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

“Thanks, and I’m sorry.”

“No apology necessary. Do what you have to do.”

That’s what Cullen was trying to do. Even though he wasn’t sure why he was doing it.

A week later sunlight streamed through Sarah’s bedroom window. The snow must have stopped overnight. Not that good weather would change her agenda for the day. Physical therapy and a walk were as exciting as things got. She could work on her laptop for a few minutes, but headaches and her arm limited her productivity. Still, she forced herself out of bed and into the hallway.

The scent of freshly brewed coffee and something baking filled the air. Sarah’s mouth watered at the tantalizing aromas. Her tummy grumbled.

She wondered who would be staying with her today. The delicious smells wafting in the air told her it wasn’t Zoe Hughes, who was scheduled to be here. The former socialite was beautiful and friendly, but she couldn’t cook. Hannah had been here yesterday, so that left Carly or Leanne.

Unless it was…Cullen.

The thought gave Sarah an unexpected boost of energy. She quickened her pace.

She hadn’t seen him in days. He’d been working his shifts and covering for other doctors. He’d explained he was doing this because of being up in Seattle with her, not to get away from her now. He’d even called to say hello, something he’d never done, which Sarah appreciated.

But his absences reminded her of how she’d always been so desperate to see him when they lived together. She wasn’t desperate now. She was…eager. The logic behind her eagerness couldn’t readily be explained, but her frustration could be.

Sarah’s slow recovery gave her insight into how magma must feel as it rose out of the earth’s mantle and moved into the crust. She wasn’t a mix of solids, melt and gases, but the physics behind making progress with her injuries was similar and taking way too much time.

In the hallway, Sarah noticed someone in the kitchen. Someone with brown hair. Someone female with two braids.

Not Cullen. Leanne.

Sarah stumbled, but regained her balance before she fell. She’d experienced a lifetime of disappointments, everything from forgotten birthdays to having her marriage disintegrate. Not seeing Cullen was nothing in the grand scheme of things.

Leanne greeted Sarah with a smile. “You’re up early today.”

“I went to bed around eight.” Sarah hadn’t been that tired, but she’d wanted Hannah to go home and say good-night to her three children. Being tucked in meant a lot to kids. It would have meant a lot to Sarah if her parents had done that.

Cullen must have come and gone while she was sleeping. If he’d returned home at all. A few times this week he hadn’t, and not knowing where he was bugged her.

Sarah leaned against the breakfast bar. “I thought Zoe was going to be here.”

“She had to run to Portland, so two of us are tag-teaming it.” Leanne picked up the coffeepot. “You’re stuck with me until lunchtime.”

“You’re the one who’s stuck.” These women were so kind and friendly. “I appreciate what you’ve been doing for me.”

“It’s our pleasure.” The sincerity in Leanne’s voice touched Sarah’s heart. “This is what friends do for each other.”

Cullen was so lucky. Hood Hamlet was a very special place. A perfect place for a family. Not that she would ever have one…

As Leanne poured coffee into two cups, light glimmered off her diamond engagement ring. The pretty paramedic had found her one true love at the fire station. A younger man who adored her, according to Zoe.

Sarah felt a pang. Maybe happy-ever-afters were possible for some people. She hoped so for her new friend’s sake.

“Sit.” Leanne placed the steaming mugs on the table. “I baked banana-nut muffins.”

Sarah sat. “I like those as much as blueberry ones.”

People in Hood Hamlet took care of each other and strangers like her, too. Home-cooked, healthy meals were either made or arrived each day. Though Cullen had been away so much, he’d ended up with leftovers. When he came home…

Her throat tightened. Cullen hadn’t fallen right back into the same pattern of their marriage, but the longer he stayed away, the more she worried he might.

Leanne returned to the table with a platter of muffins. “Dig in.”

“Thanks.” Sarah bit into one. The flavors and warmth filled her mouth. “Delicious. I like the walnuts.”

“Me, too.”

She took another bite, but couldn’t stop thinking about Cullen. Thoughts of him more than made up for his physical absence. That added to her growing frustrations over her injuries and inability to get much work done. She tore off a piece of the muffin and shoved it into her mouth.

Concern clouded Leanne’s brown eyes. “Taking it easy is hard for you.”

Sarah stared into her coffee cup. “It’s downright aggravating.”

