Page 114 of Make Mine Sweet
“The last guy Tess fell for didn’t stick around to catch her,” Amy tells me. “Be her soft place to land so she knows it’s safe to fall for you.”
I would be that for her if I could. Right now, that feels like a big if.
“I don’t know if I can be the man she needs. She deserves so much more than I’ve ever tried to give. I don’t want to fail her.”
Steven huffs. “Since when do you expect to fail? You’re the guy who stands in front of a blizzard and says, ‘Do your worst.’ You’re the guy who sees something nobody’s ever done before and says, ‘I will.’ Are you Ian Vaughn or not?”
For a long time, I thought maybe I wasn’t. If I didn’t have my career or my reputation, I wasn’t sure I could claim to be the same man. But I’m not willing to live in limbo anymore, unsure of who I am or what I want.
I want Tess and August. I want a life here with them. I want my family.
“I am Ian Vaughn,” I tell him.
And I don’t run from challenges.
I might not run from challenges, but I sure am walking slowly to meet the one on the other end of my front porch. Possibly because I don’t want to burn my hands on a hot casserole dish. Or look like a creeper who’s been watching out the front window, waiting for Tess’s car to pull in the driveway. One or the other.
I ring her doorbell with my elbow, a platter propped in my hands. I get about ten seconds to prepare myself before she opens the door.
I was not prepared.
She’s just so…soft. Light. Open. Blond tendrils stray from her bun, framing her face with strands of sunlight. Her blue eyes widen when she sees me.
“Ian.” Her breathy greeting makes my stomach dip.
“Hi, angel,” I finally say.
Her gaze drops to the items in my hands. “What’s this?”
“I made dinner for you and August. Chicken enchiladas with steamed broccoli, and sliced mangoes and kiwi.” It’s probably too much, but I need to start somewhere.
She hesitates as if maybe she wishes I hadn’t started anywhere. “That’s really sweet of you.”
“I like taking care of you.”
Her mouth drops open, but I keep talking.
“Tess, I understand your fears, and I know why you have them. You need to do what’s best for you and August. But, angel, I’m going to try my hardest to prove to you thatIam the best for you both.”
She’s still staring at me, mouth slightly agape, when August runs to the door.
“Hi, Ian!” He hugs me around the middle without a second’s pause. “I’ve missed you.”
I never knew that little phrase could make me so happy. “I’ve missed you, too, buddy.”
He stands on tiptoes to peer at the items on my tray. “What do you have?”
I lower the tray so he can see. “I brought enchiladas for you and your mom.”
“What’s that white goo on top? I don’t know if I like white goo.”
I pull a silly face. “That’s queso. It’s cheese.”
“Oh. I might like it okay. Are you going to eat dinner with us?”
“I can’t. I have some things to do tonight.” I hate to disappoint him, but promising him I will another time would be overstepping.
“With Dutch?”
