He took a step toward her, then stopped, as if afraid of not giving her the space she needed.
“I’m sorry I worried you.”
Damn him for saying something like that. Like he was at fault for something. She swiped at the tear that rolled down her cheek.
“I left to protect you.”
“I get that, but what destroys me is the fact that you decided I don’t get a say. Especially, after all we shared.”
That felt like a good old-fashioned scolding, yet she wasn’t mad. Instead, she felt guilty for hurting him while thrilled at the same time that he was here, refusing to let fear write their ending.
“You could have stayed away.”
“I could have,” he agreed.
Suddenly, the conversation felt like they were both cautiously tiptoeing around who would profess their love first. Technically, she had said it in her letter to him, but to say it out loud directly to someone took more courage. He stood before her and told his story. She could pussyfoot around this all day or just listen to her heart.
Before she lost her courage, she stepped forward and stretched onto her tiptoes, careful not to touch his torso, assuming it still hurt.
“You’re impossible,” she murmured before she lightly pressed her lips to his.
“Yeah, I’ve been told that before,” he said quietly as he dipped his head and kissed her.
When he pulled back, she stared into his dark eyes. The depth of his caring was clear. She trusted and loved him. How this happened in such a short period of time, she didn’t know. But here they stood.
“What now?” she asked.
“I want to take you on a date. A proper date. One where I buy you a nice dinner and we talk. I want to get to know you better. That kind of thing. Would you like that?”
“I would.”
A smile stretched across Cap’s face.
“How does this Saturday sound?” he asked.
“Will you be able to drive by then?”
“Huh?”
She pointed to the truck in her driveway. “I see Hunter drove you here. Will you be able to drive, or do I need to pick you up?”
He laughed. “Umm, you may need to pick me up. How about you come to my home, and I’ll cook you a nice dinner?”
“You cook?” she teased.
“I can hold my own.”
“It’s a date. I’ll be there.”
“Great. With as much as I don’t want to, I have to go and get back home. Mom is there, and she wasn’t happy when Hunter broke me out to come here. She thinks I’m supposed to be resting.”
“I’m guessing she’s not wrong, is she?”
“No, but I had to see you.”
Her heart fluttered.
“I’m so happy you came. But, I don’t want to start off on the wrong foot with your mother, so I need you to get out of here now, or I won’t be able to send you away.”