“Cullen told me you’re improving every day.”

Hurt sliced through her. He hadn’t told her that. She shouldn’t take it personally. She wasn’t his friend or a climbing and ski partner like Leanne.

So what if he’d kissed Sarah? Or spent two whole days and night taking care of her before he’d returned to a marathon of shift coverage? She was a temporary roommate and no longer a permanent part of his life—a life she was beginning to envy after a week and a half in Hood Hamlet.

Being envious was silly.

Everything she wanted and cared about was in Bellingham. Mount Baker. The institute. Her postdoc.

Leanne studied her. “Since you’re doing better, maybe it’s time you do something in town.”

Anticipation made Sarah sit straighter. “I would love that.”

“Zoe wants us to go to Taco Night at the brewpub this evening. Join us.”

Sarah’s stomach fluttered. “Sounds like fun, but I don’t know if Cullen will agree. He can’t turn off the doctor switch.”

Leanne grinned. “I’ll talk to him. Convince him going out will be good for you.”

“He still might say no.”

“Then I’ll ask Paulson to help me kidnap you. He’s been my best friend since I was nine. He’s up for anything.”

“Even kidnapping?”

“Pretty much,” Leanne said. “He might draw the line at disposing of a body, but with Paulson you never know, especially if a pretty woman is involved.”

A smile tugged at the corners of Sarah’s lips. “Sounds like an interesting guy.”

Leanne sipped her coffee. “He’s a real-life Peter Pan who will never grow up, but he’s also a total sweetheart. You’ll meet him after lunch. He’s staying with you until Cullen gets home.”

Sarah perked up. “Cullen will be home tonight?”

“This afternoon. That’s why tonight is perfect for you to get out.”

“I’d like that.” Especially if she could be with Cullen.

“It’ll happen.” Leanne sounded so confident.

“And if not, you and Bill can kidnap me.”

A fake kidnapping sounded fun, given Sarah had been lying around since she’d arrived. Now, if she’d been lying around with Cullen…

Heat rocketed through her. Uh-oh. Better stick to how she was going to get to Taco Night. Mexican food was as spicy as she could handle right now.

Cullen sat in the hospital cafeteria. A few crumbs from his fish and chips remained on his plate. He sipped his coffee. The caffeine would get him through the next two hours.

A good thing he needed to cover only eight hours today. He’d spent the past five days covering shifts for others and working his own. He’d ended up staying at an anesthesiologist’s house rather than drive all the way home only to return a few hours later.

He missed Sarah, but enjoyed this reprieve. Being with her messed with his head. He didn’t want her getting anywhere close to his heart.

But this time away from her had intensified his guilt. Not only for leaving her the way he had a year ago, but also for running away from her when they’d been living together as husband and wife. He hated admitting the truth, even to himself, but the more he thought about it, the more he realized Sarah had been correct about what he’d been doing. No wonder she’d been unhappy. After what her jerk of an ex-fiancé had done to her, Cullen must have made her feel like crap.

He never wanted to hurt her that way again. That was why he’d made it clear to her that he had shifts to make up. He had no ulterior motives in working so much this week.

And even though he wasn’t with her, he thought about Sarah every day. More like several times each day. Wondered how her recovery was going; was she missing him as much as he missed her?

Curious, he called Leanne. She’d texted him this morning saying she was with Sarah instead of Zoe.

“Hey,” Leanne answered. “I was going to call you.”

His shoulder muscles tensed. “Sarah okay?”

“She looks better than I’ve seen her look all week. Stronger, too.”

Relief washed over him. “Good.”

“Sarah is doing so well you should bring her to Taco Night.”

He hadn’t been to the brewpub in three weeks. “She’s not up for it.”

“She wants to go,” Leanne said to his surprise. “She needs to get out of the cabin.”

“Sarah isn’t a social butterfly. She’s a scientist who would rather be on a volcano than anywhere else.”

“It’s not some fancy soiree. It’s tacos at the brewpub.”

Everyone he knew would be there. There would be more questions. “She’ll get too tired.”

“I don’t know how she’s managed this long.” Disapproval rang clear in Leanne’s voice. “Just sitting around the cabin and taking short walks isn’t good for her morale or her recovery.”

