Chasing Time

LEVI

Tess St. John

Levi Danby entered his office, flipping on the light switch. Exhausted, he dropped into the executive chair behind his leather-topped desk and closed his eyes. This morning he’d arrived at work before five to check on a patient and right now he wanted nothing more than to get back to his apartment and sleep. He looked forward to the day his house at the back of the clinic property would be finished.

“Dr. Levi?” one of his evening crew said from the door.

“Yeah, Nigel?”

“Juliana’s here.”

Levi pried his eyes open and checked the clock on the wall. Five, closing time. Poor Princess must be hurting. He’d never seen a cat who suffered so many urinary tract infections. Of course, if she lost five pounds the infections would probably go away. “Show her and Princess to a room.”

Nigel shook his head. “Princess isn’t with her.”

“Then what does she want?”

“She didn’t say.”

“Send her in.” He and his brothers knew Juliana from high school. Levi had been surprised when, more than ten years after they graduated, Brock brought her to Sunday dinner at Pops’ house. A few short months later they were married.

Levi wiped his tired eyes.

“I hope this isn’t an inconvenient time.” Juliana closed the door behind her. Brunette hair slicked back into a ponytail, she wore a short jean jacket over a red dress.

He stood and kissed her cheek. “What’s so important it couldn’t wait until Sunday dinner?”

She sat on the edge of one of the chairs facing his desk, and he plopped back into his.

“Well, as you know, the Hot Firemen Calendar was a huge success. Now they want to do one highlighting businessmen who work and live in Houston. It’s titled Houston Hotties.”

“What does this have to do with me?”

“I suggested you. You’re perfect for this. You started and run an extremely successful business. You’re generous to the community, your logo is on sponsorships everywhere.” Her brows lifted. “And I’ve taken enough photos of you to know the camera loves you.”

He opened his mouth to say no.

She raised her hand. “Let me explain before you blow me off. I will come here to the clinic to photograph you, so all you have to do is pose. And the proceeds are going to charity.”

“What charity?”

“You’ll have a say in that. The profits will be divided between the models’ choices and another couple of organizations the committee putting it together has chosen.”

He definitely wasn’t model material, although he did like the idea of being able to pick a charity to donate some of the proceeds to.

“They’re planning for this to be huge.” She kept on, talking quickly. “Your charity would get an equal share. And all you have to do is take a picture.”

“How naked do I have to be?”

She smirked. “Not totally naked.” Her expression became serious and her voice took on a pleading tone. “Please, Levi. It would be great exposure.”

He chuckled. “Exactly what I’m afraid of.”

Levi pulled back thedressing on Beauregard’s stomach, pleased the skin around the sutures appeared healthy and pink. The gray cat licked his hand. “You’re doing great, boy.” After replacing the bandage over the stitches, Levi scratched behind the cat’s ears.

The front door chimed. He closed Beauregard’s cage, stepped from the operating room, down the hall, and opened the door to the lobby.

Trying to control a pack of puppies scurrying this way and that, a woman held the glass front door open, her red hair whipping around her face.

His heart skipped a beat. He’d only met one woman with hair that color. But it couldn’t be her.

The dozen or so leashes she held tugged in different directions. The six-week-old yellow Labrador puppies had coats as white as fresh snow. She finally corralled the dogs, entered the office, and shut the door.

The air now still, he made out her profile.

He froze.

It was her. What was Candice Purdy doing here? It’d been five years since he’d seen her, tasted her lips, smelled her skin, made love to every inch of her body.

His body hardened, remembering.

The pups chaotically strained against their tethers. Candice yelped as the leashes tangled around her ankles and she lost her footing, landing ass down on the white tile floor. Thinking she was playing, the puppies began jumping on her, licking her, and barking.

She giggled. “Stop, guys, stop.” Her laugh genuine, infectious—and unforgettable.

An unwanted grin tugged at his mouth. Nearing her, he coached himself to remember she’d rejected him. Left him.

“Do you need some help?” he asked.

Her laughter instantly died. She stared up at him. “Levi.”

He tried not to notice her hair spread on the floor like it used to feather across his pillow, tried not to notice her innocent eyes—so deceptively trusting, tried not to focus on her plump pink lips, but honestly, they were made for sin.

“Hi, Candice. You okay?” He reached out and she placed a hand in his and let him lift her to a seated position. Which needed to happen, she created too much of a temptation lying there.

“Fine. Simone asked me to bring the puppies.” Simone was a friend of theirs from college who bred Labradors. “She said they were for some photo shoot.”

“Yeah. The photographer, my sister-in-law Juliana, is running late. Guess that makes you early. A first for you.” He crouched down next to her and patted one of the puppy’s heads and the others swarmed him, each clambering over the other for his attention.

“Simone said you were picked to be a Houston Hottie. Mr. January, I believe?”

“My sister-in-law asked me to do the calendar.”

She smiled. “Well, I hear it’s for a good cause.”

“That’s the reason I agreed. Lots of charities will benefit.”

She picked up a pup and placed it in her lap. “Aren’t they the cutest things?”

He was looking at the cutest thing he’d ever seen. Her. Not classically beautiful, her red hair and brown eyes complimented her freckles and light skin.

One of the puppies whined and hiked his tiny leg.

Levi tugged the pup’s leash. “We better let them out before they start peeing everywhere.”

She laughed. “I think you’re right.”

After helping her stand, he took the leashes and led her and the puppies to the huge fenced-in yard out the back door. He unhooked the dogs and let them run free.

Candice’s hair glistened in the sunshine, catching sparks of gold among the red. Dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, she hadn’t gained an ounce in the last few years. He peeked at her left hand, no wedding ring. “Have you moved back to Houston?” he asked.

