Page 13 of Third Time's the Charm

His eyes flashed and he appeared to swallow hard. “I just came down for Christmas with Mom. I heard Doug’s bark and came to make sure you were okay.”

“I’m fine. Just stuck.” I stomped my foot. It was such bad luck to leave a spotlight. But kiss Jack?

Jack?

Not worth it.

“And I can help you,” he offered. “Unless you hate me so much you can’t stand to be near me.”

If he got any closer I might explode from a combination of anger and lust. “I can’t stand to be near you.”Why oh whydid I still feel physical things for him?I hate him. I hate him. I hate him.

“I’m sorry, Berlin.”

Oh god.

He stepped closer. “I’m sorry I changed. I’m sorry I wasn’t a good husband. I’m sorry I made you divorce me. I understand that I gave you no choice.”

My heart broke in a new way. I could see he was genuinely sorry and that just made me sad. Sad for everything we could have been, but never would be.

“Hockey ruined everything,” I whispered.

His face fell. “No.Iruined everything. I let hockey consume me. I let the idea of success turn me into a Grade A Asshole.”

I had to smile a little. “I started calling you Jack-ass right before I asked you for a divorce.”

He smiled a little, too. “I’m sorry I ruined us.”

The day we met, I swear there was an electric string that wrapped around me and then him. It drew us together and whenever we were near, it sizzled back to life. I was sizzling again. Was he?

“You’re sorry?”

He nodded. “I am. I couldn’t see what a monster I became back then. I was too consumed by it. Thanks to your ass kicking I’ve gotten to see things from a new perspective.”

My ass kicking. It was suddenly very hard to breathe. “And what perspective is that?”

“That hockey is only one part of my life. I miss getting into trouble with you. I miss this island. I miss . . . ” He stood frozen, his eyes unfocused and his mouth slightly ajar. “I miss opening up the sleeping porch on a breezy night and lying awake with you on my chest, talking all night while we look at the stars, getting drunk on a bottle of rum. I miss waking up a little hungover but with the most spectacular sunrise right in front of us. I miss bringing you coffee so we can stay a little longer.”

I drew in a ragged breath as I was assaulted physically by those memories. Those weremyfavorite memories. I was never safer, never more satisfied, than those nights spent with my best friend.

I missed those nights.

He took another step. He stood right in front of me now. I could smell his cologne, see how nervous he was. Everything in my body screamed to kiss him. So I did. I dropped Doug’s leash and threw caution to the wind one more time.

If our marriage was over, how could he still make me feel this way? I was as lightheaded and turned on as ever. His hands tightened on me and my mind flashed to all those times those hands held me, stroked me, pleased me. What we had was so good. I whimpered and he kissed me even deeper. Until I felt his desperation in my soul.He still loves me.

He pulled away, his thumb still brushing my cheek as he held me close. So close.

“Jack.” I couldn’t open my eyes. I wanted to stay in this whirlwind where things made sense again.

“I love you.”

Ifeltthose three words. And I had no choice but to open my eyes and see the truth for myself.

I love you.

It was written all over his face from his glistening eyes to his furrowed brow. Was he different? Was that possible? People changed right? They grew and learned.

It felt like he was silently pleading with me to believe him.

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