But it was safe. He didn’t have to worry about Sarah when that was all she was doing. “She does need to get out more. Next week will be better.”

“Maybe for you, but not Sarah. You can stay home tonight. Paulson will bring her.”

Cullen laughed. “You want Paulson to take my wife to Taco Night?”

“It’s not a problem,” she said. “He’s with Sarah right now. The two hit it off.”

Cullen’s heart went splat against the cafeteria floor.

“What?” His voice rose. He lowered it. “You texted you were with her.”

“This morning. I had to attend a Christmas Magic festival meeting after lunch. No worries. Paulson will take good care of Sarah.”

That was what Cullen was afraid of.

CHAPTER EIGHT

BILL PAULSON SAT next to Sarah on the couch with an impish grin on his lips and a suggestive gleam in his eyes. “So what do you want to do now?”

Charming might describe Hood Hamlet, but it didn’t come close to describing the friendly, easy-on-the-eyes firefighter in well-worn jeans and a faded T-shirt. Sarah enjoyed being with him. He made her feel feminine and pretty even when she looked like a boxer, albeit one who’d been out of the ring for a couple of weeks.

“I have no idea,” she admitted.

The guy had a great sense of humor. He could give any pop-star pretty boy a run for the money in the looks department and kick their butts with his athletic build. He was fun to hang out with, albeit a little immature with some of his not-so-subtle, yet humorous innuendos.

“You’ve kept me entertained all afternoon. I’m not sure what’s left for us to do,” she added.

Mischief twinkled in his eyes. “I’m sure I can think of a few things.”

Bill Paulson would be considered a catch, except for two things—the guy knew he was good-looking and he was an incorrigible flirt. No way would she encourage him.

He rubbed his chin. “I could paint your toenails. That has to be tough to do with your dominant hand in a cast.”

Okay, the guy was a good listener. He’d taken their earlier discussion on being right-handed and come up with this. But however tempting that might sound, she could survive without nail polish. The only man who should be doing any toenail painting on her was Cullen. Not that he would. Or that she would ask him. “Thanks, but I think a nap would be better.”

He scrambled off the couch. “I’ll fluff your pillows. Be right back.”

Sarah bit back a laugh at his eagerness to help. Bill was half player, half Boy Scout rolled into one. Adorable, but a handful if you were a single woman who happened to be attracted to him. Neither of which she was.

The front door opened. Leanne must be back.

Sarah turned to say hello, but the word died on her lips.

Cullen stormed inside, wearing his scrubs. His gaze was intense and focused on her. Lines bracketed his mouth.

“The bed’s ready,” Bill announced from the hallway.

Cullen’s face reddened. A muscle pulsed at his jaw.

Bill grinned. “Hey, Doc. I’ve been taking good care of Sarah.”

Cullen balled his fingers. He looked as if he wanted to punch someone. “I’ll bet you have.”

Sarah had never seen him act like this. She didn’t like it. “Cullen?”

He glared at Bill. “What’s this about a bed being ready?”

Bill held up his hands in front of him, as if to surrender. “Dude, I don’t know what’s got into you, but if you’re thinking I’d put the moves on your pretty wife you’re way off. I just fluffed her pillows.”

Cullen’s dark gaze bounced from Bill to her. “You fluffed her what?”

“Her pillows,” Bill said.

“The pillows on my bed,” Sarah clarified. “I wanted to nap.”

“A nap,” Cullen repeated.

“A nap,” Bill reaffirmed.

Cullen seemed to be digesting the information. She didn’t know what his problem was. She looked up at Bill. “You’ve been a big help this afternoon.”

“Anytime.” He smiled. “If you need a ride to Taco Night…”

“I’m taking her,” Cullen said. “After her nap.”

Bill pulled out his car keys from his jeans pocket. A grin twitched at his lips. “Looks like my work here is done.”

“Thanks for the brownies,” she said.

“You made her brownies?” Cullen asked incredulously.

“I made both of you brownies. Well, my mom did.” Bill had explained how his mom cooked his meals, cleaned his house and did his washing. No wonder the guy hadn’t grown up yet. He didn’t need to. “She dropped them off at my place this morning.”

Sarah stood. “Thank your mom for us. And thanks for keeping me company.”