“I have. I had enough of New York.”

A pinch of resentment twisted inside his chest. She’d left him for her career.

“My big break wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. And I couldn’t catch another. Now I’m teaching dance.”

“I’m sorry.” And he was. He wished it’d worked out for her.

Her sorrowful eyes met his. “Me too. Very sorry.”

He made a straight line with his lips, feeling his heart buoy a bit at her confession.

She glanced away. “I was a fool to leave like I did. Please forgive me for being young and stupid, Levi.”

“There’s nothing to forgive.”

“Yes, there is. I threw us away.” The wind blew tendrils of hair into her face.

He just stopped himself from lifting his hand and brushing the hair from her cheek. “It happened a long time ago.”

“Are you married?”

He shook his head.

“Engaged?”

“No.”

“Same Levi. I’ve got to drag any little morsel of information out of you.”

“I’m not the same.”

“You appear the same.” Her eyes leisurely surveyed him, starting at his face, down to his shoes, and back to his face. “Tall, gorgeous, and if memory serves me right, a body that doesn’t quit.”

Images of their bodies intertwined and tangled in the sheets seared his mind. They’d been great together—and life sizzled when they dated. Everything sizzled.

He didn’t answer her statement. He’d never stopped wanting her.

“The worst part was how much I missed you,” she said. “You were my best friend.”

“You were mine, too, Candice.”

“I never went out with another man I felt such a strong connection to—like the one we shared.”

He hadn’t met another woman either, but didn’t confess the same. Studying her face, he saw regret. Their gazes held.

After a second, she glanced at her watch. “Did the photographer say what time she’d be here?”

“Four.”

“Four? That’s not for a couple of hours.” She put a hand to her stomach. “I’m starved. Would you like to grab a bite?”

Spending time with her was dangerous. Years ago he’d told himself he’d gotten over her. Seeing her now, he wasn’t completely sure. “We can’t leave these puppies unattended. I let the staff off this afternoon and canceled my appointments. I didn’t want them around for the photo shoot.”

Her brows playfully rose, her dark eyes brimming with humor. “What kind of pictures are these?”

An unwanted laugh escaped him. She’d always been able to make him laugh. “You’ll have to buy a Houston Hotties Calendar to find out.”

“Are they taking orders?”

Like she needed a calendar. She’d touched, caressed, and kissed him everywhere. He scrubbed a hand over his face trying to distract himself from his thoughts. “I’ll order lunch.”

Thirty minutes later, Candice sat in the backyard on a lawn chair watching the puppies playing in the grass around her. The March weather was nice, not too cool, and thankfully not hot yet.

Levi must be doing well; this facility was amazing. A small barn loomed behind the huge yard. Off to the left of the office stood a covered area, most likely used for obstacle courses and such. His dreams of owning his own clinic had come true. A part of her heart warmed.

The back door opened and Levi came out. His brown wavy hair had blond highlights and brushed his shirt collar. His skin seemed tanner than she remembered, and his hazel eyes still had the ability to make her melt.

She gripped the handles of the chair, stopping herself from running to him and begging for forgiveness. No, she would have to win him back honestly, stating her intentions upfront, and wait for him to either reject or accept her.

His arms were full with a tray packed with boxes of Chinese food, drinks, napkins, and chopsticks. “You always liked spicy food. I hope that’s still true.” He set the tray on a tiny wooden table between her chair and another, then he sat.

“I like spicy everything.” Levi being the spiciest man she’d ever known.

“I remember,” he mumbled, never glancing her way while twisting open a bottle of tea. He was being kind to her, however, pain lingered in his expression.

Why had she been so foolish years ago and taken off for New York when she could have stayed with him?

He opened a box of food and used a set of chopsticks to take a bite.

Befuddled, she forced herself to relax. She opened one of the containers nearest to her. “Levi, will you go out with me?”

“Out?”

“On a date.”

His arm slowed as he ate another bite. “Why?”

“It’d be nice to catch up on what’s been happening in your life and find out how your family’s doing.”

He drank from his bottle of tea. “Not a good idea.”

“Why?” Like she needed to ask.

“You made your choice, Candice. We can’t go back.”

“I don’t want to go back.”

He shooed a fly from his food. “Then what do you want?”

“I’m asking for another chance.”

“A chance for what? A friendship? A relationship?” He shrugged. “I gave you everything I had when we were together, it was never enough.”

Her face heated, his words were true. “Levi, I never knew if you were considering a future with me.”

“I was just finishing vet school. I had student loans out the ass. I was in no position to make you promises.”

“You could have told me—”

“Don’t say I could have told you I loved you. I told you repeatedly.”

She sat forward. “Yes, you did, but you might have at least told me you were considering building a future with me. I don’t know...grab a Cracker Jack box and give me a toy ring. Some grand gesture to lead me to believe you would ask me to marry you one day.”

“We had plans to move in together. Why would I have been doing that if I wasn’t thinking of the future?” He let out a frustrated sigh. “Hell, I’m sure I could have done a lot of things differently, but there was no doubt in your mind I planned to build a life with you.”

“You never said it.”

“I didn’t have to.” He glared at her. “You refused to believe I was different from your father, no matter what I did.”

In her heart she’d understood Levi loved her, he’d said it often enough and shown her every day. However, when her graduation came and went without a proposal from him, doubts of his intentions set in and she’d become terrified she’d end up like her mother. Unwed, alone, and pregnant.

“Anyway, I can’t give you or anyone that much of myself again.” He wiped his mouth with a napkin.

“I’m asking for a date, not for all of you, Levi.”

