Page 76 of Accidentally Sliding Into A Second Chance

He gives me one last quick peck before stepping away and handing me the coffee. I take it automatically.

My mouth is hanging open, and I’m pretty sure my eyes are the size of saucers. He places a finger under my chin and gently pushes my mouth closed. He smiles.

A smile that causes every single nerve ending to come alive, and overheat. I’m turning into a puddle at his feet. His voice is soft and husky when he says, “Let’s eat breakfast, drop Scarlett off at school and then talk. Okay?”

If his thumb wasn’t still on my chin I’m pretty sure my mouth would’ve fallen to the floor a second time, but instead I just nod.

He searches my face, runs his calloused thumb gently along my chin, gives me another smile before heading out of my room.

Leaving me speechless.

ConfusionfillsmewhenDavid pulls up in front of The Bleacher Bean, parks and kills the engine.

“What are we doing…” The words fade as he slides out of the truck and closes the door behind him, not bothering to glance in my direction. He then proceeds to walk around the grille and make his way to the passenger side door, like I didn’t utter a word.

Grinning and a gleam in his eyes, he reaches his hand out to me. Blinking a few times I stare at it.

When my gaze shifts to his, it’s to find him watching me, an earnestness in his expression. “Are you going to leave me standing here by myself or are you going to take my hand and walk with me?”

“David, I have to go to work,” I protest, continuing to stare at him.

“I sent a text to Hope and asked her to let Travis know you’d be late.” He’s still holding his hand out, and my eyes narrow. He pushes his hand toward me, his expression pleading and says huskily. “Trust me.”

Blowing out a breath I reach down and take his hand. Gently wrapping my hand in his he helps me step out of the truck. When my feet finally hit the ground, he reaches over me and closes the car door, never letting go of me. Instead he picks up my other hand and beams at me. His eyes crinkle at the corner and my heart flips.

“Do you remember the last time we were here?” He tilts his head toward the coffee shop. My lips lift at the corner and I nod remembering the day my life changed. He lets go of my one hand, interlaces his fingers with the other, and starts walking toward Maple Grove Park. The serviceberry trees lining the path are now a bright shade of green with purple-ish berries. “I thought this would be the perfect place to talk.”

My heart starts pounding, and I try to swallow past a huge cotton ball that’s taken residence in my throat. David gently tugs at my hand and I realize my feet haven’t moved.

His eyes soften as he meets my gaze, and he smiles at me so sweetly a warmth settles in my belly. I take a step toward him, and when I reach his side he continues forward.

David’s thumb is running nervously over my fingers, and when I glance at him, it’s to find him taking a deep breath. My stomach dips and I worry my bottom lip.

When we come across the first bench, he sits down and gives me a gentle tug to join him. I sit on the solid surface next to him, grateful to have my legs supported. Blowing out a deep breath, he begins talking. “You asked me to tell you about Fiona at thesame time I asked about you leaving. What did you want to know?”

My heart rams against my ribcage and I swallow hard. “I—” my voice falters as tightness grips my throat, and my mind goes blank. How did he know?

Fear grips me, but then my focus shifts to David’s gentle ministrations. He’s slowly moving his hands over mine in a way that has my pulse slowing. A car door closes in the background, and when I meet his gaze there’s an openness that immediately loosens the tightness in my chest.

I swallow again, and try to find the words to describe what I want to know. But I struggle, and turn my face away from him, unable to speak.

David cradles my face and gently turns me to look at him, but I don’t meet his eyes. He places his thumb under my chin and lifts. I flit my gaze to his. “Is it okay if I just talk?”

His gaze is steady as I search it, looking for answers to questions I’m not sure of and nod.

He pauses before he speaks, like he’s trying to figure out where to start. When he finally begins his voice is soft. “Fiona was an amazing person, an even more incredible mom, and I was completely in love with her.”

He’s watching me closely for any type of reaction, but I keep my expression neutral. What he’s telling me isn’t a surprise. I’ve never doubted he adored his first wife, hearing it from him isn’t surprising or hurtful, it’s just the truth.

David stares at me, and I lift a hand to his cheek, an encouraging smile crossing my lips. He leans into me and I feel myself falling a little bit more. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

He huffs out a sigh and I notice his shoulders drop before he continues. “When we found out she was sick it was devastating. And when she died…”

Something clicks and I understand why he’s been so overly protective when it comes to my health. Why he’s always checking in if he notices something seems off. The reason he’s so insistent about coming to my upcoming doctor appointment.

Fiona.

“I never thought my life would have any semblance of normal, and I thought I’d always feel an emptiness. Eventually things became a new normal. But that’s when the guilt started. Guilt at watching our daughter grow up without her, playing baseball again and enjoying it. Laughing with my family. Anything. Then at some point the guilt just stopped…”

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