Page 76 of Restart & New Revenge
“Alright,” she announced loudly to the room. “Unlessyou’re married to my patient,Ineed you out of the room in sixty seconds.”
Thankfully, everyone listened, andIfinally had the privacy withAceIhad been hoping for sinceIwoke up from my surgery.
She hopped off her chair after ending her call and walked over to me.
“You rang?”Hereyebrows lifted in question as she teased me.
“Is it so wrong to want to spend time with my wife without everyone else around?Besides,Ihaven’t had a chance to talk to you since you told me you loved me, andIneeded to hear you say it again.”
I grinned at her, causing her to roll her eyes, but she did it with a small smile.
“I’m scared,” she said as she looked down at my left leg, whereI’dbeen shot. “Whatif you realizeI’mnot the perfect person you thinkIam and change your mind down the road?”
“Love isn’t supposed to be perfect all the time.It’sexperiencing life side-by-side with your best friend—laughing, teasing, arguing, and makeup sex.Ishould emphasize there is a lot of sex in between all of those other things, too,”Iemphasized.
“Look at youtryingto be funny,” she said stoically, butIsaw her lip twitch.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.I’malways funny,”Itold her.
“Funny-looking,” she mumbled under her breath, butIheard it.
I chuckled and pulled her arm so she was now sitting on the side of my hospital bed with me.
“Thank you,” she said, though it sounded forced and nearly pained her to say.
“It’s not a big deal.”
“Yes, it is,”Acesaid. “Youtook a terrible, no-good, awful day, and you made it slightly more tolerable.So, thank you.”
“If you let me,”Isaid, treading cautiously, “Ican help make more no-good, awful days much better.”
I reached up and cupped my hand around her cheek. “Ilove you,Anna—Ace—Papadopoulos.I’dask you to marry me, but you already did—twice.I’mhoping this time will stick andI’llget to spend the rest of my life showing you how muchIlove you.”
I moved my hand down and started rubbing my thumb over the back of hers, stroking gently.
“I love when you do that,” she said softly. “Forwhatever reason, it calms me.”
“I know,”Itold her.
“Archer…” she said, looking contemplative. “Maybeyoushouldask me to marry you again.Thefirst marriage you left me on purpose.Thesecond marriage, you tried to leave me after getting shot.Maybeyou should try again—third time’s the charm,Ihear.”
There was humor in her voice, but none in mine whenIresponded, asIwanted her to know the seriousness of whatIwas about to say. “Iwould never leave you on purpose without a good reason, butIpromise to do better for our third marriage…if you’ll have me.Marryme,Ace.Thistime, let’s do it right—a dress, friends and family present, cake—the whole nine yards.”
I saw tears in her eyes and a smile on her face as she leaned down to kiss me. “Okay.”
I kissed her back with everythingIhad. “You’remine,Ace.Alwaysand forever.”
EPILOGUE
ANNA
I hated these things.Iknew it was for a good cause, andIwanted to be charitable, butIhated auctioning myself off.
It was just for lunch with me, and it was at a predetermined restaurant—a place that was allowing us to eat for free as their donation.Archerwas here and was my backup plan.
A few years ago,Ihad an elderly woman bid on lunch with me because she always wanted to be a news anchor but never got the opportunity.Shebought the lunch because she was super wealthy and just wanted to ask me questions about my career.Ifthat woman, or someone like her, did the bidding,Iwas perfectly fine with that.Thiswas to benefit a local foster youth charity, soIwanted whoever would bid the highest to win…with one exception.Thatexception was if it was someone creepy.
So, my backup plan, just in case the person bidding turned out to be a creep, wasArcher.Itold himIwould give him a certain look and he would know to make a bid.
