I was too weak to bear the weight of what I’d done. I’m sorry, Kelly.”

She sniffled a little and he was glad he’d said it. Sorry that he hadn’t before.

“So, this morning I’ll walk the girls to the bus along with you like we do every morning. And tonight is taco night, so I’ll be back because it’s my turn to pick the food up when you call to say you’ve got Maddie and are on the way home like you did last week and the week before.”

The wonder of that hadn’t gone away yet. The way he and Kelly had begun to work with one another to keep their family running. She trusted him with a little more each week and it was a gift each time.

He’d have tacos with his ladies at six that night just like he did every Tuesday night.

“Okay, then.” She went to her tiptoes to kiss him.

He cupped her cheeks, so pleased she’d let him in so much more. Touched that she’d insisted he continued his relationship with his family. Determined to fix the mess he’d made.

He followed her into the bathroom. “We’ve got about fifteen extra minutes. Any idea what we could do with it?”

The shirt she tossed over her shoulder answered his question and he laughed, quickening his pace to catch up.

“Make sure the door is locked,” she called out as he made to grab her.

“Oops.” He turned around to do that and when he’d come back, she was naked and getting into the shower.

He locked the bathroom door, too, and joined her.

“Now you’re learning,” she teased.

He shucked his pants and joined her, already hard, always wanting her.

This kiss took him deep. He wanted every moment they had, wanted to fill each of them with pleasure, greedy as always.