“You will.” He scowled. “Let’s not pretend we don’t know each other very well. With you, love is all or nothing. You refused to even try a long-distance relationship when you left.”

“A part of me believed if you loved me, you would have dropped everything to come to New York after me.”

He stared at her, a dumbfounded expression on his face.

“I know.” She rubbed her forehead. “Another grand gesture I expected you to make.”

He let out a long breath. “The bottom line is you wanted things I couldn’t give you, Candice.”

“I’m not that same silly girl anymore.”

“Doesn’t help. I loved that silly girl.”

Her heart flipped. “I loved you too.”

“Not enough.”

Tears clogged her throat, she swallowed them. “You’re stubborn as ever.”

“I’m careful, there’s a difference.”

His words pierced her heart. “Like I said, I was a fool.” Forcing the words, she said what she’d come to say. “For what it’s worth, if I had it to do over, I would have stayed.”

He glanced away from her.

“It’s the truth.”

Setting down his food, he put a hand to his temple as if fighting a headache. A puppy playfully bit at the end of one of his tennis shoe strings and tugged. Levi reached down and picked up the puppy, placing it in his lap. He rubbed behind the dog’s ears and the puppy shut his eyes in ecstasy. She remembered how his touch had done the same thing to her. Heat blazed through her insides.

His hazel eyes bore into hers. “I wish you would have stayed.”

“Why didn’t you ask me to?”

“And be the one who stopped you from chasing your dream? To live with that resentment the rest of our lives? No, thank you.”

“But you didn’t even act like you cared if I left.”

“Do you remember that day?” He sat forward in the chair, his frustrated tone making his words hard to hear. “I’d been up for at least forty hours straight studying, taking finals, and working at the emergency clinic. I arrived at my apartment and you were there, sitting on my bed, and said you’d auditioned for Bewitched and got the part. Your big break.” He exhaled, his voice softening. “And that it started at the end of the week in New York. I was in shock. You’d already signed a contract to work with the Houston Ballet. I’d secured a job with an emergency clinic here on the north side of town. Hell, we’d signed a lease on an apartment together.”

Silence stretched between them. How unfair she’d been to him. She wouldn’t take him back if he’d done the same to her. How could she repair the damage she’d caused? Her life was empty without him.

“Can we try to put the past behind us, Levi?”

“I’m not sure.”

Her heart leapt. He hadn’t come out and said no. She rose from her chair and bent over, pressing her lips to his. She tentatively rubbed the back of her fingers over his cheek. He tasted the same—spicy and hot. “How I’ve missed you,” she whispered against his lips.

He groaned. She realized he’d set the puppy on the ground when he tugged her into his lap and sat her across his knees, one hand holding her nape. Their attraction, their sexual connection, was still alive.

Abruptly, he pulled back and swiped the back of his hand across his mouth. “We can’t pick up where we left off.”

“I know.” So happy not to get a total refusal, had she pushed too hard by kissing him? He’d gone from smoking hot one minute to cool and collected the next. How did he change from one to the other so swiftly?

He held up her arm and checked her watch. “Juliana will arrive soon.”

She wasn’t ready to get up, to lose the feel of his heat. “Let me take you on a date.”

As if powerless to stop himself, he sifted her hair through his fingers. He’d always loved her hair, talked of how silky it was, how he loved the color.

“Tomorrow night. What do you say?” Her heart almost stopped when he didn’t answer.

He stared at her lips.

She stood and winked. “I’ll pick you up here at seven.”

“If you’re late the date’s off.”

While they’d dated, she’d been notoriously tardy. “Okay.” No way would she be late. She tilted her head toward the door leading inside. “Can I meet your patients?” She used to visit him a lot when they attended Texas AM in College Station, and he worked for one of the vet offices near campus.

“Sure.” He stood and threw away their trash, then held out a hand to her.

She slid her hand into his, the simple act so right, so comfortable. He led her back into the building. Dozens of leashes hung near the door, she’d been too in awe of Levi to notice them earlier. In the first room they entered, harsh fluorescent lights lit the white tile floor and light green walls. One wall was lined with cages holding half a dozen dogs and three cats. He told her about each one as he opened the cage doors and they petted the animals. In another similar room, he housed a quarantined ferret that had the flu.

They entered the surgery room. It had the same white tile that ran throughout the clinic, the walls painted army green. Two gurneys lined the wall next to various medical carts holding different machines and instruments.

“Wow, Levi.”

“Glad you approve.” He walked to a lone cage positioned on one of the carts and opened the door. “This is Beauregard.”

She stepped forward and rubbed the cat’s ears, noting the bandage on his tummy. “What happened?”

“Bladder stones. I removed them yesterday. We’re keeping him as immobile as possible, that’s why he’s in such a tiny cage.”

The cat licked her hand and purred.

“He’s a charmer.” Levi grinned and set the cat back into the cage, then took a step toward her. His gaze locked with hers.

“It’s hard to believe it’s been five years. You haven’t changed a bit. You’re as pretty as ever.” His words were sweet, but she saw a lonely longing in his eyes.

Would he kiss her again? Deeper this time, like he used to. Like she wished.

Taking another step closer, he raised his hand.

A chime sounded.

He stopped, letting his hands fall to his sides.

Damn. So close and yet so far.

He pointed toward the door. “My sister-in-law.”

“I have to go anyway. Simone expected the shoot would be over sooner than this. I’m teaching a class later this evening, so I’ll return the van to her and tell her to pick up the dogs.” She followed him down the hallway.

“Thanks for dropping them off,” he said.

They stopped before opening the door to the lobby. She put an index finger over her mouth and whispered like she was telling him a secret. “I begged Simone to let me bring them.” Confession out, she opened the door, dodged around the photographer, and hurried to the front entrance.