“My pleasure.” Bill looked at Cullen. “Your wife is quite the card shark. She kicked my butt at Texas hold ’em. A good thing we weren’t playing strip poker, or I’d have been buck naked in no time.”

A confused expression formed on Cullen’s face.

Bill didn’t seem to care. Or maybe he didn’t notice, since he was looking at her. “See you at the brewpub. If Doc changes his mind about going, give me a call.”

With that, Bill left.

Cullen stood next to the breakfast bar. His lips narrowed. “Please tell me you know better than to get involved with a guy like Paulson.”

Defensiveness rose. “Get involved? What are you talking about?”

“A lot of women like him.”

Sarah didn’t like Cullen’s tone. “Bill’s a nice guy.”

“He’s a total player who will never grow up.”

She saw that. She didn’t need Cullen pointing it out. “You’re jealous.”

“No, I’m not,” he said with a dismissive air.

“Then why did you storm into the house like a bull from the streets of Pamplona looking for a fight?”

He took a deep breath and another, as if reining himself in yet again. “I was worried.”

“Worried.”

“I like Paulson,” Cullen admitted. “But he’ll hit on any female with a pretty smile.”

“You thought he would hit on me.”

He clenched his teeth. “You deserve better.”

Sarah had deserved better from him, too. She raised her chin. “Yes, I do. Bill is a big flirt, but it was innocent, all in fun.”

“He didn’t—”

“He was a perfect gentleman.”

Cullen’s brow furrowed. “Gentleman and Paulson don’t belong in the same sentence.”

“Maybe you don’t know him as well as you think you do,” she said. “Bill made me laugh and feel better than I’ve felt in a while. Since long before the accident.” Cullen opened his mouth to speak, but she continued. “But even if I swallowed a ‘stupid’ pill and threw caution to the wind, I would never get involved with Bill…with any man…because you and I are still married.”

Relief washed over Cullen’s face. “Good.”

His response angered and confused her. Why would he care, if he wanted a divorce? “That’s all you have to say?”

“What more do you want?”

“An apology,” she said. “You charged in here assuming the worst without considering that Bill is your friend and I’m your wife.”

“I haven’t been thinking straight. I’ve…been working a lot.”

“What’s new?” She didn’t need to explain, but she didn’t want him thinking the worst of her. “Just so you know. I have been good. Very good. Doing everything you and Dr. Marshall told me to do. Which is more than I can say for you.”

Lines creased Cullen’s forehead. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“You told me you had shifts to make up, but you haven’t been here at all. Heaven only knows where you’ve been spending your nights.”

A devilish grin lit up his face. “You’re the jealous one.”

“Am not.” Okay, maybe a little. But no way would she admit that to him. “I was…worried.”

“Worried.”

More than she wanted to admit. More than he would ever know. “Yes.”

His eyes softened. He grinned sheepishly. “The way I was worried about you and Bill.”

Busted. Darn it. She nodded once, feeling stupid and petty and pathetic.

His gaze met hers. “No need for you to worry. I stayed at a friend’s place near the hospital so I could sleep more between shifts.”

“Makes sense to stay with a friend.”

But she didn’t know if his “friend” was male or a buxom blonde named Bambi. And she wanted to know. Badly.

Cullen strode toward the couch. “I’m learning how important it is to have friends. I realize I’ve been taking them for granted.”

The way he’d taken her for granted. But he’d never considered her a friend. Her throat tightened.

She should say something, but she hadn’t a clue what. “You shouldn’t get a pet if you’re gone so much.”

His eyes widened. “I don’t always work this many shifts. A cat might work. As you said, they’re independent.”

“Even cats need to feel wanted and loved.”

Not that he wanted and loved her, but once he had. At least, that was what he’d told her.

Cullen stood next to her.

Sarah’s pulse skittered. Tension simmered between them. She shouldn’t want him to kiss her. But she did. Badly.

Look away. Move away. But she couldn’t—okay, didn’t want to. Instead she was mesmerized by his blue eyes and full lips.

Once again she was reminded of magma rising. Only this time moving closer to the surface, where the gas pressure increased, accelerating faster and faster until erupting.

She wet her lips.

“In case you’re still worried, the friend I stayed with—he’s an anesthesiologist from the hospital,” he said.

The surge of relief did nothing to douse the flame building inside her, threatening to explode. “Thanks.”

