Page 75 of Second Act

“It wasn’t your fault any more than my mother’s alcoholism was mine. You had every right to feel the way you did. But when you left, I reverted back to that nine-year-old. Even worse, I refused to admit it to myself. I rationalized not contacting you with all kinds of lamereasons. Then too much time passed, and I couldn’t break through my own stupid pride. I told myself you’d moved on.” He ran his thumbs over the back of her hands. “But I never did. I couldn’t, because I didn’t have the guts to face what I had done.”

His words sent a little shiver of disquiet through her. Was this just atonement for their past or did he want her now?

“Neither of us felt that we were good enough for the other,” she said. “Kind of ironic. Except I was used to excelling at whatever I did, so I couldn’t accept being less than the perfect partner. I felt like a failure all the time, and that made me miserable.”

“That’s on me. You were brilliant, but in your own wonderful way. I was too scared and blinded by the attention to see that.” He dropped her hands and shifted close enough to hold her bare shoulders. “I meant it when I said you could wear scrubs on the red carpet as far as I’m concerned.”

“Will Tiffany loan me a diamond necklace to go with them?” she teased.

“I’llbuyyou a necklace. You are the woman I want exactly as you are. Don’t change. Ever.”

“Change is part of life.”

“Your compassion and integrity and capacity for love will never change. That’s what I treasure.”

His words burrowed deep inside her, soothing the old wounds and swelling the love for him she was beginning to be a little afraid of. It was so overwhelming and without restraint. She still knew so little of this older Hugh and how he lived and what he thought. To fall so completely in love with him again seemed dangerous.

“Will you forgive me so we can start over?” he asked, his voice low with regret.

“There’s nothing to forgive. We had problems we couldn’t overcome back then.”

“I don’t deserve it, but thank you, Jess.” He used his grip on her shoulders to pull her in for a kiss that started out as a gentle exploration but flared into pure passion. When they tumbled sideways so they could entwine their bodies, Hugh smiled at her. “We’re supposed to be older and wiser, but right now I feel young and horny.”

Jessica laughed and ran her fingers over his stiff cock. “You certainly do.”