Cherrie Lynn - Take Me On

Or maybe it was just that he had the power to absolutely crush Ian’s dreams right now.

But, shit, what did it even matter anymore? At this very moment, Gabby was probably with Dr. Asshole. Reliving old times. She might have fallen into his arms at first sight, so pissed and upset at Ian that she couldn’t run back fast enough. Fuck. She’d tried to call him not twenty minutes ago, and he’d let it go to voice mail. “I’m sorry to interrupt your dinner. That wasn’t my intention. Brian brought me here only because I asked him to, because I have to tell you…how much I love your daughter. How much I want to be there to take care of her and the baby.” It sounded horrifically lame to his ears, as if he could possibly sum up his feelings in mere words. He’d never been much of a talker.

“We can appreciate that,” Gabby’s mother began evenly, but her husband cut her off.

“Tell us how you propose to do that, Ian.”

“Sir, I know I don’t have everything you do. I’m not ashamed of where I’ve come from, but it’s true I didn’t have it that great growing up. I fell into the tattoo business when I was young, and I stuck with it because I’m good at it. I think Brian will attest to that. But if you will just give us your blessing, I will work my a— I will work as hard as I can for her. I’ll do anything. I’ll go to college so I can be something more for her, if that would make you feel better. If I have to work seven days a week, I will. I only want to be everything she needs. Even if she asked me to stay home with our baby while she goes out to be everything she can be, I would do that too. I’m all about her.

“If you’d asked me even six months ago what my ambition in life was, I wouldn’t have had an answer for you. Since I met Gabby, that answer is easy. She’s it. She and our baby. Please, just…give us a chance. I swear to God, if I trip up one time, you can tell her to send me packing if you feel the need to, and I’ll go quietly. Just…give me a chance. Please. I won’t disappoint you.”

Silence greeted the end of his harangue, the only sound being that of his gently panting breath. What else did they need to hear? His mind grappled desperately for something, anything, a clincher on the whole deal.

Her parents exchanged a long look. Brian’s eyebrows were nearly in his hairline, but he gave Ian the nudge he needed. “There’s different kinds of support.”

Ian nodded. “I might not be much financially, but I’ll be there in every other capacity I can be. I promise you guys that. Surely you’ll agree she needs it right now.”

“I’ve been so worried about her,” Kelsey put in swiftly, looking at Mr. and Mrs. Ross. “Whenever I talk to her, she just…doesn’t sound like herself.”

“No,” Gabby’s mother admitted. “She doesn’t.”

Kelsey didn’t let up. “Do you really want her back with the man who humiliated her in front of the entire Dallas medical community? Her friends and family? The people she wants to work with? I mean, I don’t know about you, but I am not happy about that. She deserves so much better.”

Thank God for Kelsey; Brian had been right. Ian played that angle now. “I would take her to the altar tomorrow, if she would have me. And you’d better believe I would be there to meet her. She wouldn’t be able to keep me away.”

Both of her parents smiled at that. Evan took his son from his wife’s arms, not looking entirely convinced but not seeming as hostile as a moment ago.

“Come on, guys,” Brian said, unable to hold his tongue any longer, apparently. “I got Candace pregnant, and not one of you really gave a crap. You’re all freaking out and trying to run Gabby’s life because she’s a girl, the freaking princess. Get over it. It really should be up to her, not you.”

Ian wanted to cringe at his input, correct though it might be, but he was afraid to move or breathe or do much of anything else.

“Well,” Mr. Ross began, looking down at his wife, “I suppose it comes down to that, doesn’t it?” She sighed and nodded, and his gaze flickered up to Ian’s, narrowing slightly. “It’s up to Gabby, then. Whatever she decides is what we’ll support.”

“Oh, man.” Brian laughed. “Now you really have your work cut out for you, dude.”

“Now you really have your work cut out for you.”

Wasn’t it the damn truth.

He’d tried to call her. No luck. She was out with her doctor. Ian could imagine her looking at her phone, thinking, Fuck him , and silencing it. Or maybe she was too occupied to check it in the first place.

It was thoughts like that one that had him on the road to Dallas as the sun fell below the horizon. He didn’t know what he was going to find when he got there, but whatever it was, it would be his fault.

For that reason, he couldn’t bring himself to be angry at her. The idea scarcely registered. She was there and she was lonely. Even if the only thing the doctor represented was a night away from her apartment, he couldn’t blame her for taking it. Hell, even if she had fallen into his arms at first sight, could he really blame her then either? Evan had been right.

Despite all these frenzied thoughts, somehow Ian knew she wouldn’t do anything rash. This Mark guy had most likely come to his senses in her absence, and he’d be a damn fool not to desperately try to get a woman like her back, but Ian could imagine her playing it cool and thinking long and hard about any major decisions. He also couldn’t imagine her not talking to him about it, whichever way it went. Giving him a chance to make things right before she made a choice.

But again, he didn’t know. Uncertainty stretched before him as long and dark as the interstate beneath the wheels of his Harley.

“No dessert?” Mark asked as the waiter came around again.

“No, thanks.” Gabby laid her napkin on the table top, well and truly stuffed for probably the first time since moving back. She was terrible about not eating when she was stressed—and while nothing had really changed about the latter, her appetite had roared to life the moment they strolled into her favorite restaurant.

Almost as if nothing had changed. Mark had seen one of his colleagues upon entering, who’d remarked how wonderful it was to see the two of them back together. She’d held her tongue, and Mark certainly hadn’t raced to correct the man. Gabby had spent the next few minutes wondering if it was true.

Was it wonderful to be back here with him? It felt normal, but that made sense. Only a few months ago, it had been her reality. She’d caught sight of their reflection in the huge wall of windows adjacent to the table as they’d stood speaking to the man and his wife, and they’d fit. She nestled perfectly next to his tall build; she contrasted nicely with his blond good looks.

He obviously loved her, if he was truly willing to take her back now. Not many men would make an offer like that, she suspected. Maybe she really belonged here.

They’d made idle chat during dinner, avoiding anything too deep, and for that she was glad. But his gaze had remained steady and speculative on her for most of the night, and she feared some uncomfortable topics might be broached before the date was over.

“I don’t want to take you home yet,” he said as the waiter dropped off the check.

She’d been afraid of that. “Where do you want to go?”

“Home.”

He hadn’t said my place . But home , as if it were still hers too.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Mark.”

He smiled. “You didn’t think tonight was a good idea, but you’ve had fun, haven’t you?”