Marrying the Playboy Doctor - By Laura Iding Page 0,55
glacier moved through the area thousands of years ago.”
She stared for a long moment at the waves rippling over the lake’s surface, before turning toward him. “Seth, I’m sorry. But I can’t do this. I can’t see you anymore.”
He was so shocked that he could only stare at her. The fact that he’d planned to break things off himself didn’t matter in the least. “Why?”
“Because I need more than just having fun with you. I need it all. A husband, a true father to help raise Ben. I’m sorry, but I’m not cut out for a casual fling.”
Casual fling? He let the bag of deli sandwiches drop to the sandy soil at his feet so he could grasp her arms. “Kylie, how could you think I feel casual toward you? For God’s sake, woman, I love you.”
Her glorious green eyes widened at his declaration, and suddenly he understood she was running away from him the same way he’d intended to run from her. From the threat of their love.
A spark of anger burned. Running away? Well, hell. He wasn’t a coward and neither was she. Love hurt when the person you loved was gone. So what? Did that mean if Kylie walked away right now he’d hurt any less?
No. And really love didn’t have to hurt. Love could be full of life and laughter, too. His parents had been happy during the time they were together. He knew his mother hadn’t regretted a moment of her marriage to his father. Probably hadn’t regretted either marriage.
“Seth, don’t.” She tried to tug out of his grip. “I have to think about Ben.”
“Ben? Is that really why you’re running away?” He seriously doubted it. “Kylie, I had an awesome father, who raised me as his own. He was incredibly patient as he taught me how to play football. I asked him how he knew so much about sports, and do you know what he said?” She shook her head. “He said, ‘When I first met your mother I didn’t know anything about sports, but I knew I had to learn quick since I had two active sons to keep busy.’”
“Your father sounds like a wonderful man.”
“He was. And I think I can learn to be a good father, too. I realize now that my father was brave enough to learn how to be a father to us kids. I’m more than willing to do the same thing. To learn how to be a husband to you and a father to Ben.”
“And what if you decide a few years down the road that you don’t want to be a husband anymore?” Kylie pulled her hands from his and half turned away, raking a hand through her hair, straightening the strands that had been tousled from the breeze. “Seth, parenthood isn’t all fun—especially once the novelty wears off. I know you’re going to eventually decide to move on to someone else.”
He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Kylie didn’t believe him. Didn’t trust him. Didn’t trust in his love for her.
And other than shouting it out over the lake, so the whole world could hear him, he didn’t know how to convince her.
Kylie stood at the edge of the bluff, gazing at the deep blue water and wishing she knew what to do.
Seth claimed he loved her. He claimed he wanted to be a husband and a father. And she didn’t doubt that he sincerely meant it. But there was far more to having a family than buying a new car.
He had no clue what he was in for. Had no inkling of what it was like to be up all night with a sick baby, or a toddler with the flu. When Ben had gotten hit by the car, her entire life had teetered on the edge until she’d discovered he was all right.
“So that’s it, then?” Seth’s tone was bitter. “You’re going to refuse to trust me? You’re just going to walk away?”
She licked her dry lips, feeling sick. “This isn’t about trust. It’s about knowing what’s best.” He didn’t understand that her life was mundane, boring. The risk was too great to make a mistake. She wouldn’t be the only one to suffer if things went wrong.
Ben would suffer, too.
He let out a harsh sound. “This is about trust. You could choose to believe me, to take a chance on us. On love.”
Tears welled in her eyes, but she still shook her head.
Seth’s mouth tightened. “You know what’s really funny? I actually