Free Still the One by Lena Matthews

pity you more for. Your lackluster sex life or
    your stupidity.”
    Creigh stiffened at the insult. “I‟m not stupid.”
    “You‟re obviously not burdened with the brights either,” A-mei said as she
    slammed the ledger closed. “I can‟t even concentrate on this right now. You‟re giving
    me a headache.”
    “What the hell are you talking about?”
    “Dean,” she said impatiently. “That man loves you more than Beyoncé loves
    lace fronts.”
    “I know he loves me.” Creigh didn‟t doubt that at all. “I‟m just upset I‟m
    obviously not meeting his needs.”
    “Then meet them.” A-mei said it as if the answer was obvious.
    Creigh was so taken aback she hardly knew what to say. A-mei wasn‟t
    supposed to be on Dean‟s side. She was supposed to be sympathizing with Creigh.
    “Meet them. That‟s easier said than done.”
    “No, Creigh, it isn‟t. You‟re upset he‟s jerking off in the shower; well leave
    those damn dishes in the sink and climb in there with him and wash his dick
    yourself. Put the wow in shower.”
    “Wow isn‟t even in shower,” Creigh grumbled as she tried to remember why
    she thought for a half a second coming to A-mei with her problem was a good idea in
    the first place.
    “You‟re arguing semantics because you have nothing else to argue.”
    Creigh held her tongue because A-mei was right. She had nothing, but
    apparently A-mei did because she kept talking.
    “He‟s quickied out; then you make time to make love with your man.”

    56
    Lena Matthews

    “What time?”
    “Find it. Your house doesn‟t have to be sparkling clean every night before you
    go to bed. I‟m sure Dean would much prefer you polish his balls instead of the
    hardwood floors. Get a babysitter. Take a minivacation or a minihoneymoon. It‟s not
    like you two actually had time to go on one after you were married the second time.”
    “What about the kids?”
    “Between the two of you, you have enough family members who would be
    willing to chip in and watch them for you for a weekend. His sister, Annabelle, had
    like twenty kids. What difference is three more going to make?”
    “What about you?” Creigh challenged. “Would you be willing to watch them for
    me?”
    “Hell no.” A-mei blanched at just the notion. “But I‟ll help you find someone
    who will.”
    “That‟s better than nothing, I suppose.” Although it would have been amusing
    as hell to see her cousin deal with motherhood, even if it were for just one night.
    “Either way, this isn‟t anything that can‟t be fixed.”
    Creigh let out a heavy sigh. “Being superwoman is tiring.”
    “Then stop. You‟re not a comic book character or a fifties housewife,” A-mei
    pointed out. “And fortunately you‟re married to a man who loves you and is willing
    to jerk his arm into a cast so he doesn‟t become an additional burden on you.”
    Creigh bristled. “He‟s not a burden.”
    “Does he know that?”
    Creigh‟s mind began to go a hundred miles a minute. Last night she had felt
    like the victim; tonight she was feeling more like a whiner. She had a wonderful
    man whose main complaint was he wanted to spend more time with her, make love
    to her, and she was begrudging him a hand job. Leave it to A-mei to point out the
    flaws of her “woe is me” monologue. Irritated at herself, Creigh narrowed her gaze
    and took it out on the person closest to her. “I hate talking to you.”

    Still the One
    57

    “If I were you, I would too.” A-mei smirked. “Changing the subject to one that
    bores me less, do you have any plans for tonight?”
    Creigh rolled her eyes. A-mei was such a snot, but she loved her, which was
    the only reason she answered. “No, just going home and waiting for Dean. Looks as
    if I might owe him an apology or two.”
    “He won‟t be home till late?”
    “Bar closes at two, so anytime after that.” Creigh narrowed her gaze and
    stared at her cousin with distrust. “Why?”
    “Well, I was wondering