“I’ll have a whiskey, straight.”
Nick went to the bar, returning with Luke’s whiskey and a Perrier and a glass of ice for himself. When Luke frowned at him, he said, “Someone has to be the designated driver.”
Suspicion flared in the back of his mind. What the hell? He’d thought his friend had been looking for a drinking partner.
“Tough day?” Nick leaned back in his seat. “Tiggy said you’ve been looking a little worse for the wear the last few days.”
That’s right. He’d noticed her pop by his wing a couple of times. She’d given a little wave and then she’d been off again. Nick’s wife seemed pretty shrewd—had she figured something out? Like the fact that he and Kate had been a little more friendly than he’d tried to portray?
Luke tossed back his whiskey and swallowed, welcoming the heat as it burned its way down his esophagus and hit the floor of his stomach. “Now, what’s this all about?”
Nick poured his water over the glass of ice and took a drink. “I wanted to ask you a question.”
That’s what he was afraid of. “Shoot.”
“Okay. That night you and Kate came over to dinner I could have sworn there was something cozy going on between you.”
“Cozy. That’s a hell of a word.”
“Better than the one that originally came to mind.”
Yeah, it probably was. “She’s an attractive woman. It’d be hard for any man not to notice.”
“I’m assuming this went beyond ‘noticing.’”
“Are you asking if I slept with her?”
The other man’s jaw tightened. “I’m asking if you care about her.”
The shot hit him right between the eyes. He could have fended off a question about his sex life, but this was his friend. Kate’s father. A man who’d saved his life. He deserved the truth.
He took a second sip of his whiskey and tried to formulate words. “Yes, I cared about her. A little more than I probably should have.”
“How so?”
“I let things go further than I should have, let’s just put it that way.”
“But not so far that she felt the need to stay.”
Luke smiled. “She thinks it was all a set-up, remember? That I did it to beef up your image.”
“Damn. That’s what I was afraid of.” Nick propped his arms on the table in front of him. “I’ll call her and set her straight.”
“No. Don’t. It’s better this way.”
“You said you cared about her.” Nick’s eyes zeroed in on his face.
“That doesn’t mean I want her to come back over here expecting something I can’t give her.”
“Like what?”
“A ring. A chance for a normal life.” That’s exactly what he wanted to do. But it was impossible.
“Normal meaning...”
Luke pushed back in his seat with a rough laugh. “Meaning a guy who can keep up with her.” He paused, not sure exactly how to make Nick understand. “She runs for fun, Nick. She’s young and healthy. Strong.”
“And you aren’t all those things?”
“I can barely walk at times, much less run. I don’t want Kate—or anyone—having to deal with me on one of my bad days. Don’t want her sitting home because I can’t run or hike...or even friggin’ dance with her.”
He slugged back the rest of his drink and thumped the glass onto the table. “We came on a car accident after we went out to dinner one night, and I couldn’t even drag one of the victims out of the car. I had to ask for help. What if that victim had been Kate?”
Nick’s face tightened, his brows coming together. “You know, before I had my surgery, I felt the same way. Didn’t want Tiggy saddled with me if things took a turn for the worse and I ended up in a wheelchair.”
“But you didn’t wind up in one.”
“No, but I almost ruined my life by coming up with all kinds of depressing outcomes—none of which were based on reality.”
“That’s where you and I are different, Nick. Because my depressing outcome is very real. This leg is never going to get any better.”
“And yet you’re a doctor. A damn good one, from what I’ve seen. Your patients don’t need you to jump hurdles or play hopscotch. And neither does Kate. At least, not the Kate that I got to know over the last couple of weeks. She cares about you, too. I could see it. Saw the way you smiled each other. Tiggy noticed it, as well.”
Great, it seemed like the whole world knew his secret, including Laisse and some of the others at the hospital. Maybe it was time to own up to it. At least to himself.
He loved the woman. He had no idea when it had happened or why. But he did. It’s why he’d had to let her go.
“She’s gone. So there’s your answer.”
“I think she left because she cared. I didn’t even realize it until you two were at the house and she got this funny look on her face when I mentioned our little agreement.” His hand wrapped around his glass in a fist. “I’ve kicked myself so many times for saying that in front of her. But it just came out, and once it was said, there was no way to take it back.”
“You didn’t mess anything up. I just couldn’t see any future for us.”
“Because you’re a damn fool. Just like I almost was.” Nick leaned forward. “If you don’t try to make this right, I think you’ll regret it.”
Maybe.
His friend sighed. “Don’t make me regret fighting to save your leg that day. There were other men who weren’t so lucky. You think they don’t deserve a shot at happiness? You think the married ones should leave their wives and go off and live in a cave somewhere?”
Anger flared in his chest. “Of course not, but this is not the same.”
“You’re right. It’s not.” Nick slid his glass to the side and got as close to being in Luke’s face as he could with a table between them. “You’re a whole lot better off than some of the men I worked on. So maybe it’s time you stopped feeling so damned sorry for yourself and started living your life...before it’s too late. Before you lose a whole lot more than a chunk of your leg.”
