Page 64 of Here With Me

“Not your fault.” His hand slowed and pressed her closer still.

“No. It’s not my fault you tripped over the town’s lovable statue.”

David shook his head. “I hardly tripped over Otis.”

“Then what? Your own foot?” Sadie let her arms rest on his shoulders, her hands playing with his thick hair at the nape of his neck.

“Not my finest move.” He puffed out a small laugh.

“I’ll say.”

“Hey now.” David pushed her back a little as he brought one hand to his chest. “You wound me.”

“You do that to yourself.”

He tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Sparks fluttered across her skin, and her breath caught. “Sadie…I want…”

Me. Say it, please. She held her breath, waiting for his next words.

Silence stretched between them as he studied her. A million possibilities, but they’d made promises the first time around. The pain of those broken dreams was almost more than she could bear the first time. Maybe it would be better not to say things that would make another break up even more painful. “Let’s not make promises, instead, let’s enjoy today.”

David shook his head. “I can’t do that.”

He tugged her a little closer, and she melted against his warm frame. Buried against him, she let a little bit of her fear slip out. “I’m not sure what you mean. Why can’t you?”

A deep rumble sounded in David’s chest. Great, she’d made him laugh. She pushed off him, but David caught her hands, keeping her close. “Because you are strong. Independent. A single mom. You’ve taken over your family business. You have come through the fire, and you’re even more irresistible than I remember. I’m not playing around, and I want to make sure you know it.” David cupped her face, his fingers tangling into her hair, his thumb brushing her cheek. His eyes darkened and dropped to her lips. Oh, sweet mercy.

“What are you saying?” She held her breath. David pulled her closer still, and the heated look he gave her warmed her from the inside out.

A knock sounded and Sadie jumped back.

“I’m here. For you and with you. We’ll talk more later.” David winked at her. “Come in.”

Sadie sat back in the plastic chair next to him. She slipped her hand into his. She might not know what the future would hold, but he was here. Right now. Could this moment be enough? If she didn’t at least try, she’d never know.

The doctor opened the door and walked in, reviewing David’s file.

“Hello, David. I’ve got the results of your X-ray.”

David’s ankle protested as he shifted on the chair at his kitchen table a few hours later. His foot was propped up on a pillow with an ice bag on the chair in front of him. At least it wasn’t broken.

A simple sprain. The trip to the ER had been a total waste of time—except the time with Sadie hadn’t been a waste. He’d told her he wasn’t playing around, and he meant every word. The doctor had wrapped his ankle and gave him some pain medication and anti-inflammatories—since his ankle had swollen up to the size of a small melon.

Sadie had stopped for takeout next to the ER, but it had cooled off on the drive home. She stood at the stove, heating things up again.

“You could just microwave it,” David said, his stomach rumbling. Lunch was hours ago, and he would have eaten dinner cold.

Sadie shook her head and threw him a playful look. “I’ll have you know, that after we finished college and I moved to Grand Rapids, I became a whiz at reheating my Chinese takeout. Don’t mess with my skills. Besides, you’re finally home. Chill, okay?”

She turned back to the skillet, and David couldn’t deny the sweet and tangy scents were making his mouth water. But stale bread sounded appetizing at this point.

His phone rang in the other room, and Sadie put down the wooden spatula she’d found next to the stove. “I’ll go get that for you. Don’t move.”

David yawned. What a day. The pain medication was working, and his bed called to him. Not that he’d give up this time with Sadie. Especially since she hadn’t pushed him away when he’d told her he wanted more.

His stomach rumbled again. He wouldn’t give up the food either.

Sadie walked back in with his cell still ringing. Lance. The call went to voicemail before David could answer.

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