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They sat down to dinner. Conversation flowed smoothly and easily as they chatted about Harrison’s campaign and how the numbers were looking. It was early days yet, but he was holding up well against his competitors, leading even in some states.
It did her soul good to see the burgeoning relationship between Coburn and his brother. They were easier with each other now, genuine, with none of the tension she’d used to witness between them. What wasn’t so easy for her to watch was the open adoration on Harrison’s face when he looked at his five-months-pregnant wife. It was how Coburn had used to look at her. Uncaring of who witnessed it, proud.
It did something to the tension already clenching her stomach from her emotional seesaw of a day. Tightened her inner muscles like a vise until it was hard to force the delicious steak past it.
She escaped gratefully to the kitchen with the dishes when they were done with the main course. Coburn followed her, setting a stack on the counter. He watched as she loaded them into the dishwasher.
“Olga can do those tomorrow.”
“I thought I’d get them out of the way.”
He stepped closer, lifting her chin with his fingers. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” She gave him a bright look.
“If it’s the work stuff...”
“It’s not the work stuff.”
“Then, what is it?”
Her emotions spiraled, swirled through the air as they gained momentum in the emotional storm sweeping over her.
I need to know if you still love me. I need to know I’m not about to sacrifice the opportunity of a lifetime for you for this to fail. To end up just like my mother...
She set her jaw, refusing to give in to the forces that wanted to destroy the fragile hope she’d been building. “I’m just tired. I didn’t sleep well last night.”
He stepped in close, bending his head to bring his mouth to her ear. “I know a good tension reliever I happen to have a specialty in.”
His husky, fatigue-deepened voice wove its usual magic around her senses. She leaned back against the counter. “Sex doesn’t solve everything, Coburn.”
He lifted a brow. “So there is something bothering you.”
“I’m tired,” she reiterated, pressing a palm to his chest to move him out of the way. “I need to serve dessert.”
He stepped back, his frown telling her it wasn’t the end of it. Frankie paused halfway into the kitchen, her gaze darting from Coburn to her. “Sorry, was just going to get some more mineral water.”
Diana retrieved the bottle from the refrigerator. Coburn rejoined Harrison at the table while Frankie helped her serve dessert. When the two men had gone off to talk Grant business in the living room over a brandy, Diana and Frankie took their tea out onto the deck.
“I seriously miss my wine.” Frankie sighed, curling up in one of the lounge chairs. “I’ll be happy when I can have a glass again.”
“Me, too.” Although she could use more than a glass right now to help her unwind.
“Are you going to go back to work until the baby comes?” Frankie asked.
She lowered herself into the chair beside her. “I was going to until this recall happened. Now I think Coburn needs me by his side. My job is an all-consuming kind of thing.”
“I think it’s great that you’ve been here for him.” Frankie shook her head. “He needs the support. I’ve never seen things get so ugly with the board. The pressure on him is immense.”
“It’s been a bit of a ride.”
Frankie was quiet for a long moment. Then she turned her striking blue-gray gaze on Diana. “He’s been different since you two have been back together. And by that I mean settled, grounded. Even with the insane amount of pressure he’s been under, he has a peace about him he hasn’t had since I came to work for him. It’s you, Diana.”
Her gaze slipped away from Frankie’s, heat stinging the back of her eyes. It felt as if she and Coburn were rebuilding an amazing bond. Yet held up against Frankie and Harrison, who were so perfectly matched, it still felt wanting.
She’d once thought she and Coburn were the perfect missing pieces for each other. He lightened her up when she got too serious. She grounded him. Until the ways they were alike, their twin ambitions they couldn’t temper, had torn them apart.
She blinked back the tears that threatened to fall. She wanted all of her husband back. Not just the parts he chose to share. So badly her heart ached with it.