“Don’t be late tomorrow,” Levi called.

“Not to worry.” She trotted to Simone’s van, slid behind the steering wheel, and gunned the engine. As she exited the parking lot, a delicious shiver ran through her. He wanted her. She felt it in his restraint when he kissed her and saw that yearning in his eyes. Now, if only she might figure out a way to make him remember the good times they’d shared, the companionship, the love.

“Who was that?” Julianaasked in a chipper voice as she hugged him.

“My ancient past.”

“So that’s Candice?”

Since Juliana and his brother Brock had been together almost a year, Levi felt sure Brock told her many details about his brothers. “Yeah, that was her.”

“She’s cute.”

He nodded. Cute. If only he could trust that cuteness.

Juliana must have sensed he didn’t want to get into a conversation about his ex because she switched topics. “I told Pops about this photo shoot. He’s already telling his friends they have to buy a calendar.”

He smiled at the thought of Pops insisting his friends buy calendars with pictures of eligible young men.

“I believe he has a girlfriend.” Juliana handed Levi a large black bag, no doubt her cameras were inside. “When I stopped by yesterday a woman was eating lunch with him at his condo.”

“Ms. Avery?”

“Yes. You’ve met her?”

“No. Pops mentioned she brings him lunch some days. I thought only food was involved.”

She laughed. “Maybe that’s all it is, but they seemed rather chatty with one another.”

Pops and Mimi, his adopted parents, had taken him in at the age of ten after he’d been moved from yet another foster home. He’d lived in foster homes for as long as he could remember. His parents were killed in a boating accident when he was only two, so Levi had no memories of them. He did remember being shuffled from different house to different house until being sent to Pops and Mimi. There he found a home he never wanted to leave.

Seeing Pops with another woman might be hard for Levi and his brothers—who they’d also adopted—but they certainly wanted the old man to be happy. Since Mimi’s death, Pops had put up a brave face, although he must miss her terribly. They were very much in love and showed the boys what it meant to love another unconditionally.

“I guess he needs someone to do things with,” he said.

She gave him a sad smile. “Everyone needs someone.”

“There you go again, trying to match-make. No matter how much you beg me, I won’t be set up on a blind date, Juliana.”

“You’ve made that perfectly clear. I’m wondering about her.” She pointed to the door Candice had left through. “As I understand you really loved her.”

“And she left me. I’ll keep to my animals, thank you. They’re grateful creatures.” And easier to deal with than humans.

“Oh, I understand. And when they lock you up because you claim to be the animal whisperer, I’ll explain human relationships were just too much for you.”

He never liked how Juliana seemed to be able to see right through him. “What are you getting at?”

“Have you even dated since you and Candice broke up?”

“Of course I have.”

“Seen someone seriously?” She unzipped the bag he held for her.

“I’ve been too busy getting this practice off the ground.”

“And you’ve been too hurt.” Her soft-spoken words were not a question.

He looked away.

Yes, he had to admit, his heart still stung.

Candice arrived atthe clinic an hour early for her date with Levi. Sales products for pet lovers lined one wall, chairs another. Opposite the chairs loomed a huge registration desk.

What looked to be a family was huddled together. The woman held a little boy on her lap while the man sat next to them and a tiny girl stood in front of him, holding his hands. “You can’t see him yet, honey. Dr. Levi is working on Panther,” the man said.

Candice sat next to the family remembering Levi introducing her to Panther yesterday.

The blonde girl smiled at her, her two front teeth missing.

The door to the hallway opened and Levi came out with the sleek, black greyhound on a leash. The kids raced toward Panther. “Only pet him on the head, guys.” Hair mussed, Levi wore green scrubs.

He glanced at Candice, at the clock on the wall, and then his gaze settled on her with a questioning look.

Her heart gave a kick.

Attention back on the family, Levi said, “Panther will need a few more weeks of rest and you’ll have to bring him in once a week for a month to check his progress.”

While the kids gently stroked the dog’s head, as if afraid to touch him, the mother thanked Levi and took the leash, leading the dog and children out of the office. The man held out his hand to Levi. “Can’t thank you enough.” He glanced at the door to make sure the kids were out of earshot. “Amber and Shane would have been devastated had Panther died.”

“I’m glad we got him diagnosed and removed the spleen before it did any damage. He’ll be good as new in a month.”

“Thanks, doc.” The man pumped Levi’s hand, then followed his family to their car.

Levi leaned against the doorjamb and crossed his arms. “You’re early.”

She kept sitting. “Better early than late.”

“True.” He frowned. “I’ve got a quick surgery. Want me to meet you somewhere?”

“No. I’ll wait.”

Straightening away from the doorway, he said, “You look beautiful.”

A smile came all the way from her heart. “Thank you.”

“I won’t be long.”

He walked away, and she bowed her head and tried to calm her racing heart. His compliment, one he’d given her so often, one she’d taken for granted when they were together, gave her hope. Her desire was for him to begin to refer to her as angel again. When they’d dated, that had been his pet name for her. If she’d just hear that name from his lips, she could believe anything between them was possible.

She leafed through one of the veterinarian magazines on the coffee table and read a couple of articles. Clients and staff traipsed in and out while she waited. Forty-five minutes later, Levi came into the lobby, wavy hair wet, dressed in black slacks and a blue sweater.

God, he’s gorgeous.

“You showered?” she asked.

“Yeah, I had a shower installed next to my office when the clinic was built.” He smiled. “You ready?”

The sweater made his hazel eyes look a bit more blue than green. She’d always loved how his eyes changed colors—from hazel to green to blue to gray—with whatever he wore.

“Am I taking you from anything?” she asked.

