Free Then Came You by Jill Shalvis

they couldn’t comprehend them not loving that lifestyle.
    â€œIn Nana’s house,” she said. “In that crazy old place. I can’t even believe it’s still standing. How in the world are you managing? And Darcy, with all those stairs?”
    None of these were real questions, they were purely rhetorical. His mom cared about the general well-being of her children, she really did. She just never needed the details. “We’re managing fine,” he said.
    â€œBut you all fought so much as children,” she said.
    Still did, Wyatt thought, remembering the lamp.
    â€œI just figured you’d sell that monstrosity and move on,” she said.
    Yeah, definitely, an eye twitch. He put a finger to it. “Mom, I told you and Dad both when I first got here last year, I’m staying in Sunshine.”
    â€œIn Idaho,” she said, adding bafflement to her disbelief.
“Idaho.”
    â€œIdaho’s beautiful,” he said.
    â€œYes, but how many people can say they’ve seen the seven wonders of the world before the age of eighteen? And out of all those places, you end up in Idaho.”
    â€œI’m happy here,” he said, very aware of Emily’s gaze on him. Guess she was going to get to know more about him than he’d counted on. “I’m staying.”
    â€œThe three of you, together. It’s so . . . domesticated,” she said, still confused.
    The truth was, just about everything Wyatt had ever done had confused her. Trying to collect animals wherever they went, wanting to stay in the same school for more than a month, insisting on attending college and vet school in the States. Vet school! That had
really
baffled her, and now here he was, living in Sunshine, which barely showed up on a map. “I realize your offspring living in nana’s house, fixing it up together, boggles your mind, Mom. But Zoe’s still flying the friendly skies and seeing the world, and I can assure you, Darcy’s as wild and untamable as ever. You did good there, real good.”
    â€œI’m sensing sarcasm, Wyatt James Stone,” his mom said. “You know I don’t like sarcasm.”
    He bit his tongue, which went against the grain for him. But talking to her never failed to remind him of why he led the life he did. Growing up, he’d had zero choices. But he had choices now, and no one could take them away.
    â€œI’ve got to run,” his mom said.
    The story of his life. But at least he no longer had to pack up and run with her.
    â€œSend my wishes to the girls,” she said.
    â€œWill do—” But she’d disconnected.

Eight

    E mily found herself fascinated by the inadvertent peek into Wyatt’s personal life. Fascinated, and full of a surprising empathy. “Your parents live in Rome?” she asked.
    Wyatt kept his eyes on the highway as he drove. “This month.”
    Interesting that while at first glance he appeared to be relaxed and in his driving zone, his mouth was a little grim, his hands tight on the wheel.
    He drove to the next town over from Sunshine, where there were more restaurant options. He parked, and they walked the short distance to the heart of downtown.
    â€œThai, Mexican, Sushi, or American cuisine,” he asked, gesturing to her choices.
    Thai was good, but it always gave her a stomachache. Mexican was even better, but then she’d have pico de gallo breath. Sushi could go either way.
    No, wait. A stomachache or bad breath didn’t matter.
    Because they weren’t going to sleep together again
.
    Nope, that ship had sailed. Completely. Gone, over the horizon never to be seen again.
    Even if for some crazy reason she wanted to hug him—which was a little like wanting to hug a polar bear—cuddly but rather dangerous.
    â€œEmily?”
    Her gaze went to his mouth. Did he know he had a great mouth? “American cuisine,” she heard herself say.
    His lips