“It doesn’t matter to you what happens with Jake or me. All you care about it your damn money.”

Sherry’s words—or was it her closeness—made her dizzy. “That’s not true. I…It does matter to m—”

“Hush. I know,” Sherry whispered before covering Madison’s lips with her own.

The kiss was so tender, almost tentative.

That made no sense. But Madison didn’t care right now. She wanted more than this careful kiss. Pulling Sherry closer with both hands, she kissed her passionately.

Sherry moaned, exploring Madison’s mouth hungry.

Madison’s body was on fire.

“God, I want you,” Sherry whispered and kissed her even harder.

Madison wanted to tell her that she could have her, but then she heard another voice. No, two voices.

“No, baby. You can’t,” Sherry whispered.

Huh?

“Please, Mom. I promise to be quiet.”

Madison’s eyes flew open to find herself in her dark bedroom. It had all been just a dream. But what a nice one. Her body was still buzzing with arousal. Sighing, she shifted to face Sherry and Jake, who stood beside Sherry’s side of the bed. “What’s going on here?”

“Great. Now you’ve woken Madison.”

Sherry sat up. “I’m sorry. Jake had a nightmare and—”

“Whatever.” It wasn’t enough that he’d woken her, but of all the moments, he had to choose this one. How did he know where Sherry was anyway? Had she told him yesterday? Or had he been walking around, maybe scared, searching for his mom until he found her here? Don’t think about it.

He snuffled, and a noise sounding like a suppressed whimper drifted over.

Sherry hugged him. “It’s all good, baby. Come on, I’ll read you a story.”

It was like a punch in the stomach. “Stop whining and go to bed,” her grandmother had told her more often than Madison could count. She hadn’t thought about it in years, but now it all came back to her. How she had crawled into her father’s bed almost every night after her mother’s death. And how he had moved away from her each time. And then how she’d had to move in with her grandparents after his death. Her grandfather had almost never been there, and the old bat hadn’t cared about her nightmares or her inability to sleep for months. The only thing she’d cared about, and still did, was her damn scotch.

Sherry stood and took Jake’s hand.

God, she was like her grandmother. The boy needed his mother, and she was standing between them. “Wait!”

Sherry turned.

“He can stay.”

Silence.

“He can sleep here if he wants.”

No reaction. Just staring.

Why was Sherry hesitating?

“Are you serious?”

What a dumb question. “I won’t repeat my offer. Take it or leave it.”

“Mom, please. I wanna to stay with you.”

Finally, Sherry nodded.