Luke’s anger morphed into fury. “Back off, Nick. This is none of your business.”
“Like hell it’s not. Kate is my daughter.” He leaned back with a sigh and dug out his wallet, tossing a couple of bills onto the table. “I can’t tell you what to do. But I’m asking you to think about it. Don’t throw away something good—someone you care about—just because you’re afraid of what the future might hold. You never know, Luke. It might just hold something pretty damn terrific.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
IN THROUGH THE NOSE, out through the mouth.
The incline on the hill was a killer, but Kate forced herself to power through—she was now past the three-mile mark. She pulled deep breaths in and blew them out in a rhythmic cycle that could hold the world at bay just a little while longer. A classic rock band pumped through her ear buds and kept her company, the lead singer whining about being done wrong by a lover.
Been there. Done that.
She’d constantly wanted to call Luke over the past two weeks. And tell him what? That she was coming back to England? That she’d take him any way she could get him?
No, she respected herself more than that. Nick had called a few days ago, saying he hoped she hadn’t gotten the wrong idea about what he’d said on her last night in London.
Nope, she hadn’t. In fact, he’d saved her from making a fool of herself. If Luke had wanted her, he’d have said something to try to make her stay. Instead, that car had been filled with silence. And it had spoken loudly enough to get his point across.
In through the nose. Out through the mouth.
Her normal jogging route was busy today, full of businesspeople all hoping to burn off a few
extra calories before the start of a new week. Kate’s reasons for running had nothing to do with calories and everything to do with pain management.
She cleared the ridge of the hill and shortened her strides as she started down the other side.
Up ahead, along the left-hand side of the trail, she spied someone on one of the benches dotted along the running path. A cane was propped against the seat next to the man and his right leg was stretched out in front of him.
Strange.
Although the trail was paved with a fresh coat of asphalt, the five-mile track didn’t usually attract anyone other than power walkers and joggers because it ran next to a canal and was flanked by woods on both sides. Her eyes clipped to the left as she passed the bench, and the air stuttered from her lungs. She ran a couple more steps before she faltered, her mind whirling. She stopped and swiped at a trickle of sweat on her temple, struggling to make sense of what she’d just seen.
That couldn’t have been...
No. It couldn’t.
She geared herself up to take off again, forcing herself not to look back, not to invite the crush of disappointment that would surely follow.
And then she heard her name.
Low. Familiar.
Unmistakable.
She turned round slowly, swallowing when she saw the man was on his feet, cane in hand.
Luke.
But how? Why?
She tried to say something but could think of nothing that would explain his sudden appearance in Memphis. On her jogging trail.
And Luke didn’t use a cane.
Or he hadn’t. Had something happened?
She closed the space between them, still trying to catch her breath. “What’s wrong? Your leg, is it—?”
“It’s fine.”
She plopped down on the bench, her muscles suddenly too shaky to support her weight. Luke eased down beside her, resting the cane between his legs.
Maybe she was suffering from oxygen deprivation or something. “You’re supposed to be in London.”
“I’m taking some time off.”
Okay. That explained why he was in the States but not why he was here.
“Are you originally from Memphis?” She felt totally lost. Totally out of her element.
“Nope. Chicago.” He flashed her a smile that made her insides warm.
He wasn’t here to return her panties, because those had been given back ages ago. “You’re going to have to help me out a little here, Luke. I’m not sure... Why are you in Memphis?”
“I came to find you.”
He had? “But why?”
“To tell you Nick was wrong.” His fingertips gripped the cane, turning it slightly before his eyes came up to meet hers. “I did agree to talk to you for him, but that had nothing to do with what went on between you and me.”
“It—it didn’t?” This was exactly what she’d wanted him to say that last night. And yet he hadn’t. So why now?
“I should have said something as soon as we got into the car, but it just seemed easier to let you think the worst of me.”
“Because you didn’t want to give me any reason to stay.” The truth stole the air from her lungs, much like that proverbial wall that runners hit halfway through a marathon. And it hurt. Lord, how it hurt.
“No. I didn’t want you to stay.” He shifted in his seat until he actually faced her, his gaze trailing over her face. “It was stupid and cowardly. And I’m not proud of letting you leave like that. I want to try to set things straight.”
He’d come an awful long way just to do that.
“Okay. But I—”
“I’m not quite finished.” His chest rose as he took a deep breath. “I also want to ask you to give me another chance. To come back to London with me.”
Her mouth popped open and she stared at him. She slicked some loose strands of hair back from her face, suddenly very aware that her green T-shirt was sweat-soaked and she was a mess. “What?”
“Nick seems to think you might care about me. And I know I care about you.” He dragged a hand through his hair. “Hell, that’s not what I want to say. I love you, dammit. I want you with me.”
