One More Chance

“When is that?”

“Two weeks into the program, or something like that. I’ll check with Dad tomorrow.”

“Let me know when you find out. I’d love to stop by and sit with her.”

“She’s really enjoyed you dropping by the house with Brody,” he said.

“I’ve enjoyed it too. Your parents really are nice people.”

“How did your doctor’s appointment go? You never did tell me.”

“I told you it went well.”

“But you didn’t tell me what they did.”

I shifted myself closer underneath Tyler’s arm as I drew in a deep breath.

“Well, my stitches are all dissolved and healed. It’s just a topical scab that needs to fall off now. I can finally take showers again, so that’s fabulous news.”

“That’s good. I know you were getting frustrated with sponge baths.”

“No more pain medication needed, which is also good. I’ve been cleared to drive, so you can stop playing chauffeur.”

“But I love driving you around, especially listening to you ramble on about brown cows and shaking them for chocolate milk.”

“I hate you,” I said flatly.

“That one was my favorite, by far,” he said.

I shoved him playfully before the two of us fell to the cushions of the couch.

“What else happened?” he asked as he hovered over me.

“They drew blood to make sure my hormones are settling well and that there’s no under-the-radar infection happening. But everything came back fine. No pain, no fever. According to everything that came back today, I’m completely healed.”

“Good,” he said.

He brought his lips to kiss mine, and I cupped the back of his head. Oh, how I’d missed him. I’d missed his touch and his warm embrace. He broke the kiss and smiled as his forehead fell to mine. I slid my hand through his soft hair, taking in the beauty of his bright green eyes.

“I think Brody enjoyed dinner a little too much tonight,” I said.

“That boy has a serious thing for Italian—like his mother,” Tyler said.

“Hey. Noodles are awesome. No one can fault anyone for that.”

“I guess he has to have something of yours since he looks so much like me.”

“Ha, ha, ha,” I said sarcastically.

“But do you know what he does have of yours?”

“What?” I asked.

“He has your kindness.”

I smoothed my hand over Tyler’s cheek as his breath pulsed against my face. Every part of me wanted to kiss him, have him, drag him to my room and hold him close to me. So many missed moments between us over the past six weeks. So many missed moments of passion because of my recuperation.

I was ready for him, and I wouldn’t let another moment pass us by.

“Ana?”

“Yes, Tyler?”

“There’s something that’s been on my mind for a while now.”

“What is it?” I asked.

He sat up, taking my body with him as he pulled me into his chest. I straddled his lap on the couch and threaded my arms around his neck, taking in the feel of his hands on my hips. He squeezed me, allowed his eyes to roam my curves. I felt beautiful in his lap, and I had to resist the urge to fall right into his pillowy lips.

“Tyler, you can talk to me. You know that, right?” I asked.

“I do. I know. It’s just—well, we’ve been through a lot these past couple months, so I want to make sure I don’t screw this up.”

“Screw what up?”

“Ana, when I left for Harvard—when I left you behind—my heart ached. And the closer I got to my school, the more it hurt. Over the past eight years, there wasn’t a single woman who came into my life. Not a single woman I entertained for any reason.”

I massaged his shoulders as he drew in a deep breath.

“I couldn’t, because I knew I had met the woman for me, and I’d fought with her and left her behind. I never forgave myself for it. I told myself that when I got my degree and got some experience underneath me, I’d open up a practice in L.A. and come back for you.”

“You what?” I asked.

“Yeah. The dream was never to have my own business, Ana. It was to have you. And then I found you in that bar with Kristi. I knew I couldn’t let you go. I couldn’t let you get away again. Then life happened and Brody happened and things with my mother happened, and I never got the chance to tell you any of it. To tell you that the reason I came back wasn’t for my family or for my business. It was for you, Ana.”

“Oh, Tyler,” I whispered.

“I love you, Ana, more than I’ve ever loved anyone or anything on this planet. And now that I’m with you, I don’t ever want to let you go. Never again. I want us to be a family. I want to be in Brody’s life, in your life—forever if you’ll have me.”