It's Never too Late

* * *

ELLA HADN’T BEEN pregnant, but she could have been. Mark had had a narrow escape and was more aware than ever that every single action he took came with consequences.

“This past week has been a real eye-opener for me,” he told Addy as they sat together on her couch sipping wine. In leggings and a long blousy white shirt, she looked sexy as hell.

And so much more.

It was the more that he wanted.

“How so?” Her lips curved into a natural smile.

“I realize how much this education means to me. In Bierly, I was content. I’m not content anymore. In Bierly, I was willing to settle for whatever life gave me. Suddenly I want more.”

Her blue-eyed glance warmed him dangerously.

“You are part of the more that I want.”

She sat straight up, setting her glass on the table, and Mark froze, thinking she meant to lean over to him, to initiate the lovemaking he was aching to have with her.

His body throbbed. Grew. And she sat with her back half facing him, her elbows on her knees, her hands clasped.

“I want that, too, Mark. So badly I shake with it, but...”

He sat forward, as well, covering her hand with his. “The time’s not right,” he said, “I know.”

Turning her head, she gazed at him, her eyes filled with need—and a curious sadness, too.

“When we make love—note the when, not if—it will be when it’s just you and me focused on you and me.” He told her what he’d realized on the drive home that night. “Both of our lives are in flux. We’re adjusting to major changes, major moves.”

The words sounded better in his head.

But he meant them.

Even as a part of him hoped she’d talk him out of waiting.

* * *

ADDY COULDN’T DO it anymore. She couldn’t let Adele have Mark. And she couldn’t tell him about Adrianna.

She took a sip of wine. “I’m moving back to Colorado.” There just wasn’t any other choice.

“Now?”

“Soon.”

His dismay was written all over his face. And hurt her more than he’d ever know.

“How soon?”

Turning her hand over, she threaded her fingers through his, knowing that this was probably the last time she’d ever touch him. “Before the end of the semester. I...I can’t justify the expense of being here when I know I’m not staying—I miss the city too much.” Lies. Lies. Lies. And then...truth. “I want you to know that I care for you more than I’ve ever cared for anyone in my entire life,” she said, and looked him straight in the eye. And then she did what she promised herself she wasn’t going to do. “If—when I go home—you want to come to Colorado, even just for a weekend, I want you there. Please know that.” Just in case, when he found out who she was, he still wanted to see her.

“Okay.”

“Will you think about it?”

“Coming to visit?”

“Or more. When you finish school.” She was killing herself. Dangling hope when it wasn’t the smart thing to do.