“Hey,” she said quietly from behind him.
Well, here was his chance. Seated on the top concrete stair, he looked over his shoulder. “Thank you for saving my butt in there.”
She came closer, joining him on the step but leaving a careful gap between them. “I was afraid you’d be embarrassed that I cut in. Knowing you, you would have regrouped brilliantly all by yourself in another moment or two.”
“Brilliantly?” he scoffed. “You must not have been listening.”
“Oh, I was.” She cocked her head, her gaze almost a caress. “I…I think I heard what you were trying to say quite well, actually.”
“You are definitely the better listener of the two of us.” He wanted to reach for her hand but hesitated. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry if it took you yelling or saying goodbye for me to hear you.”
Her lower lip trembled, and she bit down on it.
“Rach. Don’t cry.” He pulled her into a hug, his own eyes damp. “Please don’t cry. I’m so sorry.”
She glanced up, her eyes round with surprise. “You’re crying.”
He sniffed, casting about for something to say. “It doesn’t count unless the tears actually get out of your eyes. Man rules.”
“Ah.” She smiled, and the sight of it was like every Christmas present in the world rolled into one. He wanted to be on the receiving end of those smiles for the next hundred years or so.
“I need you,” he blurted. “Don’t leave me.”
Her jaw dropped. “David.” She launched herself into his arms, pulling him closer and covering his face with kisses.
“That’s the most incredible thing you’ve ever said to me,” she whispered.
And then they were kissing each other so fervently that neither of them said anything for a long time after.
When they finally stopped to catch their breath, he promised, “I’ll try to do better.”
“It’s not just you,” she told him. “Lord knows there are ways I could be a better wife. You’ve done so many wonderful things for me, and I should appreciate you more. I should take into consideration the intentions as well as the actions.”
“I’ll try to stop acting so much without getting your input first. So we’ll work on the ‘better,’” David resolved. “And consider the ‘worse’ behind us?”
She nodded, her eyes red-rimmed, tear tracks streaked through her makeup, her professionally arranged hairstyle destroyed by his plunging fingers. She’d never looked more radiant.
“I love you,” he told her.
“I love you, too.” She wiped her cheeks. “I’m sorry it’s not easier.”
“Nothing worth having is. And you are definitely worth it, Mrs. Waide.”
She blushed, which he found inexplicably arousing. Then again, he’d been aroused since her mouth had touched his.
“Think we should go back inside?” Rachel asked.
“Probably.” He grinned at her. “But I’d much rather go somewhere and have my way with you.”
She tilted her head up, the sun catching the glint in her gaze as she clucked her tongue at him. “You know, I’ve heard about boys like you.”
“And?”
She traced her index finger over his bottom lip. “And I think you’re absolutely perfect for a girl like me.”
Smiling in agreement, David kissed his bride.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tanya Michaels started telling stories almost as soon as she could talk…and started stealing her mom’s Harlequin romances less than a decade later. In 2003, Tanya was thrilled to have her first book, a romantic comedy, published by Harlequin. Since then, Tanya’s sold nearly twenty books and is a two-time recipient of the Booksellers’ Best Award as well as a finalist for the Holt Medallion, National Readers’ Choice Award and Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA® Award. Tanya lives in Georgia with her husband, two preschoolers and an unpredictable cat, but you can visit Tanya online at www.tanyamichaels.com.
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