Page 53 of Heal Me
Ric gave her a last squeeze and released her. “Do you want me to help you finish up? I thought Brooke was helping you.”
Emily giggled. “I think she got caught up talking to Robert. I noticed some flirty looks between them during dinner.”
“Really?” That pleased Ric no end. “Great. I guess his girlfriend recently dumped him. Maybe Brooke and him will hit it off.”
“Could be,” Emily said. “Now, go be with your girlfriend. I’m almost done here.”
“Okay. Don’t take too long or Ty will come looking for you,” Ric said and joined the loud group in the dining room.
*****
Later that night as Kate lay draped over Ric, catching her breath from a rowdy round of lovemaking, a feeling of such contentment stole over her. The evening at Emily and Tyler’s house had been one of the most fun she’d had in quite a while. It made her feel good that his family and friends liked her, too.
He ran his hands over her back. “Whatcha thinking about, Doc?”
“You. Me. Us.”
“What about you, me, and us?”
“You make me so happy, Ric.” She raised her head and met his heavy-lidded, sated gaze. “I haven’t been happy in a while.”
Something in her expression must have tipped him off that she wanted to have a serious conversation because, with her still on top of him, he pulled himself up into a sitting position against the headboard. But when she made a move to get off him, he pressed her hips down.
“Stay there, honey,” he said. “What’s on your mind?”
Running her hands over his muscular shoulders, Kate gathered her thoughts. “I’ve always been a risk-taker, even as a little kid. While other girls were playing Barbies and having tea parties, I was outside with my cousins building ramps and jumping my bike over them. And not some girly bike, either. BMX all the way.”
Ric smiled. “I can believe that about you. I’d have loved to have played with you.”
“I’m sure you would have. I’ve always craved that adrenaline rush from defying the odds and winning,” Kate said. “I push myself to the limit, past any fear I feel, and never let something defeat me. Phil and I were alike that way. God, how I loved him and when he died, I was crushed. We were partners in every way. Our practice, our interests—everything.
“I know you’re a little jealous of Robert, but you don’t need to be. If it wasn’t for him, I’m not sure what would’ve happened to me. He got me through the worst, darkest period of my life and helped me see that I still had a lot to live for.”
Ric squeezed her thighs lightly. “I’m glad you had him to count on. No one should be alone during a time like that.”
“Me, too. He saw me at my weakest and helped me put the pieces of my life back together,” Kate said. “I was determined to keep my heart locked up. The pain of loss is indescribable to someone who hasn’t suffered it. I couldn’t go through that again, I can’t go through that again, but then I met you and all my fear evaporated.
“You make me feel alive, something I haven’t truly felt since Phil died. I’m ready to take that risk again. I’m ready to open my heart again and let it fly.” She cupped his face and stared intently into his eyes. “I love you, Ric.”
*****
Ric’s heart thudded in his chest as he absorbed her words. Half of him was filled with joy while the other half was certain that he’d misheard her. “You what?” he croaked.
Kate smiled. “I love you. I’ve fallen in love with you.”
He looked at her suspiciously. “Where you eavesdropping on me and Emily tonight?”
“What? No! Why would you ask me that?”
Ric looped his arms around her waist. “Because we were discussing this very topic.”
She arched a pretty eyebrow at him. “You were?”
“We were. I told her that you’re an incredible woman and that I’ve never met anyone like you. I’ve been running from love for a long time, ever since Lizzie died, but I’m done running, Kate. You make me happier than I’ve ever been and I’m so glad that you love me, because I love you, too,” he said.
Tears welled in her eyes. “Please don’t just say that because I said it to you, Ric. I wasn’t trying to get you to say it, I just wanted you to know how I feel.”
Ric leaned forward, embracing her tighter. “I’ll never lie to you, Kate, especially not about something so important. I mean every word: I love you.”