The blue of his eyes deepened. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“This.” Cullen lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her. Hard.

Heaven. His kiss made Sarah feel like she had died and gone to heaven. Best to enjoy every second, every minute if she was that lucky. She had a feeling this might be as close as she ever got to the pearly gates while her heart still beat. And beating it was.

In triple time.

His lips moved over hers with skill and familiarity. The kiss brought her home, back to where she’d longed to be for months now…in his arms. She’d thought about him, dreamed about him, missed him, even though she should have been getting over him. And now she realized why she was having so much trouble getting over him. He tasted warm and inviting. This was a yummy, comfy place she never wanted to leave. Each touch of his mouth, of his hands, made her tingle inside.

Forget pain medication—this was all she needed to feel better. Her blood simmered, rushing through her veins. It had been so long, too long, since she’d felt wanted. She didn’t want the feeling to end.

His hand ran up her back, caressing her, until her hair was running through his fingers.

More. She wanted more.

Sarah parted her lips. He accepted the invitation and deepened the kiss, pressing harder against her mouth.

He’d followed her lead. It was time to follow his.

Her tongue reacquainted itself with him, exploring the recesses of his mouth. She remembered all the times they’d kissed before. Remembered the good times in their marriage when she had believed it would last forever. Maybe her memories were hazy because of the concussion, but this kiss felt different. Better, somehow.

She didn’t want to analyze it too deeply. She wanted to…enjoy.

Heat pooled deep inside her. Need ached. Grew.

A moan escaped her lips.

More. Please.

Cullen drew her closer. She arched into him, only to come to an abrupt stop. She crashed into something hard, sending a jagged pain through her sore and healing abdomen. Her lips slipped off his. Spots appeared before her eyes.

Pain weakened her knees. It hurt, almost burned, so badly, but she didn’t fall. Cullen held on to her.

He groaned, but didn’t let go.

Sarah forced herself to breathe. A knife seemed to be slicing through her midsection. She straightened, intensifying the pain more. She looked down.

Stupid cast.

With the permanent bend in her elbow, her arm was stuck in position, a barrier between them.

In spite of her stomach hurting, she couldn’t deny her reaction to Cullen’s kisses. Her swollen and bruised lips throbbed. Her heart beat wildly. Her pulse hadn’t settled.

She wanted to rewind time and relieve each second of his kisses.

Stupid. Dumb.

Forget about the cast getting in the way—she should have known better than to kiss him back the way she had. “I’m so sorry.”

Cullen bent over, gasping for air. “Give me a sec.”

The rasp in his voice made Sarah look at her cast. “More dangerous than I imagined.”

He glanced up at her. “You have no idea.”

Sarah reached toward him, then thought better of it. If she touched him, she would kiss him again. She pressed her left hand against her side. Pain made her want to sit. She leaned against the couch. “You okay?”

He straightened. “I can breathe now. How about you?”

Her senses reeled. Her heart screamed for more kisses. Her incisions hurt. “I’ve been better. But the pain’s subsiding quicker than it usually does.”

Cullen’s mouth twisted. He looked so serious. As if the fate of the world rested on his shoulders and he’d screwed things up. “This was…”

“A mistake.” Better for her to admit it before him. She should never have kissed him back. “If you’re worried I’m thinking this changes things between us, don’t be. The other kiss didn’t. This one won’t, either.”

He didn’t say a word, but his dark gaze remained on her.

“Kisses are an old habit for us. The opportunity arose again. I wanted to be kissed. It was bound to happen,” she rambled, trying to justify what had occurred. “Someday we’ll look back at this and laugh.”

He raised a brow. “You think?”

She had no idea, but laughing this off was better than analyzing it to death and not liking her conclusion. “Sure.”

“Most kisses aim for romance, not humor.”

Was he aiming for romance by kissing her? Her pulse accelerated. No more kisses. “True, but romantic kisses are a dime a dozen. This one…”

A grin tugged at his lips. He rubbed his stomach. “I won’t be forgetting this one anytime soon.”

Her neither. But for different reasons than his.

Warning bells sounded in her head. Who was she kidding? She was past the warning stage. Alarms blared.

Best not to travel this road again. Giving in to desire would lead to disappointment and heartache. She couldn’t do that to herself, to her heart. “But it won’t happen again.”