Beyond Temptation by Brenda Jackson

so happened that Chance and Kylie got married on what would have been my parents’ fiftieth wedding anniversary had my father lived. They’d already been married twenty years before I was born.”
    “Wow, I didn’t know that. I’m sure losing your father was hard on her.”
    Lena nodded. “Yes, it was. They had a rather close relationship, and although he’s been gone for six years now, she still has some rough times. The holidays are extremely hard, especially Christmas since it was the day they married. And of coursehis birthday, which happens to be on the Fourth of July. She goes into a state of depression every year around those days.”
    Morgan nodded as he thought of his own parents. They would be celebrating their fortieth wedding anniversary in a few years. They, too, had a close relationship and he knew if anything were to happen to either parent, the remaining one would have a difficult time adjusting as well.
    At that moment he felt an astounding respect and admiration for Lena. She had technically placed her social life on hold to take care of her mother. He and his bothers had unanimously decided when and if the time came not to place their parents in a nursing home if it was reasonably possible not to do so. Like Lena, they would become their parents’ primary caretakers.
    When he saw her glance down at her watch again, he said, “Come on. I want to make sure you’re there to pick up your mother on time.”
    It was on the tip of Lena’s tongue to tell him that she preferred that he not go. She could just imagine what her mother would think if a man accompanied her to pick her up as it had been over three years since she was actually out on a date. The last guy she’d dated had been Dr. Derek Peterson,who’d had the nerve to tell her that they could pick up their relationship once she put her mother in her own place and stop spending so much time with her. She was glad she hadn’t gotten any further with him than the first kiss. After saying what he’d said the man had really turned her stomach.
    Once they were back in Morgan’s SUV her lips quivered slightly with nerves. Maybe she needed to prepare Morgan in case her mother did something crazy like bring up the subject of grandbabies, her favorite subject lately. “Morgan?”
    He glanced over at her as he backed the vehicle out of the driveway. “Yes?”
    “My mother. I think I need to prepare you about something so you won’t be surprised, in case she brings it up.”
    “Okay, what is it?”
    “She wants grandkids.”
    “Oh, I see.”
    Even as he said the words, Lena doubted if he really saw at all and decided to explain. “She’s getting older and—”
    “Lena, you don’t have to explain. I have parents, too, remember. And when it comes to wanting grandkids they’re just as bad.”
    “They are?”
    “Yes. For years Marcus was enough for them, but then they started throwing out hints to the four of us again. They felt Chance needed to remarry and Bas, Donovan and I needed to find wives. Now with Bas married and Chance with a new baby on the way, they’re satisfied for now, but I’m not counting on it lasting too long. They’ll be looking at me and Donovan again in a few years.”
    A few moments later he asked, “What about you, Lena?”
    She lifted a brow. “What about me?”
    “I asked you before and you said you wanted kids…but. You never explained what that but meant.”
    Lena recalled that day a couple of weeks ago. She met his gaze when he halted at a stop sign. “ But means that I would love to have children of my own one day and I would love for my children to know my mother while she’s still here with me in good health and a good frame of mind. But since I’m not married and don’t see myself getting married in my near or distant future, then it doesn’t matter how much I love kids or want them, does it?”
    Yes it did. Morgan’s jaw tightened and he wished to earth that he could tell her right then and there