“Nah. I’ve got my phone. They’ll call if I’m needed. I have two people who work the evenings and one who takes the night shift.” He checked the wall clock. “We’re fifteen minutes ahead of schedule. Who would ever have believed it?”

In college, her dance rehearsals always lasted longer than planned. And since sleep was a rare commodity, sometimes she would plan to take a short nap before their dates and accidentally sleep for hours. “I’m sorry. How many hours did you spend waiting for me?”

“Too many to count.” He pulled a set of keys from his pocket. “Shall we?”

“I’m driving,” she said. “I asked you out.”

“Fine by me.” He locked the front door after they exited. “Where are you taking me?”

“Would you pick a place? I’m not familiar with this side of the city.” She’d grown up in south Houston and his practice was forty miles away on the north side of town, in a rural area.

“What are you hungry for? Mexican, Italian, burgers?” he asked.

They settled on a Mexican restaurant that served green salsa to die for. They were seated at a small table in the back, not quite secluded, but far enough from other tables so no one overheard their conversation. Decorated in browns and beiges, the restaurant was classy, not cheesy like many Mexican establishments with loud bright colors. After the meal, she put her napkin on her plate and picked up her strawberry margarita. “How did the shoot go yesterday?”

“Fine.”

“What was the picture? How were you posed?”

“Juliana did a Happy New Year’s theme since I’m Mr. January. She brought bow ties for the dogs and a tuxedo for me. She took it in my surgery room on a gurney with six puppies lined up on each side of me. We waited until two of my employees showed up to help keep the pups on the table.”

“Sounds precious.” She played with the straw in her drink. “How’s your family?”

“Pops is good. Mimi passed away a few years back.”

Her heart squeezed. “Oh, Levi, I’m so sorry. I know how much you loved her.”

“Yes, she was great. We all miss her.” He drank from his water glass. “All my brothers are married now. As I’m sure you know, JC’s singing career is going really well. How about your family?”

“My brother and his wife are fixing to have twin boys and my sister and her husband have two girls.”

“Tell me about New York,” he said, his tone a bit hard.

She sipped on her salty, sweet drink. “Too many people, too little room. After living in Texas I was used to space. There’s none in New York City.”

“I felt the same way when I visited.” He half-smiled. “I came to see you in Bewitched.”

Alarm struck through her.

Levi placed his napkin on the table. “Two months after you left I had this stupid idea I would come to the Big Apple and you would be miserable and I would profess my undying love for you. And take you home with me.”

Unable to move or speak, she simply stared at him.

“The show had been sold out, so I bought a ticket off a scalper.” He moved his plate forward on the table. “You were phenomenal. After the show, I stood outside the stage door waiting for you. You came out arm in arm with a tall guy. You looked happy, like you were living your dream.”

She pinched the bridge of her nose. “Looks can be deceiving.”

“You weren’t happy?”

“I convinced myself that was the life I wanted. I had dreamt about it for so long. But no, I haven’t been happy since I left you.”

“I’m not sure you were ever really happy with me either, Candice.”

“I was.”

His intense expression softened to the look he wore often while they dated. He leaned over and grabbed her hand. His phone must have vibrated, because he let go of her and pulled it from his pants pocket to check a text. “Damn. I’ve got to get back to the office. There’s an emergency.”

Startled, she stood so quickly her chair overturned and clattered to the floor. “What happened?”

He righted the chair. “One of the dogs I’ve treated since a pup was hit by a car. My patrons usually bring their animals to emergency clinics after hours, but the family is so distraught, they brought him to my office instead.”

“I’ve got to find the waiter and pay,” she said.

Levi pulled a hundred-dollar bill from his wallet and threw it on the table. He placed his hand on her lower back and rushed her out of the restaurant. She tossed him her keys as they neared her car.

He raced back to his office and parked around the side. Once through the door, they were met by a young man in scrubs with a mask on his face. “Chocolate was hit by a car going approximately thirty-five miles an hour. I’ve administered a sedative, yet he continues to whimper and bite his front left leg.”

They entered a surgery prep room, complete with large sinks and industrial-size faucets. Levi began scrubbing his hands with liquid soap.

The boy’s voice sounded slightly muffled by his mask. “Heart rate is thirty. And his temperature is ninety-six.”

“Damn.” Levi glared through the glass window.

She followed his line of vision to the gurney in the middle of the room and her heart sank. What looked to be a lab-mix lay on his side biting his paw, which sat at a sickeningly odd angle.

“X-rays?” Levi asked.

“Full body. Casey should have them up any minute.”

“Thanks, Nigel. I’ll be right in.” Levi turned off the faucet, tugged on some surgical gloves, and turned toward her. “Candice. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize. Go.”

“Send a couple of good thoughts Chocolate’s way.”

“I will, but he doesn’t need them.” She cupped his cheek. “He has you.”

He quickly kissed her, appreciation on his face. “You always say the right thing.” He pushed the surgery room door with his elbow and Nigel immediately positioned a mask around Levi’s nose and mouth.

She contemplated watching the surgery, but if the dog didn’t make it, it would upset her too much. Backing out of the prep room, she sent up a quick prayer as she made her way to one of the rooms with the cages and animals. She found Beauregard in a larger cage, the cat alert and meowing.

“What’s the matter?” She opened the cage and tenderly picked him up. The bandage on his belly was gone, the stitches exposed. Careful not to touch anywhere around the tender spot, she cradled the cat and walked around. “You’d probably like a change of scenery, huh?” An hour later, after taking each animal out of their cage and giving them attention, she cleaned her hands and grabbed a treat bag. She’d washed her hands after touching each animal, ever mindful of everything Levi had taught her about visiting patients.

