Page 18 of After You

Hannah frowned. “I’m here to help you with things.”

“Oh, these are things he does all thetime.”

“What does ‘all the time’ mean?”

“He comes over at least twice a week. Sometimes we just have dinner together, but he mows my yard and whatever else Ineed.”

Of course he did. That sounded exactly like Kyle. And Hannah would love to know why hearing that a man mowed her grandmother’s lawn made her nipples tingle. That was ridiculous.

But she’d always been turned on by Kyle’s do-everything-for-everyone side. Which was strong. And constantly obvious.

Hannah was torn between the sudden desire to bolt and to stomp down the hallway to confront him. Just knowing he was in the other room made her feel jumpy. But she’d known she was going to see him. She’d just hoped that it would be in the professional setting of his office with Alice as the focus of their attention and conversation. They simply had to be comfortable enough around one another so that she could call with any questions or concerns after Alice’s surgery, and so that he could be totally honest with her about any complications that would arise. Would it be a little awkward at first? Yes. The hallway at Ty’s last night had proved that. But of course it would be. So they needed to get that first uncomfortable, how-do-we-act, what-do-we-say stuff out of the way so they could concentrate on Alice.

Well, no time like the present. She was in her grandmother’s house. He was on her turf. This would maybe be better in some ways than seeing him in the clinic that was very much his territory—and a huge reminder of how Hannah had let himdown.

She leaned over and kissed her grandmother’s cheek, again breathing in the familiar and beloved scent of lemon and vanilla. She got choked up and found herself saying, “I’m really sorry I haven’t been here beforenow.”

Alice cupped her cheek lovingly. “But you’re herenow.”

Hannah nodded and straightened, blinking against the wetness in her eyes. “I’m just going to go have a word with Dr. Ames. I have a couple of questions.” Like can we act like grown-ups and not avoid each other entirely for the next six weeks for my grandma’s sake? And can we please just avoid each other for the next six weeks for my grandma’ssake?

Hannah knew it would be hard for Alice to see her and Kyle together, but not together. But surely Alice would rather have them be friendly than…not. It was no secret Alice and Ruby had been over-the-moon delighted when Hannah and Kyle had fallen in love. And now it would be hard to keep her grandma from hoping for a rekindling of those feelings. Which would be hard for Hannah, considering it wouldn’t really be a rekindling of anything. You couldn’t rekindle a flame that had never gone out. At the same time, she knew Alice would hate it if she and Kyle couldn’t get along atall.

Hannah swallowed hard and started down the hall toward the kitchen with other questions in her head. Is there any way you could ever forgive me? And Do you ever still think about me or are you totally over itall?

The expression on his face last night was not the look of a man who was totally over it all, but she’d surprised him, woken him up, had showed up with another man…it probably wasn’t fair to judge him on his reaction under those circumstances. He could very easily be over her. He could have moved on. He could be dating someone seriously.

And, contrary to the cramp in her gut—and her heart—at the thought, she wanted that for him. She wanted him to have moved on. She wanted him to be happy.

If his girlfriend was a PT, even better. He could have everything he’d ever wanted.

Hannah tried to chalk up the churning in her stomach to butterflies over seeing Kyle. But while those were very prevalent, that was not the only reason she felt a little sick as she approached the kitchen. Six weeks was going to be way too long to see Kyle out and about with another woman.

“Hannah! Darling!”

The moment she stepped into the kitchen, Hannah was enveloped in a huge hug from Ruby, her grandmother’s best friend and the woman Hannah had always considered her adopted grandmother. Again, Hannah felt her eyes stinging as she hugged the other woman. But her eyes were firmly on the man who’d just turned from thesink.

He was wearing a green ruffled apron, had something pink streaked on one arm, his neck, and cheek, had flour in his hair, and was drying his hands on a bright yellow towel with blue teacups onit.

And he looked completely masculine, at ease, and…hot. Very, veryhot.

Her stupid nipples, that thought him mowing the lawn was attractive, definitely liked the apron look. She knew exactly what that was—it was their past coming back to bite her in theass.

This wasn’t the first time she’d seen him in an apron. And it wasn’t the first time the sight had turned her on. Since most of the chores and jobs around her parents’ house had fallen to her, Kyle had realized the best way to spend more time with her was to help with all of it. They hadn’t gone to the movies much, or to parties, or dances. But they’d had a ridiculously fun time cleaning the house. And cooking. And doing yard work. It seemed that Kyle could make anything fun. Andsexy.

There had always been a lot of touching, stolen kisses, and innuendos thrown back and forth as they worked. Just being with him had been all she’d wanted, and knowing that he felt the same way and was willing to scrub floors with her—and kiss her over a bucket of dirty water—had been more romantic than any bouquet of flowers he could have sent or jewelry he could have givenher.

But if he’d been helping Hannah all those times, what was he doing painting Alice’s house now? Just being a nice guy? That was possible. But he was also a very busy guy. Being the only physician in town didn’t give him a lot of timeoff.

It felt like she’d been frozen, hugging Ruby, staring at Kyle for about ten minutes, but it only took a few seconds for all of those memories to flash through hermind.

Ruby pulled back and cupped Hannah’s face. “Our beautiful girl. I’m so happy to seeyou.”

Hannah felt her throat tighten and she couldn’t quite make her mouth curl into a smile. She just nodded. “Me too,” she said, her voice scratchy.

Then Ruby stepped aside, leaving nothing to focus on butKyle.

“Hi, Hannah.”

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