Page 93 of Tempting the Heart

“It’s not like I’m asking her to marry me.” I smiled. “Yet.”

“True.”

“I’ll have to butter her up, show her my leaving was for the best, but it was only to make things right.”

“I don’t know that’s how she’ll see it.”

“Time will tell.” I glanced at an email and wrote an easy reply before closing the lid on my laptop. “Thanks for watching my place for the summer.”

“My pleasure. It’s not like I had anywhere to go since moving out of my townhouse in Chicago. I thought I could do it, but I missed this.” His hands swished through the air. “The air is just cleaner here.”

I smiled at my brother and stood with my laptop. “Fridge is full, so you should be good for a few days.”

“Awesome. Does she know you’re coming?”

I shook my head. “It’s a surprise.”

My brother’s eyes widened. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

“I’m positive.”

The doorbell rang, and I glanced at my brother. “You expecting someone?”

He laughed and shook his head. “I barely knew I was coming here today. There’s no way anyone else does.”

I walked into the house and glanced at the time on the microwave. I had about thirty minutes before I had to leave for the airport.

Looking out the window toward the driveway, I didn’t see a car, other than Paul’s rental.

I opened the door and couldn’t believe my eyes.

“Mae,” I whispered.

Her hair had been braided into two braids, and she wore a pair of Capri jeans and a halter top. She looked even better than I remembered.

“Surprise.” She waved her hands in the air and chuckled. “I saw a rental car in the drive. I hope I’m not interrupting something. Likereallyhoping I’m not.”

“Oh, you mean like another woman?” I rolled my eyes.

She chuckled as I brought her into my arms, smelling the sweet vanilla scent of her lip balm and the shampoo she’d always used.

Mae stepped back and smiled at me as my stomach swelled with emotion.

“Unless you want to see my brother put on a dress, there’s no other women here.”

She laughed and shook her head. “You’re kidding. Paul is here?”

I nodded. “Yeah. He came here to house sit for the rest of the summer.”

Her eyes widened. “Really? Why? Where are you going? Did I interrupt your plans?”

Scooping her into my arms, I nuzzled my nose into her hair and closed my eyes. For the first time ever, I held Mae in my arms and felt like I was enough for her.

“I was flying out to Seattle today,” I murmured, slowly letting her go.

“For your parents?” she asked, looking into my eyes.

I shook my head. “No. For you. I’d planned on surprising you. I—”

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