Live Again

In the back of his mind, Reese knew that he should be at work. No one knew where he was. This was very irresponsible and not something he'd ever consider doing. But... it was far enough back in his mind that he chose to ignore it.

Holding Angelica close, he never wanted to leave this moment. For so long, he'd avoided relationships. There had been no one since Wyatt's mother, and he'd not wanted anyone else... until now. There were days he longed for someone simply to talk to. Evenings were too quiet. Mornings were lonely as he drank his coffee alone. He'd been so intent on never loving again, that he had begun to die inside. If only to have daily companionship again. Someone to share life with. To share a home with. To share love with. He missed it more than he'd even admitted to himself. But right here... right now... he had a woman in his arms who had accepted him and wanted to be with him, too. Maybe he hadn't seen it soon enough. Maybe he'd been too distracted by other things. But the truth of the matter was that God had given him a second chance. And if he walked away now, there might never be a third chance.

Breathless, Reese draws back for a moment, cupping Angelica's face with his hands. He almost forgot for a moment that they were sitting like two idiots in the lake. Water dripped down from his hair and he blinks it away, his lips smiling with an expression of one who had just discovered how to truly live once more. It had been time to love again. Now it was time to live again.

He returns his lips to hers for a kiss so sweet before pulling away, his eyes only inches from hers. His gaze shown like it had not for too many years. "I don't want to ever go back," he whispers. "Marry me so I don't have to."