“Candice,” a voice called from the door. She turned to find Nigel. “Levi wondered if you were waiting. He said he’s not sure how long the surgery will take.”

“How’s Chocolate? Will he make it?”

“If Dr. Levi has anything to say about it he will.”

She nodded, certain the boy was right. “I’ll be leaving.” On the drive home, she wondered how often Levi’s nights were ruined like this, by this emergency or that one. She took the on-ramp to Beltway 8 and replayed the night. How they’d been comfortable with one another. Amiable.

When he mentioned he’d come to New York, her heart shrieked with pain. How she wished he’d come to her then. Saved her from herself.

However, she would have refused him, not able to trust him enough. The pain her mother suffered, and never having met her father, Candice was terrified all men were like him. Poor Levi didn’t stand a chance against her imagination or the hurt her unknown father inflicted.

An emptiness settled inside her. The familiar emptiness that had been her constant companion without Levi in her life.

Would she see him again soon? Things hadn’t turned out like she’d wished tonight. Maybe that was for the best. She’d been prepared to throw herself at him. Make him remember how good they’d been together. But she couldn’t win him over with sex. Their relationship had been based on so much more—love, laughter, companionship. She wanted that connection with him again.

Once she made it to her apartment, she sat in the driveway unsure what to do next. Her instincts told her to drive back to his clinic and wait for him, but those were the same instincts that told her to leave him years ago.

No, she’d made her intentions clear. She’d apologized and asked for forgiveness.

Now she must take a step back and let him make the next move.

Levi opened the backdoor to Pops’ condo. The gated retirement village was nestled in northwest Houston, only fifteen miles from Levi’s clinic. “Hey, Pops.”

“I’m in the living room, son.”

The kitchen smelled of cinnamon, and Levi saw a pan of cinnamon rolls on the stainless steel stove. He quickly tore a paper towel from the dispenser and grabbed a couple of rolls. Popping one into his mouth, he enjoyed the decadent sweetness. Mimi’s old recipe brought up memories of growing up.

“I stole a roll,” Levi said as he entered the living room. He held up the other one. “Well, two.”

“I made them to be eaten.” The TV was on, the volume low, and Pops sat in his black leather recliner. “What brings you by so early?”

“Mrs. Yeager’s dog needs his shots. She called yesterday and I told her I’d be by this morning so she didn’t have to take Hunter to the office.”

“She needs to get her own veterinarian. You can’t be expected to work for free and make house calls.”

“I don’t mind. Plus, it gives me an excuse to stop by.”

“You can’t make a living doing favors for your father’s friends. Let me pay you.” He sat up and tugged his wallet from his back pocket. “How much are shots?”

“Put your wallet away. You paid me in breakfast.”

Pops scowled and replaced his wallet. “Doesn’t seem fair.”

“I’m happy to do it. What are your plans today?”

“Nita should be here soon for breakfast, and we’re playing bingo this afternoon.”

“Nita?”

“Yes, Nita Avery. We’ve been spending time together.” Pops shrugged. “She’s a good cook, not as good as Mimi, but better than me.”

“I don’t know, Pops, you’ve mastered Mimi’s cinnamon rolls.” He scarfed the other roll down and sat on the couch.

“Well, I watched her make them every Saturday for forty-five years. Hard to screw them up after that much time.”

Levi smiled.

“How are you, son? Although we talk about how well the clinic is doing, I haven’t heard you mention any girls lately.”

“Subtlety was never your strong suit, Pops. I’m sure Juliana told you she saw Candice at my clinic.”

“What was she doing there?”

“It’s Juliana’s fault. She wanted me to pose for that calendar photo with a dozen lab puppies, and Candice brought the puppies over for a mutual friend of ours. She’s living in Houston now.”

“What happened when you saw her? It’s been what, five years?”

“Yeah. She apologized for everything.”

“She needed to.”

Levi chuckled. “Everything is so simple in your eyes. She wronged me, she needed to apologize to make it right.”

“I’m not sure she can ever make it right. Her abandoning you like she did was too similar to when you lost your parents.”

“I don’t even remember them.”

“Oh, son, I’m sure you don’t, you were so young. But having your parents one day and losing them the next, I don’t believe that kind of loss truly ever leaves a person, no matter their age.”

Was Pops right? Was that why Candice’s leaving hurt him so much? Since she left he’d had trust issues he didn’t remember having in his youth.

“After you came to live with us, it took a long time before you truly trusted Mimi and me. Once the adoption went through, you finally understood we would never turn you out or let Child Protective Services move you.”

Levi may not have remembered the feeling of abandonment, or been too young to understand it when his parents died, but the day of the adoption, he remembered being on his knees that night, next to his four adopted brothers, all of them thanking God they’d found the Danbys, each other, and a place they could call home.

Had life with the Danbys made it all the easier to fall in love with Candice? Should he have been more wary?

Thinking back to the first time he met her, he realized it wouldn’t have mattered. He could not have stopped his heart from falling in love with her.

After leaving like she did, he should hate her. Something inside him couldn’t be that callous. He still wanted her, missed her with every part of himself, and wondered what their lives would be like if she hadn’t left.

Three days after herdate with Levi, Candice drove her car into the parking lot at Sarah Hamilton’s School of Dance. She loved the old-fashioned dance studio, complete with hardwood floors and full-length mirrors on every wall. The work was oddly fulfilling. She’d always believed she must be on stage and performing to enjoy dance but found it refreshing that wasn’t the case.

The ages of students in her classes ranged from three to eighty. Mostly females and a few males. It felt rewarding when she taught a new step or introduced her students to use their bodies freely.

