Tyree nodded, considering.
"So, I guess you're going to have to go see her now, huh?"
"I guess I am." He looked at his son, seeing a much older and wiser kid than he had the day before. "How'd you get to be so smart, anyway?
"Must've got it from Mom," Eli said, dropping to the couch and letting Tyree swing an arm around his shoulder. "'Cause you can be a real dumb ass."
Chapter Nineteen
Thank goodness Eva's work schedule was light, because ever since she'd returned to San Diego, she'd had the most terrible time concentrating.
Fortunately, Marianne had taken point. Taking over organizing the calendar, covering a few basic shoots for corporate clients, and handling the various retouching orders that had come in from past weddings, parties, and the like. Eva had trained Marianne on Photoshop years ago, and she was patting herself on the back for having made that decision.
Now, Eva was staring at her own computer screen trying to organize her upcoming schedule. She'd talked to Jenna yesterday, and they'd agreed that she'd fly to Austin in July for a two-day shoot, then again when the contest ended in early October. That way they could be sure and have the template for the calendar worked out by the time it needed to go to press.
Already, Eva was nervous about the trip. She hadn't heard from Tyree, and was desperately afraid that she'd pushed too hard. He'd loved Teiko so much, and she knew that his wife's death had almost broken him.
Had she been an idiot to push him? She didn't know. All she knew was that she couldn't share a bed with a man who felt guilty when he made love to her.
No. She hadn't made the wrong choice. It was the right one, absolutely.
But it was also the choice that hurt.
She heard the beep beep beep of someone punching in the code for the studio's keypad lock, and she moaned in anticipation. Marianne had promised to return with a Starbucks latte, and Eva was in desperate need of the caffeine.
"You saved me," she called. "Hurry up and get in here before I pass out."
"Wouldn't want that."
She gasped, her hand flying to her chest and her heart pounding as Tyree stepped into her doorway, then leaned casually against the frame.
"I--What are you doing here? And how did you get in?"
"Elena told me the code. Why are you going to pass out?"
"Shock, apparently," she retorted. "Seriously, why are you here?"
"Do you want the long answer or the short one?"
She considered, decided to go for the gold. "The short one."
"Because I love you," he said, the words like the sweetest perfume. "Because I need you. And because I've finally got my shit together."
"Oh." Butterflies fluttered in her stomach as her pulse skittered. "And the long version?"
"That I'm not going to lose you. That I'll do whatever it takes, for however long it takes, including moving back to San Diego if you need more time to believe that I mean it, or if you don't want to leave your home or your job. I already lost one woman I love, Eva. I'm not going to lose you, too. And I'm not going to feel guilty about loving you. It's not fair to you, and it's not fair to Teiko.
That surprised her. "Not fair to her?"
"She wasn't a bitch," he said. "She'd want me to be happy."
"I think I would have liked her."
"You would have. But she's my past. You're my present. And my future. At least," he added, "I hope you are."
She came around the desk slowly, then stood right in front of him and took his hands, forcing herself not to simply leap into his arms. It was important to do this right.
"Definitely the future," she said. "But there are three legs to this stool, Tyree."