Despite the shock rolling through her system, his rough words made her smile. They were about as far from the cool, seductive lover she’d known in London as they could get. As was the cane.
She sidestepped his shocking statement, needing time to think. “Why are you using a cane, if your leg is okay?”
“Because I’ve finally accepted that I need it. I don’t use it at work, but it takes some of the strain off at home.” He smiled. “And it’s a big help when walking up crazy hills along a jogging path.”
That’s right. She was at the three-mile mark, which meant Luke had walked almost two miles to get where he was.
As if reading her mind, he nodded. “I was going to keep walking until I found you but realized my leg wasn’t going to make it any further.” His smile faded. “That’s another thing. Even if you agree to give me another chance, you need to know my leg will never be any better than it is right now.”
“I’m not sure why that’s even...” Her heart flipped in her chest, her eyes filling with tears. “You think I care about your leg?”
“I can’t run with you, Kate. And I want to. More than anything.” His voice turned gravelly in a way that tore at her insides.
“I never wanted you for a running partner. Never.” She cupped his face and leaned in so he could see the truth in her eyes. “I love you. I do. Everything about you. Including your leg.”
Luke dragged her to him, his mouth covering hers in an instant. His long fiery kiss had none of his usual smoothness. It was rough and raw—just like his words had been—and she couldn’t get enough. Because this was Luke. The real Luke, full of insecurities and despair...and capable of happiness, just like any other human being. He was just a man.
She vaguely heard his cane clattering to the ground, but she wrapped her arms around his neck and held him to her, afraid that if she let him go, she’d find he wasn’t here at all. The breath she’d just finished catching was off and running all over again, but this time she didn’t care. All she wanted was this man...this crazy mixed-up—
“Get a room!” The half-amused yell came from the trail next to them, and she pulled her head back slightly, while keeping her arms around Luke’s neck. A young man had just run by them, his long strides carrying him on down the trail and out of sight as he turned a corner.
“I think he wants us to get a room,” she whispered, as she turned back toward Luke
He grinned. “And what about you, Kate? Is that what you want?” She heard the question loud and clear, and her heart sang in her chest.
She leaned forward and kissed him again. “I don’t want just a room. I want the whole house.”
His breath left his lips on a sigh. “You’ve got it. Anything you want.”
“In that case, I’ll call my dad and let him know I’ll be out for a while.”
“Your dad already knows, I think. I called him and explained the situation. He told me where I could find you.”
“In that case, I know a little place we can be alone.”
Luke picked up his cane and climbed to his feet. “We’d better get started, then. It’ll take me a while to get back down the path.”
“There’s no hurry.” She took his free hand in hers. “We’ve got all the time in the world.”
EPILOGUE
“SHE’S BEAUTIFUL.” KATE’S voice held a note of awe as she gazed down at the newborn in her arms, daring to stroke a tiny hand.
Luke perched on the arm of the chair his fiancée currently occupied. “Yes, she is.” He dropped a kiss on her head. “You’re going to have to give her back, though.”
&nb
sp; “I know. I can hardly believe I have a little sister.”
That was easy for Luke to believe. What was harder was that the smart, beautiful woman next to him had actually agreed to marry him—on his first proposal, even though he’d been prepared to ask her over and over again, if necessary. As long as it took to convince her that he loved her.
He’d offered to practice medicine back in the States but Kate had wanted to come back with him so he could finish out his year at the hospital in London. And as a side benefit he got to see her any time he wanted to as she was working in the physical therapy center.
They’d both been asked to stay on at the hospital when his term ended, and Luke wasn’t sure what they were going to do. He would leave that up to Kate. She had her father’s Parkinson’s to think of. The new regimen of medicine had slowed the progress of the disease but until a cure could be found, it was always there—waiting in the wings.
Luke didn’t care where they ended up, as long as they were together.
He eyed the cane propped on the chair next to him with a rueful smile. Who would have guessed that, instead of making his leg weaker, it had made it more tolerant of work? He got through his day without it for the most part, but it allowed his remaining muscles to recuperate between shifts. Kate—putting on her PT hat—had said it was similar to a runner sitting out a day or two in order to let the stressed muscle fibers regenerate. The strategies that worked for her worked for him, as well.
Although he didn’t run with her, he did go to the park and sit on a bench, enjoying the sight of her lithe frame as she powered past him and blew him a kiss. And sometimes there was a special reward for him when they got back home to his apartment—when she’d let him slowly peel off her sweaty workout gear and join her in the shower.
Something he’d better not think about right now. Especially not with a baby in the room.
The door to the restroom opened and Nick and Tiggy came out, the new mother wheeling her IV stand along with her. She looked good, a lot better than twelve hours ago, when the obstetrician—a worried frown between his brows—had ordered an emergency C-section, saying the baby’s heart rate was slowing down too much. It had been a good call because the cord had been wrapped around the infant’s neck, each contraction tightening it and reducing the baby’s blood flow.
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