Two weeks after Daniel’s accident, Chloe stood staring at Doug. He looked gorgeous in his dark grey suit with a deep purple tie. In fact, she was having a hard time picking her jaw up off the floor.
He frowned. “You said to dress up. Is this not okay?”
Blinking, she got her eyes up to his warm brown ones. “Stunning. If I can keep breathing, we’re ready to go.”
A chuckle left his lips. “You’re beautiful, but you always are.” He looked back down at his suit. “I guess I’ll have to dress up more often.”
She nodded dumbly.
His laugh washed over her. “Come on. Don’t want to be late.”
Doug drove, holding her hand the whole way. He took the afternoon off to be with her. Later that evening, they were heading back to his shop for a small performance. The kids involved in his program were playing a recital for their parents and a few other people.
The more she learned about Doug, the harder she fell.
He parked on the street and they walked from there. “You know,” she said, looking up at him, “I’ve never been happier. That’s all you.”
His smile widened. “You got yourself where you are. Not me. I may have helped influence you, but you put the work in. You’re tighter with your sister and father now, than ever before. You start your new job tomorrow. Again, all you, not me.”
“Sure, but that’s not the part that makes me happiest. Finally having you and being able to call you mine. That’s everything for me. It turns my good life to amazing.”
He leaned over to kiss her temple. “You’ve brightened my world as well.”
The words were on the tip of her tongue, but he pulled her through the door of the restaurant. It might seem fast to an outsider, but she’d been in love with Doug since seventh grade. Listening to her mother prevented her from having the one thing she wanted for far too long.
The hostess greeted them with an appraising look at Doug.
Chloe smiled. “We’re with the Mae party.”
“Right this way.” She didn’t miss the way the woman checked Doug out. Luckily for her, he was focused on Chloe, not the other woman.
Dad, Daniel, and Xavier were seated by a window.
She swooned when Doug pulled her chair out and pushed her in without banging her against anything. He played the part of a gentleman perfectly.
“It’s so good to see you both,” Dad greeted.
Daniel reached over to squeeze her hand. “Agreed. It’s good having you in Seattle.” His bruises had faded, but his arm was still in a cast.
“Danielle has a court case. She couldn’t be here, but she says next time.”
Her family, excluding Mom, were still a family. Other than Daniel, she didn’t talk to them daily, but she heard from them a few times a week. She wondered how she missed what was right in front of her. Misplaced anger had hidden the truth for far too long.
* * * *
Doug moved around his shop’s retail space, making sure everything was in place for the mini-concert. He placed each instrument, music stand, and appropriate chairs.
He’d put so much work into helping the kids learn their preferred instrument, and he was proud to say they were doing amazingly well.
Chloe stood against the counter with her hands clasped in front of her. “Can I help?”
“No,” he mumbled, trying to remember what he might have forgotten. Nothing came to mind, with the exception of telling Chloe how deep his feelings ran. Two amazing weeks. He wasn’t ready to propose or move in, but the words were on the tip of his tongue every time they were near each other.
There was a knock as the first kid arrived, fidgeting nervously with his skinny tie. He reminded Doug of Jordan, one of his closest friends. Jayden was “in love” with Samantha. At twelve. He wanted to laugh and say, you have no clue what you’re talking about. Except he’d fallen for Chloe long before that, even if he’d never admitted it.
The kid’s love was something special. Doug hoped Jayden had better luck with Samantha than Jordan had with Roxy. They were finally friends again, but Jordan fell apart for a long time.
Doug opened the door and let Jayden in with his father, John. “You’re the first ones here. Welcome.”
* * * *
After the concert, Chloe and Doug walked home from the shop. Yet again, he proved why this man was the one. Fears be damned, she wanted the world to know he was hers.
“That was amazing,” Chloe gushed. “Completely and utterly phenomenal. Those kids look up to you. You’ve taught them so much. I’m blown away.”
He blushed and lifted a shoulder. “I love music. That’s a gift that should be shared, a talent that should be nurtured. It’s what I know, so it’s what I give them.”