As she grabbed her purse, she checked her phone. Levi hadn’t called since their date had been interrupted. Clearly, he didn’t want to pursue a relationship with her.

Well, she knew it would be a long shot for him to forgive her, for her to become his angel again. She didn’t expect to take up where they left off, her impetuousness years ago was too much for him to forget. It wasn’t as if she deserved a second chance, but she’d let herself get hopeful.

A sharp prick stabbed at her heart. Bowing her head, tears flooded her eyes.

Time neared six inthe evening as Levi cut his truck engine and jumped from the vehicle. His heart sputtered in his chest. He felt confused, exhilarated, and bewildered since Candice stumbled back into his life.

Happy as he’d been to spend time with her, his conscience warned him to be wary. She might do serious damage if he let her close again. But, of course, he hadn’t listened to himself. Here he was, in pursuit of her. It’d taken him three days to contact Simone and she told him where Candice worked.

Her confidence in him the night of Chocolate’s injury, the comforting words she uttered before he went into surgery, had stayed with him. She’d always been supportive of his work—talked to him through the night sometimes when he’d lost a patient.

Was she in earnest about his forgiveness and wanting to spend time with him? Or planning to entice him only to slam the door in his face? Could she ever trust him, or any man, with the issues from her childhood?

If her playful brown eyes were any indication, she truly did want to make amends. Why hadn’t she called him?

He had to find out.

Inside the colorfully decorated dance studio, many young girls in black leotards and pink tights were standing, sitting, and stretching on the floor. He walked to the reception desk.

“Hello.” An elderly gray-haired woman greeted him. “How can I help you?”

“I’m looking for Candice Purdy.”

“She’s busy with a class. This session will be over in fifteen minutes if you’d like to wait. She’s in the third room to the left.”

“Thank you.” He followed where the woman pointed. Three rows of chairs lined the back of the room for observers to watch. The seats were filled with moms and dads watching and talking softly. Levi stood at the open door.

A dozen tiny girls were scattered around the room. Candice slowly went through many ballet positions, naming each. A few of the girls paid attention, but most were too intent on watching themselves in the mirrors.

The adults laughed quietly, enjoying the girls’ antics. Finally, Candice picked up a remote and music started playing. The girls each stopped and focused their attention on Candice. They followed her every move. He’d seen her brilliance in dancing on stage in big production numbers, and she obviously had a talent for teaching too. The short dance ended, and the onlookers clapped. The girls skipped over to their parents.

Still at the door, his attention centered on Candice.

She finally spotted him, a disconcerted expression on her face. Hurrying over, she said, “What are you doing here?”

“I’ve been searching for you for three days. I had your old number. A pissed-off sleepy man answered when I called. Simone finally returned my call this afternoon, and I asked her where you lived and worked. You could have at least left me your cell number.”

“Oh, no.” Humor flitted across her face. She tried to hold in a laugh, and failed, making him grin. “I didn’t realize you didn’t have my current number. I’m such a fool.” She stepped closer to him, her face somber now. “How did it go with Chocolate?”

“Minimal internal bleeding. We stopped it and set his leg.”

“How long did the surgery take?”

“We worked on him until midnight. He’s been resting comfortably ever since.”

“The most you can hope for. You always said car victims were the worst.”

“They are. I’m sorry we didn’t get to finish our date.” He lowered his voice. “We weren’t done, were we?”

“I wasn’t sure.” A bell rang and she moved from the door, motioning him to follow.

The kids called, “Bye, Miss Candice,” and waved as they left with their parents.

When the last child filed out of the room, Candice turned to him. “I’m happy to see you. I told myself I wouldn’t get in touch with you. I can’t force you to forgive me and accept me back into your life.”

“I found you as soon as I could.”

“I’m so tickled you did.”

He reached out and took her hand. “Are you busy this evening?”

“I am. I have three more classes to teach.”

“I expected as much. Maybe another night we can finish our date.”

“Tomorrow?” she asked shyly. “I get off at seven.”

He nodded. “That sounds great. I’ll come by your apartment around eight.”

“I can’t wait.”

Taking a step forward, he brushed his lips to hers. “I’m glad I found you.”

“Not as glad as I am.”

Levi drove away fromthe dance studio with Candice nestled into the passenger seat of his truck. For the last two weeks, he and Candice had spent a lot of time together. He was working on forgiving her but knew he was being too guarded. They kissed maybe once a night. It wasn’t as if he didn’t want her. He ached for her. He just wasn’t sure where his heart stood.

His cell phone vibrated. His office. “Damn. I’ve got to take this.” He answered his phone. “Levi here.” Nigel explained that a dog they’d done surgery on that afternoon was growling and gnawing at the cast Levi had put on one of her hind legs. “I’m on my way.” He punched his phone off. “We need to run by the clinic.”

“Of course.”

Evening traffic clogged the streets. Even Beltway 8 crawled bumper to bumper.

“You were great with those little girls.” He’d caught a bit of her class when he arrived early to pick her up. “They followed your every move. Well, when they weren’t admiring themselves in the mirror.”

With a laugh, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “They’re fun. A lot of work, but fun. As always, dancing exhilarates me. The only thing I’ve ever been good at.”

“Well, that isn’t true.”

Her eyes narrowed. “It isn’t?”

He patted her thigh. “You have endless talents.”

“Such as?”

His body stiffened as he remembered her talents in vivid detail. He shifted in his seat. “After watching you today, I would say you have a talent for teaching. You’ve always been incredibly limber—must be all those years of dance. And you make the best omelet I’ve ever eaten.”

She smiled, then turned to stare out the passenger window.

He took a left into his parking lot. They entered the side door and Nigel met them in the hallway.

