Page 87 of Doctor Neighbor

"How do you feel about that?" I ask, searching his face for any sign of hesitation or regret.

Buster squeezes my hand gently. "I'm... overwhelmed, to be honest. But not in a bad way. Maddie is an amazing little girl and the thought of being her father... it's incredible."

Tears well up in my eyes, and I blink them back. "You've already been so amazing with her, Buster. The way you stepped up and saved her life... I can never thank you enough."

He reaches up, brushing a tear from my cheek. "You don't have to thank me, Cole. I did what anyone would do for a child in need."

Not everyone, actually. I don't tell him, but I think about Steele. Buster sees what he has done as just a regular thing. He doesn't see himself as a hero. But what he did so easily, so naturally, is extraordinary.

I take a deep breath, gathering my courage. "Buster, I have to ask... what does this mean for us? For you and me?"

His dark eyes meet mine, mixed emotions swirling in their depths. I press on, my heart racing.

"I can see you'll be an amazing father to Maddie. You already have been, even before we knew. But..." I pause, swallowing hard. "Is that where it ends? Is that where our story ends?"

Buster's hand tightens around mine, his thumb tracing small circles on my skin. The gesture is comforting, but I can feel the tension in his touch.

"Cole, I..." he starts, then stops, seeming to search for the right words. "I don't want it to end there. Not at all."

Relief floods me, but I hold back, waiting for him to continue.

"These past few weeks, being here for you and Maddie, it's shown me something I didn't expect. I care about you both deeply. More than I thought possible."

I nod, encouraging him to go on.

"But I also know this is complicated. We've been thrust into this situation, and everything happened quickly. I think we need to be careful, for Maddie's sake as well as our own."

"What are you saying?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

Buster leans in, his forehead almost touching mine. "I'm saying I want to be here for both of you. As Maddie's father, yes, but also... as more than that. If that's what you want too."

My heart soars at his words, but I can't help the nagging doubt that creeps in. "Are you sure? This is a lot to take on, Buster. A ready-made family, a child who's still recovering... it's not exactly the simplest situation."

Buster's eyes soften as he looks at me, his hand still holding mine. "Cole, I'm not sure where this will go, but I want to try it.”

My breath catches in my throat, hope blooming in my chest.

He continues, his voice low and earnest. "My whole life, I've acted on impulse. Jumping from one thing to the next without much thought. But with you and this situation... it's different."

I nod, encouraging him to go on.

“I’ve been more thoughtful about it for the first time ever in my dating history. About you, about Maddie, about what this means. I've never approached anything like this before."

His words wash over me, and I feel a warmth spreading through my body. It's not just the relief of knowing he wants to be involved, but something more.

"What are you saying, Buster?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

He takes a deep breath. "I'm saying that I'm not going into this impulsively. I've thought about it a lot. And I want to be here for both of you. I want to see where this goes, not just as Maddie's father, but with you too."

"I'm committed to trying. That's what I'm saying. To be here for Maddie and explore what we could be together with you and me.”

I lean in, my heart racing, and press my lips against Buster's. The kiss is passionate, urgent, and filled with all the emotions we've been holding back. His lips are soft yet demanding, and I feel myself melting into him.

Buster responds immediately, matching my intensity. His strong hands cup my face, pulling me closer. I run my fingers through his hair, reveling in its softness.

Without breaking the kiss, Buster gently pushes me down onto the couch. His body presses against mine, solid and warm. I feel the weight of him, comforting and exciting all at once.

My hands roam his back, feeling the muscles beneath his shirt.

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