“I hope you don’t mind,” he began, breaking the silence between us. “Not to sound selfish, but I kind of wanted it to be just us tonight. Is that okay?”

“It’s too bad. I was really looking forward to having to talk loud just so you could hear me,” I joked.

“I missed that smart mouth of yours,” Tyler retorted, winking.

“Is that all you missed?”

He slowly shook his head. “No. Certainly not.”

“Well, tell me. What else did you miss? Oh, I’m sorry,” I added quickly. “I’m breaking the rules.” Grinning, I bit my lower lip. “Truth or dare.”

Tyler’s expression grew wide before his face settled into a brilliant smile. He grabbed a bottle of sparkling water off the table and poured some for me and himself, then placed the bottle back on the table. “Are you sure you want to play this game, Mackenzie?”

“Tyler,” I began, grasping his hand, “I don’t want to forget all the memories I have of you. Do I want to start over? Of course, but I know I saw part of the real Tyler during those two weeks, particularly when you took me here for lunch and we started playing Truth or Dare. You’ve got a playful streak and that lunch was the first time I saw it. So I don’t ever want to stop playing Truth or Dare with you.”

He brushed his fingers across my knuckle just as a gentle breeze blew. There was a light humidity in the air, but it was unseasonably cool for the end of July, making it a pleasant evening to be sitting outside and enjoying a romantic candlelit dinner as we rediscovered us.

“So is that what you like about me? My playful side?”

Freeing my hands from his, I took a sip of water. “I like all the sides of you. I love those moments when I don’t see the brooding, mystery man who picked me up at a bar back in March. Don’t get me wrong. I love your dominance, even though I shouldn’t.”

“Why not?” he asked, rubbing his hands under his chin.

“I don’t know. I swore I would always be the one in charge, that I would keep control over everything in my life…”

“And you do, Mackenzie. Even when I act dominant, as you call it, you still have all the control. You always have. Now, I think you were about to ask me a question.” He winked as I considered his words.

He was right. It was the mystery and intrigue as to who Tyler was that first attracted me to him. I couldn’t stop thinking about him. Then, it was his power and dominance which flamed my longing for him even more. But I held all the control from the beginning, even during our one night together. I had the power to walk away, but I couldn’t, no more than I could now.

“Truth or dare?” I raised my eyebrows at him. Placing an olive on my tongue in a seductive manner, I saw his breathing grow shallow, his eyes glancing to the somewhat voluptuous cleavage of my halter dress.

“Truth,” he replied, his gaze intense.

“What else did you miss about me while you were away?”

His expression turned light, clearing the intensity between us for a moment. “Your eyes. I missed peering into them, trying to unwrap all of your layers. There’s a depth to you I saw that first night at the bar. I saw all the pain you were trying to bury under the façade you’ve put on the past few years. The hurt you still feel from having to hide who you truly are is painted in your eyes. I missed staring into them, trying to reassure you with my own eyes that everything would be okay, even if just for a minute.”

“What else?” I asked, almost breathless from the unequivocal sincerity etched on his face.

“Your body.”

I narrowed my gaze at him. “Oh really?”

He grinned. “Yes, really, but not like you’re thinking. I missed the feeling of falling asleep next to you at night, knowing I was there to keep you safe from harm. I was halfway around the world and felt utterly helpless, regardless of all the assurances I had received that you were okay. I hated I wasn’t there myself to make sure no one harmed you. It drove me crazy to have to step aside and let someone else take my place. I vowed once I was able to come home, I would do everything I could to return to where I belonged…by your side.”

“What else?” I whispered, my throat heavy with the emotion I felt from his words.

“Your love, Mackenzie. I no longer felt it and I hated myself for squandering the most precious gift anyone could give another person… Their love. I didn’t deserve your love then, and I’m not sure I deserve it now, but I promise you…” He grabbed my hand in his, his tone sincere, his eyes fierce. “I will do everything in my power to make you believe in me, in my love for you. This is so real for me, and I will spend every day from now until I’m old and gray proving it to you.”

“Tyler…,” I quivered, struggling to fight back my tears from his impassioned plea. “You broke my heart.”

“I know and–”

“But,” I interrupted, holding my hand up, “over the past few days, you’ve slowly put all the pieces back together. Even after all the heartache and tears, I will still choose you each and every time. It’s not even a choice for me. Our course was charted, even though the path was one of deception and lies. But through those lies, I found my truth. You’re my truth. That’s all I need.” It made no sense that I should be sitting here with him after everything he put me through, especially so soon, but what we had was so much bigger, so much stronger. I felt it from the very beginning. And I still felt it now.

“I was hoping you’d say that,” he said, breaking the tension between us. “Eli was getting tired of having to spoon with me.”

I laughed just as a server approached our table with two plates, placing them down in front of us. There were three small portions of some sort of meat topped with a gourmet vegetable salsa, a hint of dark gravy drawn in a whimsical pattern on the outskirts of the plate. I had no idea what it was, but it looked delicious. “Roasted duck with leek and fennel salsa, sir.” She retreated, leaving us to enjoy our appetizer.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had duck before,” I commented, picking up my fork and cutting into it.

“Well, I know you like seafood, but I did my research and found out you’re limited to how much and what kind of fish you can have when you’re pregnant.”

I glanced at him, surprised. “You did research?”

“Of course. I have to admit, I have no idea how you appear so calm about this. If I were a few months away from squeezing a bowling ball through a tiny straw, I’d be shitting bricks.”

“That’s not even the worst part.”

“Then, by all means, tell me what could possibly be worse than that!”

“Are you sure you want to know?” I raised my eyebrows.

“Of course. I’m in this with you, Mackenzie. I want to know everything. I missed the first four months and I plan on making up for that, even if it means running to the store in the middle of the night to get you watermelon and pickles.”

“Watermelon and pickles?”

“Don’t you have weird cravings?”

“Sometimes,” I admitted, taking another bite of the duck. It was absolutely decadent, the texture almost melting in my mouth.

“Like what?”

“Hmmm…” I placed my fork on the table, trying to recall some of my weird cravings over the past few weeks. “Okay, here’s one I hate to admit.” He stared at me. “Spray cheese.”

“Really?” He chuckled.

“Yeah. I always thought the stuff was absolutely revolting, but I was going through Brayden’s cabinets one day and found some. I have no idea why he even had any, considering I’m pretty sure possessing that violates some gay code of ethics. But, dammit, that stuff was heaven in an aerosol can.”

“And here I am trying to impress you with duck.”

“Yeah,” I said, shrugging my shoulders. “I’m a cheap date.”

“Mackenzie, mi cariño, there is absolutely nothing cheap about you. And that’s why I love being around you, even if you eat spray cheese.”