“I see why my father respects you. Why he wants to show more people the amazing things you’re doing.”
He laughed. “Thanks. But look at you. You’re going into a profession where your sole goal is to help kids lead a better life.”
“Not nearly as awesome.”
He looked over and shook his head. “No? By treating kids with JRA, you’re giving them a chance to play sports, even music, that they didn’t have before. You’re helping to curb the daily pain that prevents a lot of them from being normal kids. I remember how much my brother hurt, all the time, before he was properly diagnosed. How many days Dave sat in tears because even walking to the bathroom was hell.”
“But my work won’t give those kids the instant gratification creating music does,” she pointed out.
“No, but you change their whole world for the better. For instance, kids like my brother. Do you know what Dave is doing now?”
Chloe shook her head.
“He became a physical therapist. He’s active, the symptoms managed. He’s doing great. All because of doctors like you. Don’t sell yourself short, Chloe.”
She grinned. “I’m not. But you—those kids light up around you.”
“Your patients will do the same once they realize how much better you can make them feel. That’s the best gift you can give.”
Her smile warmed. “You’ve made your point.”
“Where do you want to stay tonight?”
“Would you hate me if I say my place? I need to be at work early tomorrow, and Jordan and Leanan are loud, too loud. Didn’t he say they would be there tonight?”
“Good point.”
“How do you stand it?”
“Headphones, music loud.” He laughed.
* * * *
They barely made it through the door of her apartment, before Doug’s hands were on her, tugging at her clothes. Chloe laughed as she opened each button of his shirt, then attempted not to tear his pants when she yanked them open. He grabbed a condom before shucking his clothes while she slid the dress off her body.
Chloe couldn’t help staring at the masterpiece before her. All mine.
Wasting no time, she snatched the condom and took delight in his rumbling groan as she rolled it over his hard length.
Backing her against the wall as his hands curled under her ass, Doug hauled her against his hard body. Her legs locked around his hips.
Her hand slipped between them to angle his cock, letting him slide deep into her heat.
“Fuck, exactly where I need to be,” he breathed, as he pumped into her. His mouth covered hers, his tongue slipping between her lips, as he pounded her with short, steady thrusts.
It was primal, desperate, and she loved every second. He showed her every day how much he cared, how much he needed her. The guilt of ditching him back when they were kids fell away.
His passion was real, his heart completely hers. Now that they were adults, she felt they really connected in a way they never achieved as kids.
What she felt ran deeper than lust, than infatuation. He made her feel all-encompassing love. The kind laced with respect, that made her feel better about herself when she was with him.
He broke the kiss, capturing her gaze with his warm eyes. Such deep emotion stared back at her.
She was too breathless to form words, barely able to cling to him while he rocked her body against the wall.
Climax crashed over her. His mouth covered hers again, swallowing the cries as he kissed her deeply. Stars blinked through her vision.
He carried her back to the bedroom, laid her down, and went to the bathroom without a word. A million thoughts spiraled through her mind. The act had been desperate and passionate, then he walked away.
Have I read him wrong?
* * * *
Every emotion he wrestled with, she seemed to feel as well. Doug stood at the mirror, trying to see the man she saw. He couldn’t, but it didn’t matter. Love poured through him. He was done hiding his feelings.
She’d proven their connection was deeper than lust. She wanted him, all of him. He drew a breath and came back to lay beside her.
Chloe curled into him and placed a kiss over his heart.
He blurted out, “I love you, Chloe.”
The same time, she whispered, “Doug, I love you.”
She jerked back, a look of surprise in her beautiful amber eyes. “You do?”
He nodded, before leaning in for a soft, sweet kiss. “I have all along.”
“Me too, but I was afraid you wouldn’t believe me.”
“I needed to be sure. Let’s face it, I was afraid. You battered my heart in the past.”
“I wish I could change that.”
“I don’t. Not anymore. I loved that girl who wasn’t sure what she wanted. I’m in love with the woman she became.”
“And I’m in love with you.”