Page 179 of Forgot to Tell You Something

“I’m not telling you this so you can beat the shit out of him.”

“I’ll do more than that. They’ll never find his corpse.”

“I appreciate that, I truly do. But I have the floor. Sit down and listen.” She points at the bed, her lips pursed. “I’m not kidding.”

I sink back onto the mattress, my foot tapping erratically against the floor. Tally wants me to remain calm? Is she kidding? That someone inflicted that level of harm on the woman I love is enough to make me lose my damn mind.

“My point is that he was a monster, Owen. You are anything but. That’s why I didn’t date doctors. I didn’t date anyone. I established these rules because in my mind, they kept me safe. In reality, they kept alone.” She sits beside me, grasping my hand. Just that slight touch makes me feel like I can breathe again. “I’m proud of you, of what you do for a living. You save lives, Owen. Hell, you saved mine.”

Men aren’t supposed to cry, right? All that macho, tough crap is bullshit, because when the woman you love tells you that you saved her life, I dare you not to get choked up. I run my hand along her cheek, smiling when she presses a kiss to my palm.

“I realize now that all my rules made it impossible for you to navigate this relationship, and I kept inventing new ones every day. All to keep my heart safe. But my heart has been with you ever since we met. I just made you workreallyhard for it. Granted, you’re hardly innocent in this situation.”

I nod, because this woman made me work my ass off to prove myself. Would I do it again? Every damn day, just for ten minutes with Tally.

“Even when we reconciled, I wanted to hide our relationship, then I got jealous when other women looked at you. Who does that? Who hides a relationship with the most eligible doctor in the hospital? I need to have my head examined.”

“Good times, Darlin,” I tease, tweaking her nose. “But I earned your misgivings. I should have told you the truth—the whole truth—about everything, right from the start. I figured no woman would want to handle my messy situation, but you’re not just any woman. You’re the most perfect woman I’ve ever met, and I meant what I asked you last night.”

She holds up her hand, my ring sparkling on her finger. “I wasn’t letting you slide. Hell, no. But I have made some new rules.”

“Oh, Christ,” I groan, not entirely sure I want to know. “Do they involve sexual favors, because I’m completely on board with that scenario.”

“No, no, no. I admitted my shortcomings, but the shit you’ve put me through the last couple of months is ridiculous. You have to be punished. Hence, my new rules.” She straddles my lap, her baby bump resting between us. “You may be a world-class doctor, but everyone has to toe the line.”

“Give it to me, then. What are your rules?” I inquire, my hands stroking along the sides of her stomach. “You really have popped.”

“Are you calling me fat?”

“Not a chance. I think you’re even sexier now.”

The corners of Tally’s mouth turn up as a blush colors her cheeks. “See? That’s just it. You knocked me up, but you don’t seem sorry about it.”

I smile, stealing a kiss from her full lips.

“I think you’re happy about it, actually.”

“You think so?” I’m not happy about the baby. I’m thrilled.

“I know so, and your punishment, because of your equal involvement, is that you’re stuck with us. Me, Nugget and Hecate.”

“Oh, no. Anything but that.”

“It gets worse. I want you around. None of this flying around the globe crap. Once in a while, fine. But not every week. I need you here.”

“Deal.” Easiest damn decision I’ve ever made.

Tally bites her lower lip, looking at me over her glasses. “And Charlotte—”

“—is gone,” I finish her statement, all too happy to say the words. “Permanently.”

“I may not like the woman, but saying it like that makes me think she’s wearing cement shoes.”

“She’s very much alive, but she’s out ofourlives.”

“I’m sorry if you lost the deal because of me. I didn’t want it to come to that. I know what this means to you.”

I chuckle, pushing a strand of hair behind Tally’s ear. “I appreciate that, but I didn’t lose the deal. Not at all, actually.”

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