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“Abby…”

There was e else, if this never worked out, she would leave here knowing she’d bared her soul and been honest with hiers “Erin loved you but she never offered to share your life She was crazy, Toht now but if I don’t she’ll always be between us and I don’t want that I want to share your life I want you to share mine”

“I’e,” he pointed out

“And I couldn’t care less if you had two nickels in your pocket Ahtened as she gazed into his eyes “Here it is, then I love you The only thing I want froh for me”

Tears filled her eyes and she tried to blink the here was crazy You et all the reasons why I’ve been afraid to let soet close You saved me, not once, but twice You showed me your compassion, your honor, your loyalty I’d be crazy to want more from you”

For a long second she thought he was going to reach for her He held back but she could tell—at least she hoped—that it was costing him Tom shook his head like he couldn’t quite believe her “You think I did all those things, but you’re the one who fixed ht I’d really lost you”

She frowned a little “If that’s true, why did you back off? After the hospital, you barely said tords to me”

“You thought that I didn’t care?” He put his hands on her arms and squeezed “It wasn’t that at all God, won, I knew that nothing had changed for you I hate that dan that was all but invisible froe

The little thread of doubt she despised reared its ugly head Shequestion she’d wanted to ask since Sarah’s barbecue “Do you still love her?”

Toaze delved into hers onceAnd the truth is, Abby, I was holding on to her ht I loved her I did love her—once But the last few rief I realized that the day Josh and I talked”

Relief slid through her She hadn’t been sure she could ever measure up to Erin’s host to rest …

“Please tellout here alone,” she whispered “That this isn’t all one-sided”

He pressed his forehead to hers, his broad, strong hand resting against the tiny knot of a bun at the back of her head

“You’re not alone,” he murmured, and he pressed his lips to hers

The kiss was slow, deep, and beautifully long Abby ainst him There was no hesitation this time This was the man she loved The first man she’d loved and she wanted him to be the last