She loved that his boyish enthusiasm hadn’t disappeared over the years. “Really? Who’s manipulating who here?”
“I had nothing to do with it, but since they’ve made the move, I want to say something.”
April threw the waste in the bio-hazards container and bit her lip. Did she really want to go over this again? He’d said enough the last time and it was still playing havoc on her emotions.
“I probably came on too strong the other day and I apologize. Every word I said is true. Makes me a little bit pathetic, I know. There’s never been anyone else for me and that’s not going to go away just because you wish it to. I want you back, April, and I’m prepared to wait for as long as it takes for you to feel the same way about me.”
“I…” The words stuck in her throat. Yes, she still thought about him, even dreamed of him, but she couldn’t tell him that. When things had gone bad with Rob, her dreams had been filled with Drew. Drew riding in on a white stallion to save her and the children. Drew taking her away from the violence and drugs back to Hope Island where she felt safe. In truth, it was what had kept her going and gave her the courage to finally leave her abusive husband. They’d all been nothing more than dreams because she knew deep down that she could never have him. Too much had happened in the years they’d been apart.
“Just tell me that you still feel something, anything for me.”
Her gaze softened and she smiled. He wasn’t asking for much, just a small sign. Should she give him that and hope that she could find a way to make her problems disappear? Was it worth the risk? Could she face letting him go again when he found out she wasn’t the person he thought she was?
“I thought of you more than I had a right to.” And that might come back to bite her, because she couldn’t resist him when he smiled at her like that.
* * *
It took all the strength he could muster not to jump up and down and shout at the top of his lungs. April wasn’t as immune to him as she’d led him to believe.
Drew lifted her hands and held them close to his chest. She could probably feel the way his heart raced, but he didn’t care. He was over the moon with her admission. “You don’t realize how much that makes me want to race you out of here right now. I would cheerfully ditch my last few appointments to have the time alone with you.”
“We both know you’d never do that to your patients, Drew.”
“You’re right, but the thought is there. I’ll have to wait until we’re alone to show you how that makes me feel.”
“Can we please not rush this? There are things you don’t understand about me. Things we need to talk about…
“I don’t care. I know who you are, April—the real you. What you did before you came home isn’t important.”
“It is. I did things I’m not proud of.”
He pulled her close, and held her in his arms as if he was afraid to let her go. “I don’t care. We can work through those problems if and when they come up. It’s not important. All I care about is right here in my arms.”
“What about the children?”
“They’re part of you. Why wouldn’t I want them too?”
“But they’re another man’s. Not everyone can cope with taking that on.” She pulled back. “I don’t want to run into a relationship that might not work now we’re older and supposedly wiser.”
“I told you what I want and I said that knowing you have the children. We both had a life the last fifteen years, April, but that’s how it goes. I haven’t exactly been the retiring virgin myself.” He smiled and wiped his thumb over her bottom lip. “I’m not letting you go that easily, not again. The kids and I will get on fine, I’m sure of that. Leo is already getting under my skin and I can see a lot of you in him. Tilly seems to be warming to me as well. As for you and me and what we may have done, nothing we can’t deal with, I’m sure.”
“We will see.”
The phone on her desk rang and she picked it up, listened a moment then hung up. “Nancy has your next patient waiting.”
“Thanks, we’ll continue this later. I’ll see you at home shortly then.” He wrapped her in his arms, leaned in, and ran his tongue over the cupid bow of her top lip and watched the heat shimmer in her eyes. It gave his heart a jolt to know he still had that kind of effect on her. She sighed into his mouth and he took advantage of her willingness to kiss her soundly. It took all of his will power to step back from her and leave the room, but knowing how she felt made it easier.
Chapter 13
“It’s good to see you, April. Had a busy day, I hear.” Atticus handed her a glass of wine with his trademark smile and pushed a bowl of her favorite mixed nuts toward her.
“Yes, but very rewarding none the less.” She sipped and moaned in pleasure. “That is good.”
“Wait until you see the fish that Arlo gave us, Mom. Its huge!” Leo held his arms wide and April laughed.
“It’s not that big. Try half that size, Leo.” Tilly shook her head at her little brother’s enthusiasm.
“How is Arlo doing? I haven’t seen him in ages.” April picked out a couple of cashews and popped them in her mouth.
Gigi turned from the kitchen counter and spoke. “He’s doing fine. The fish farm is coming along nicely. Out of season for oysters, but he has plenty of work to keep him occupied until he opens
