Chasing Time

Four Months Later

Levi found Candice in the recovery room. She was busy petting a bunny who’d given birth two hours ago.

Uncomfortable with the Houston Hottie photo Juliana had blown up of him and the puppies, he still let his sister-in-law put the wall-length photo in this room. His patients’ owners always commented on the picture, about how much they liked it. He’d dressed in a tux Juliana brought. Well, not the entire tux. He wore no shirt, just a bow tie and slacks, with the tux coat draped over one shoulder.

He approached Candice now and smiled when she turned toward him.

She was gorgeous, her red mane lively, her brown eyes twinkling.

He gently touched his lips to hers. “How did your day go?”

“Good. It took forever to get here, though.” His house had been finished a couple of months now and she lived with him most of the time, but still had an apartment and worked on the south side of town. “I hate the traffic in this city.”

The perfect opening for what he had planned. His heart throbbed. Grabbing her hand, he tugged her from the room and out the front door.

She went along, laughing. “Where are you dragging me?”

“I want to show you something.”

Since it was summer, the sun sat high in the sky, even at seven in the evening. They walked across the parking area to the lot next door. “Did I ever tell you I own the land from the clinic to the corner?”

She shook her head.

“I received an inheritance from an aunt on my mother’s side of the family soon after I finished school. It was a total surprise. Her will said she always felt guilty she didn’t take me in after my parents died, so she left me the bulk of her estate. The money paid off my student loans and I had enough left to buy this property.”

“How wonderful.”

Blood pulsed in his ears. This was the biggest leap of his life. “I want to build you a dance studio.”

“What?” She appeared unsure whether to laugh or cry.

“This part of town is surrounded by subdivisions. You’ll have students in no time.”

“You’re building something for me?”

He pulled a Cracker Jack box from his pocket.

Spying him with watchful eyes, she carefully opened the box, to find another smaller box inside.

“I want to build a life with you. A future.”

She didn’t move.

“Without you, my life is dull, dead. With you, everything is bright, alive, and sizzles. Since the day I met you, I’ve loved you. Even those five years apart I never stopped.” He inhaled a deep breath. “Candice, will you marry me?”

Bowing her head, she said, “You’ll never understand how sorry I am for hurting you.” She spoke like she hadn’t heard his proposal.

“I do understand.” The pounding in his ears was now as loud as a jackhammer.

“You don’t. You could never understand.” Her voice choked. “I will spend each day trying to make it up to you.” When she lifted her head, he saw tears swimming in her eyes.

“Good. I’ll let you, but first, you have to answer my question.”

She flung her arms around his neck. “Yes, yes, yes.”

Relief rushed through him. He took the small box from her and opened it.

She gasped.

He’d gone a bit overboard on the three-carat diamond, but found once he began planning this grand gesture, he wanted to give her the best of everything.

“I love it.”

He placed it on her hand and she wiggled her fingers, the diamond sparkling in the sunshine.

“And I love you so much, Levi.”

His heart found its normal rhythm and his ears quieted.

Suddenly, she grinned. “We should get married on New Year’s Day. You are Mr. January.”

“Any day, any time, any place. I’m yours.”

She kissed his cheek. “I’m just glad no one else turned your head before I swallowed my pride and came back.”

“I was waiting for you, angel.”

Leaning her head against his chest, she said, “I’d been so intent on looking for my big break, that I failed to see that you were my big break, Levi.”