Page 88 of Tempting the Heart

“It suits you,” he said softly, bringing his eyes to mine.

“How many kids do you want?”

Tyler squeezed me as we kept walking. “It’s not really my decision. I mean, I’d love at least three, but it’s not my body thathas to go through that. I remember seeing my cousin, Lydia, go into labor. It stuck with me.”

I chuckled. “That’s sweet of you. But in a perfect world, you want at least three kids.”

“Yeah.” He turned to look at me. “And you?”

“Same,” I said nonchalantly.

The question had just slipped out, and I didn’t want him to think I was pinning hopes on more with him. He’d been clear that he didn’t know what he could offer me.

But I was secretly pinning hopes on more with him.

Everything about Tyler brought me a sense of peace, and I always felt protected when he was around, which was something I didn’t even know I needed.

The best part of spending time with Tyler was the comfort level. I just felt like me. I didn’t have to pretend to be someone else. He knew about my quirks from when I was a kid and how I’d only gotten quirkier. I didn’t have to hide who I was for him to spend time with me.

“Anyway, you’ll probably get your wish granted. Guys have it easy.”

His brows lifted as I took a sip of his drink. “How so?”

“Your biological clock isn’t ticking.” I shrugged. “I am officially considered geriatric.”

He turned to face me. “What?”

I nodded. “It’s true. If a woman gets pregnant over thirty-five, they call us geriatrics. Well, they don’t necessarily call the women geriatrics, but the doctors call it a geriatric pregnancy.” I slid a look in his direction. “No pressure. I’m just saying.”

Tyler chuckled. “No pressure at all.”

“I’m just saying when you’re ready to have kids, it should be easy for you to find a woman to do so.”

Tyler frowned as we slowed our pace toward my car. “Easy to do so? You do realize I’ve been single for decades, right?”

“Yeah, but when you’re ready, I’m sure there will be a line of women out your door in Wisconsin or North Carolina or wherever you happen to be.”

Tyler focused on me as Dottie sat at his feet. His fingertips touched the bottom of my chin as he raised my face to meet his. “You do realize that’s not what it’s about, don’t you? I want to be in love with the woman I raise a family with. I want to imagine a life with that person. And I don’t need children to complete my life or what I’ve dreamed for my future.”

“Then what do you need?” I asked.

“A partner who isn’t afraid to tell me when I’m out of line. Someone who reminds me how good it feels to be alive. A woman who is confident, brave, smart, and intelligent. A wife who dares to dream with me.”

The expression behind his gaze made my heart skip a beat. The heat in his eyes, the longing, the hope filled with something I couldn’t quite detect.

I breathed deeply and steadily as my gaze fell on Dottie.

“Kids would be a bonus but not a necessity.”

I raised my eyes to his and nodded. “Do you think you’ve found someone like that?”

Tyler smiled and nodded. “I know I have.”

But, location…

Tyler didn’t say anything.

“Okay, so let’s get into my car.” I brushed off the unease that suddenly filled me to the brim. He hadn’t made any decisions, which felt like I was an important enough reason for him to stay. “I’ve got the perfect place to take you.”

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