Free Worth the Wait by Rhonda Laurel Page B

whole family, but I will admit I’ll be keeping a closer eye on you, Grandpa,and Aunt Cassie.”
    “We love you for it. And as long as this career path makes you happy, I look forward to the in-house medical attention. Your cousins skin more knees running around this ranch.”
    “Don’t I know it.” She giggled and stood. “So is it OK if I borrow these clothes?”
    “Borrow? You can have them. I’ll never wear them. Keep looking, I’m sure there’s more in there you’dlove. I gave up trying to be remotely glamorous after baby number four. Practical living is my motto now.” Morgan kissed Mackenzie on the cheek.
    Avery picked up Mackenzie off the bed and stood her in front of the mirror next to her. “Kenzie, what do you say? Do we look fabulous or what?”
    “I’m too cute!” Mackenzie clapped.
    “Avery!” Morgan said, raising an eyebrow.
    “What?”She giggled. “She does look cute.”
    Morgan folded her arms across her chest. “I’ve been trying to figure out who’s been teaching her that. I accused your uncle! We had an argument. He slept on the couch and everything.”
    “You did?” Her eyes widened.
    “Eh.” Morgan waved her hand. “He was on the couch for two minutes and then we made up.”
    “Oh.” She let out a big sigh of relief.“You and Uncle Seth don’t stay mad very long.”
    “He’s really good at getting me to forgive him.” Morgan grinned.
    She loved that about their relationship. She’d fallen in love with her Uncle Seth the day her aunt brought him home. Seth was handsome, smart, charming, and successful. He also treated her aunt like a queen. Aunt Morgan said they just knew they were meant for each other,and Avery had to agree. Her aunt had always been her inspiration for being true to herself. She’d fallen in love with their love story and hoped to experience that same kind of epic romance someday.
    “I’ve learned a lot about intimacy from watching you and Uncle Seth,” she said. “One look from him and your face lights up like a Christmas tree. When you touch him, he closes his eyes like he’strying to remember that feeling for the rest of his life. I hope to feel that kind of passion someday.” She sighed.
    “You will.” Morgan put an arm around her shoulders. “I think you’re off to a good start.”
    “How so?”
    “Have you and Wyatt worked things out yet?”
    “Oh.” She rolled her eyes. “No, we’re exactly where we were three months ago.”
    “I see.”
    “Can I tellyou something?”
    “Of course.”
    “Wyatt and I kissed.”
    “I’d assumed as much. You two have been joined at the hip for some time now.”
    “I mean we really kissed . The way you and Uncle Seth do,” she added to make sure her aunt got the idea.
    “Oh.” Morgan’s eyes widened. “That’s when the rift began?”
    “Yes. We went to Bo and Summer’s guesthouse to talk and we…got closer,but then he pushed me away.”
    “Have you two ever…” Morgan trailed off as she went over and closed the bedroom door. “No one else is home, but there’s no reason to give your Uncle Seth his first heart attack if he should come home early with the boys.”
    She shook her head. “I’m still a virgin.”
    Morgan’s eyes darted from her to Mackenzie. “How about we spell out certain words. Yourcousin’s repeating a lot of words these days.”
    “Well at least she says mommy now.” Avery laughed.
    “True. I’m still delighted about that, but unless you want the whole family in on this talk, let’s stick to spelling some words out.”
    “Got ya.”
    “Have you talked to your parents about all of this?”
    “Are you kidding? That talk consisted of dad handing me his target practicepaper from the gun range and some antiquated birds-and-bees-talk book called All about the Birds and Bees . I think it was written in the fifties. Mom just stood there.”
    “I’ve seen that book. Your grandpa gave me a copy too.” Morgan smiled. “It’s never easy to talk about these