these two men again, as if no time had passed at all, as if things were back to how they were before I found out the truth. Eli’s eyes were trained on me, a soft expression on his face. I could almost see the apology etched there, as if he hoped I wouldn’t hold a grudge against him for his role in the assignment, and I knew I couldn’t. He was simply following orders. I couldn’t blame him for that. But wasn’t Tyler doing the same thing? Would I be considered a hypocrite if I forgave Eli and not Tyler?
“Mackenzie?” Tyler interrupted my thoughts.
“Fine. It’s not the same car, though.”
He looked surprised. “You bought a new car?”
I avoided his eyes. “Not exactly.”
“Then what?”
I placed my hands on my hips in frustration. I knew I would have to eventually tell Tyler about what his mother had done for me, but I was dreading it. I was worried he would think everything fell apart when he left, and that I couldn’t function without him in my life. That wasn’t the case at all.
“Mackenzie, just tell me.”
“Fine,” I exhaled. “Your mom paid me a visit to apologize for you being a prick. Then she saw you knocked me up and must have seen the huge stack of overdue bills on my kitchen table. So she paid off the loan on the restaurant and my mortgage. She’s also covering all my medical expenses, and bought me a new car that could fit a baby seat.” Spinning on my heels, I stormed away from him and toward the waiting SUV.
The driver reached for the door, about to open it, when Tyler rushed forward. I was waiting for him to press the issue, to ask questions I didn’t feel like answering. Much to my surprise, he simply held the door for me.
“Allow me,” he said.
Studying him, I finally stepped back and permitted him to help me into the SUV. As he did, his hand brushed against my stomach. His stature tightened immediately. I met his gaze, a look of unease and bewilderment on his handsome face.
Smiling, I grabbed his hand in mine and placed it against my stomach. “It’s okay.” Our eyes remained locked as I kept my hands glued to his, hoping he would see I wanted him to be a part of this. Time seemed to stand still and, for that short moment, I was no longer concerned with all the lies he had told me. We were us again…the real us. The us I missed. The us I loved. The us I hoped we could be again.
There was a small flutter in my stomach and I couldn’t help but feel as though this was supposed to happen. “I think he knows his daddy’s here,” I murmured, breaking the perfect silence.
“Really? Why do you say that?”
“I think he’s kicking.” I removed my hands from on top of his, feeling the sides of my stomach.
“What does it feel like?” he asked, mesmerized. His breathing grew heavier and I knew he was in the moment. I had the same reaction the first time I felt it. Before then, it hadn’t really sunk in that this was real, even after seeing the ultrasounds and hearing the heartbeat. But that first flutter… Words were insufficient to properly convey the depth of awe I felt.
“Like a flutter of butterflies,” I explained, “but more intense. It’s almost like…”
“Yes?” he whispered, bringing his body closer to mine.
I exhaled, a satisfied smile crossing my face at the irony of it all. “Like lightning.”
Tyler swallowed hard, his breathing shallow. Our eyes locked and I saw the longing within. Licking his lips, he slowly lowered his head toward mine. My heart raced in my chest and I could have sworn I heard it echoing around us.
His breath on my skin tingled my senses, reminding me how much I craved him. Even the most innocent of touches sent me reeling, never wanting to be separated from him again. I closed my eyes, lost in the moment. I wanted his kiss, but I didn’t. I pined for it, but I knew I shouldn’t. When his lips brushed against mine, I moaned, my taut stature relaxing.
I had dreamt of this precise moment for months. Hearing his voice in my sleep, imagining his skin on mine… His voice murmuring his deepest and darkest desires had seemed so real. Now it finally was. But was I so weak to let him think he could just waltz back into my