“How’s the patient?” Levi asked.

Nigel frowned. “She won’t leave the cast alone. Every time I check on her, she’s chewing it.”

“I’ll give her something to help the pain.” He turned to Candice. “If you’ll excuse us.”

She pointed down the hall. “I’ll go check on your other patients. Maybe I can find them some treats.”

Levi watched her walk down the hall and then he entered the surgery room where they’d been keeping Delilah. The German shepherd had gnawed halfway through the cast on her leg. “Hurts like the devil, doesn’t it,” he said, giving the dog a shot of deadening agent and sedative combined. Within minutes, Delilah stopped chewing, her eyelids heavy.

After removing the cast and putting another on the dog, Levi took a quick shower and found Candice where she said she’d be, handing out treats to the animals. “You’ll spoil them.”

She rolled her eyes. “Like you don’t?”

Trying to look innocent, he held up his hands showing they were empty.

“You probably get on to your employees for being too lenient with the patients while you spoil them rotten.”

“Who me?” He smirked. “Come out back. I want to show you something.”

“Sure.” She reached for his arm and they walked down the hallway.

The evening air wasdamp and cool, the sun having set thirty minutes ago. He led her across the yard they’d been in with the puppies and out a gate in the back. They followed a worn path in the grass, past the barn. “Where are you taking me?” She shivered. “I left my jacket in your truck.”

Levi was in jeans and a button-down shirt and didn’t appear the slightest bit cold. “I can keep you warm.” He stopped and pulled her close.

She faced him and his cool lips captured hers. He tasted of the peppermint patty they’d shared in the car. She rubbed his chest. “You’ve always had a gift with animals. When did it start?”

He put his arm around her shoulder and continued down the path. “When I was twelve I watched our mutt, Mr. Jackal, suffer a seizure and die. After that, I read article after article on dog seizures and found it fascinating. From that moment on I knew I wanted to work with animals.”

She stayed close to him, to his heat. “Twelve. You poor thing.”

“No. It happened for a reason. Although I was upset about the dog dying, I also started having a clinical view of animals. I read more animal medical journals by the time I started school than most vets read during their careers. I can’t save every animal that comes into my office, but I can diagnose quickly and that saves lives.”

Security lights lit the path, and soon a beautiful ranch-style home came into view. Debris and dirt littered the front. She couldn’t quite discern the color of the brick and stone.

“It’s beautiful.” She looked at Levi. The lights were not bright enough for her to make out his expression.

“The builders aren’t quite finished yet. I haven’t showed anyone. You’re the first.” He kissed her, his arms engulfing her.

Responding, she opened to him and invited him in.

The next second he backed her against the house. He leaned his forehead to hers. “I’m battling myself here, Candice. I want you. I’ve wanted you since you stumbled into the office and fell ass first on the floor. You’re lucky I didn’t take you right then and there.”

“You have a hell of a poker face,” she said. “You could have had me then and you can have me now.”

He lifted his head and held her face in his hands. His eyes searched hers.

She let the truth of her love for him shine in her shadowed face.

He took her lips with greed, gratefulness, and tenderness.

She arched to press her body to his.

In an instant, he yanked a set of keys from his pocket and unlocked the wooden front door. He pulled her through and slammed it shut. Nudging her back against the door, he made short work of her clothing as she did the same with his, discarding each piece to the floor.

Oh, to love him again would be heaven.

“Are you still on the pill?” he asked in a quiet plea.

“Yes.”

“I never forgot how beautiful you are. Or stopped wanting you.” His words caused contractions to spasm in her stomach.

Levi stilled. He smiled. His real smile. The one she remembered, the one he saved for her.

The next few minutes his hands and mouth worshiped her. He left not an inch of her skin untouched, and when his mouth finally returned to hers, her knees felt like jelly.

“I’d sell my soul for a bed right now,” he muttered.

His teeth lightly scored the side of her neck—not enough to leave a mark, but enough to make her tingle all over.

“Candice.” He breathed.

Oh, how she’d missed him.

“Look at me,” he whispered.

She opened her eyes and met his gaze as he united their bodies. She saw the love in his eyes. Felt his love in her heart.

How could she ever have left this man?

He was the best thing she’d ever had in her life.

Their bodies were desperate for each other. Years of longing, of need, tensed inside her.

Eyes locked, they gave themselves over—body and soul—into each other’s keeping. Way too soon, waves of ecstasy crashed over her.

His head dropped to her shoulder.

Joy spilled from her heart. “I missed you so much.”

He hugged her. “As you can tell, I missed you a little too.”

“A little?” She laughed. Her confidence lifted, she snuggled closer, loving his skin on hers. “Give me a chance, Levi. I was messed up from never having a dad or man in my life. I never trusted that you loved me.”

“I tried to tell you, angel.”

Her heart skipped a beat. He’d finally called her angel. “You did, and you showed me in every way. Let me earn your forgiveness.”

He rubbed the side of her torso. “I’m obviously already working on forgiving you.”

She smiled. The house was dark, except for the light from a security lamp blazing through a window. It smelled of fresh paint and wood. “I will do everything to gain your trust, Levi. I’m ready to—”

“Be yourself, Candice. Believe the things I tell you. Trust me.” He kissed his way down her neck. “I would say we’ll take this slow, but it appears neither of us has the patience for that.”

She giggled uncontrollably. “Patience is overrated.”

“I want a bed, and a week to reacquaint myself with your body.” Levi’s voice sent delicious chills over her.

Ear over his heart, she listened to his heartbeat for a minute. “This will work. I’m willing to give you time, space, whatever you need.” She held him close, certain they would have to work for their relationship to survive, willing to do anything to have him in her life.