I shook my head. "No news on that front. Although, I told him I would come by again tomorrow."
Evie nodded thoughtfully, playing with her light hair as she made her way back to me at the kitchen table. She seemed to school her face into an innocent expression of interest, stopping just in front of me. "Will you… stay with him long? Though, I guess you've been away from your practice a long time."
"That's true, I have," I mused, fighting a strong wave of amusement. Her poker face was about as good as her cousin's. I took her hand in mine and pulled her to my lap. She relented, letting herself fall onto my thighs, and her arms automatically twined around my neck. I pushed a long strand of honey-colored hair away from her pink cheek. "I suppose I should do something about that."
She tried to fight it, but her expression fell a touch. "Of course, you should. I'm sure they're missing you."
"Will you miss me?" I asked, sliding my fingers down the strands of hair to her waist.
She raised her eyes to mine reluctantly. "Yes."
Her honesty flooded my body with warm relief that quickly heated to burning desire. Everything this woman did lit my veins on fire and filled me with a longing I'd never dreamed could be real. I turned her in my lap so she faced my computer, and wrapping my arms around her, I opened the email. "In that case, I have a confession to make."
She slumped between my arms. "You're leaving tomorrow, aren't you?"
"Evelyn," I replied, pressing my jaw against hers. "I told you already that I'm not leaving."
"But you?—"
"Read the email." I held her while she read my resignation letter.
Her limbs tensed as she read, and when she reached the end, she spun around on my lap, hooking me with a stern glare. "Tell me you're teasing."
"Oh,nowyou want me to tease," I quipped.
"Benjamin," she glowered. "You did not resign from your job just because I… because we…" she tapered off, apparently at a loss for words.
"Yes, I did," I replied quietly.
"Can you evendothat?" she asked, aghast. "Can doctors just quit?"
I twisted my features into a mildly incredulous expression. "I'm one of the top plastic surgeons on the western seaboard. Yes, Evelyn. I can do that."
"Butwhy?" she asked breathlessly.
"Because," I thought out loud, drawing out the word as I formulated a response that wouldn't sound as insane as the truth really was. Actually, to hell with sanity. "Because I love you, Evelyn. I love you, and I promised I would be here. So, that's what I'm going to do. And if you don't want me to," I continued before she could interrupt with the objection already forming on her lips, "then I'll still be here, at least in Seattle. I promised I would help Wells with his research, anyway. You're not changing my mind."
Her hazel eyes bounced between mine, as if she was trying to X-ray my thoughts. "But… if I did want you to…"
I nodded. "I'm yours."
"You're mine," she repeated in disbelief.
"All yours." I locked my arms around her lower back, tethering her to me. "Although, I might draw the line at feeding the goats."
I watched the moment her trepidation burst, and she allowed hope to take root. Her face lightened, her hazel eyes widening, and a cautious smile lifted her cheeks. "You really mean it."
"I do," I promised. "And we're going to getverygood at gelatin art and wow the neighbors with our dazzling desserts."
"Our only neighbor is a cemetery," she deadpanned.
"The corpses will gasp in awe." I leaned in close, loving the feel of her in my arms, cherishing the sweet scent of her skin accented with fresh rain in the air. "Either way, I'll stay close by."
Her fingers curled against the nape of my neck. "Will you sit under a tree and watch me talk to the bees?"
"It's my new favorite hobby." I paused. "Well, after the gelatin."
"Hm, I was hoping you would say giving lessons was your favorite hobby," she smiled, brushing her lips softly against mine.
