Page 69 of More Than a Pretty Face

Without looking away, he nods.“Couldn’t stop thinking about you.So I went back again.Ingrid had moved, but I talked to the mail-reading neighbor.Again.Her dog ate the note I left for you.So I went home, resigned to the fact that I wouldn’t be able to find you.But that didn’t stop me from thinking about you and imagining I was seeing you in assorted places.Now I know that some of those times I wasn’t imagining it.”

“Where?”

“Walking into the diner.I think you were meeting Daisy because I saw her a few minutes before I saw you.But I was rushing something back to Beau and couldn’t stop.That was right before I saw you at Joji’s.Before that, I’m pretty sure I saw you on the highway.And walking into the Grindles’ house.That day you walked up to me at Joji’s...”He twists his fingers into a knot.“You were wearing my shirt, and I’ve never been more elated in all my life.But then you didn’t recognize me.”

I laugh as I think about my big confession.“I didn’t tell you that I’d seen you on video, and you didn’t tell me that I’d licked chocolate off your hand.”

His lips curl into a smile, and relief washes over his handsome features.“I tried dropping hints at the beginning.But it became clear you had no memory of me.”

“That’s not exactly true.I just didn’t remember your face.”Tears sting my eyes.“I should remember because I kept leaning around people to see you.And when I realized I’d been drugged with something, I stepped away from the guys who were talking to me.I didn’t know them.Didn’t trust them.But that’s the last thing I remember.I don’t even remember you coming to my rescue.Until last night, I doubted so much about that night because being drugged didn’t seem possible since I opened both cans myself.”

“If you want to report it, I’ll go with you.I’ll tell them what I know, what I saw.”

I’m not ready to have others look at me like I’m nuts.“It’s been months.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t speak up earlier.We could’ve gone in together right after it happened.”He stands and opens his arms.“Will you please forgive me?”

Nodding, I step into his embrace.“Tell me about that night.Everything after I started to feel funny is just a giant blank, and I hate not knowing.”

He scoops me into his arms, carries me to the living room, and drops onto the sofa.With me nestled in his lap, he inhales, then blows the breath out slowly.“There were some guys—not good-looking like me—”

I swat his chest, and he laughs.

“I’ll be good.”He hugs me a little closer.“You kept leaning over to look at me, which I thought was adorably cute.The leans got wobblier.Then you stepped away from those guys.The panic in your eyes ignited a need to protect you.I’m not sure how else to explain it.So I made my way over and appointed myself your protector for the night.You seemed quite pleased with the arrangement.”

“Your reaction the night I licked ice cream off your finger makes sense now.”

“Yeah.I thought for sure you’d remember.”His brow pinches.“Wait.How do you know about the chocolate?”

“Someone was kind enough to show me a video, but your face wasn’t in it.”I slip my phone out of my pocket and pull up the text I sent to Ingrid that night.“This was all I knew about you.But I was wrong.”

“Wrong?About which part?The cowboy or the pretty face?”He laughs, but there is a hint of hesitation in it.

Resting my forehead against his, I stop trying to hold in my tears.“You are so much more than a pretty face, Tyler.”

“You keep this up, Bottle Caps, you’re going to make me cry.”

His lips find mine, and I know he feels the same way I do.

I sit up so he can see my face for this next part.“I already did that once today—made you cry—and I’m sorry about that.I was in a fog when I climbed out of the truck.When I saw that earring, it was as if someone clouded reality.I’d thought about the guy from that night for so long, and then, after months, I finally let go of that fantasy and started spending more time with you.Imagine my shock when I discovered that my knight in shining armor, who I thought was just a fantasy, is actually the man I’ve fallen in love with.”

Tyler’s wonderful smile spreads across his face.“I love you too.I have for weeks.Maybe longer.”He hovers his lips near mine, barely a whisper between us.“Say it again.”

“I love you.”As that last word escapes, he captures my lips, and we let our actions speak louder than our words.

When he finally pulls back, breathless, he winks.“I think maybe I’ll call you Bottle Caps.Unless you’re opposed to that idea.”

“I love that nickname.But why?”

“Because it’s a reminder that you’re creative and colorful and that you crashed into my life and left me a complete jumble.And it’s what I call you in my head.”

“Then Bottle Caps it is.Did I do anything else embarrassing that night?”I’m almost afraid to hear his answer, but knowing is important to me.I hate the black hole.

He crinkles his nose.“You’re going to need a stack of pancakes in front of you before I answer that.”

“You just answered it.But I’ll wait to hear the gory details until breakfast.”

Holding hands, we walk out to his truck.

“How bad was it?On a scale of one to ten.I want to be prepared.”

He opens my door, then kisses my forehead.“I’m here.How bad could it be?”

“I woke up with your shirt in my bed.”

He grins.“We might need extra bacon.”

What did I do?

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