Chapter 18

Aweek later, Tess stood outside the school trying not to tap her foot. She'd fussed with her hair and clothes in a way she'd never done for any school function, but the thought of seeing Miles again made her nervous. When she'd texted him the information, she'd told him to try to get here early because parking would be horrendous. She stood by the door watching cars pull into the lot, every car except his.

"You okay?" Zoe asked from where she sat next to Andrew on the steps.

"Yeah, why?"

"You're kinda jumpy. Plus, the thing starts in like two minutes. Are we waiting for Dad?"

"No. I don't think he's coming." She kept her answer intentionally vague. Tess took a deep breath and checked the time. Zoe was right. "Let's go in."

Tess hadn't told them Miles might come. She hadn't wanted to get their hopes up. Looked like she should've followed that thought for herself. Inside the auditorium, she walked down the main aisle, hoping to find four seats together without tipping off Zoe. As it turned out, the STEM club competition wasn't a huge draw, and there were plenty of seats.

She kept her phone in her hand in case Miles texted and wanted to sit with them. For all she knew, he was already here, sitting by himself. She looked around the room. The lights dimmed a little, and the assistant principal took the stage.

He introduced the five teams that were competing, and the first team came out and explained their project. Tess had no idea how any of this worked, but like with Zoe's swim meets, she figured she'd get the hang of it in time.

Since Billy's team was hosting, they went last. She listened to each team and watched their presentations. Some were pretty interesting, like the team who developed a new toilet paper product. The entire time, however, she gripped her phone and kept glancing around the room for any sign of Miles.

When Billy's team came out onto the stage with their robot—one that Tess had heard about nonstop since he'd made the team—Tess was filled with pride. Billy had found his place. He stood in front of the pack of kids and explained what the robot would do. Then he stepped back and another kid set the robot in motion.

When it was done, Andrew leaned over and whispered, "That was cool. Can he bring it home?"

"I'm pretty sure the robot belongs to the school."

They waited while the judges tabulated scores, and then the winning teams were announced. Billy's team took second place. A lump lodged in her throat, and she pulled out her phone and snapped a picture to send to William. It wasn't until after she took the picture that she noticed who was on the stage.

Her heart stopped.

Standing with the team and the coach was Miles, grinning like he'd won. His hand was on Billy's shoulder while they talked.

"Mom"—Zoe reached across Andrew to tap her leg "—Is that Miles?"

She nodded because she couldn't speak. She'd given up on him outside, sure he'd decided not to show up and suffer through any more uncomfortable conversation. She blinked rapidly to stave off the tears.

Yet here he was, coaching the STEM club.

The audience applauded the teams, and the house lights came up. People began filtering out into the hall to wait for their kids, but Tess sat frozen.

Andrew poked her arm. "Let's go, Mom. I wanna see Billy's medal."

"It'll take him a few minutes to come out. We'll meet him in the hall."

She stood and took Andrew's hand to help her stay focused. Why hadn't Billy said anything about Miles helping the team? She was thrilled to see Miles and to know he'd helped Billy made her happy in a way words couldn't express. At the same time, they'd kept this huge secret from her. Miles could've told her when they spoke last week, but he'd pretended to know nothing about the competition.

Her heart sank. They'd probably kept it from her because they figured she would ruin it. Miles's words from the night of their fight came back full force. She did like to be in control. She liked knowing what to expect. The kids needed stability in their lives. They should be able to count on an adult's word. But she should've recognized the lengths Miles had gone to make sure Billy had what he needed for his project.

As she stood in the hall with kids running out to meet parents, her nerves struck. Maybe Miles hadn't said anything because he was done with her. She'd told him to get out, and he had. He might not even come out to see her.

God, she hoped he would. If nothing else, she wanted to thank him for participating in STEM club with Billy.

Andrew bounced next to her, and Zoe wandered off after running into some friends. Billy came through the door, and Tess waved at him. As he ran to her, his medal swung around in his fist.

"Did you see? We did it! Second place."

She pulled him to her with her free arm. "Yeah, I saw. You did a great job."

Andrew let go of her hand and tugged at the medal. Billy put it over his brother's head so he could wear it while inspecting it.

"I'm so proud of you. I've already texted Dad pictures. He'll be excited."

Billy rolled his eyes but didn't comment.

"Why didn't you tell me Miles was helping coach the team?"

Billy bit his lip and looked at the floor.

"You're not in trouble—although you probably should be for keeping a secret. I just want to know why you didn't tell me."

"Miles thought it would be better for it to be a secret until you weren't so mad."

"So he's been here the whole time, huh?"

Billy nodded. She took Andrew's hand again and put her other arm around Billy. "Good to know. Let's go."

Billy shuffled his feet but didn't really move.

"Something wrong?"

"No…it's just…" He looked over his shoulder toward the door he'd exited.

Tess nudged him to get moving. The crowd was mostly gone now. There were only a few straggling families left. When the door opened again, Miles stepped out and turned toward her with a huge smile. Her heart lurched and her mouth went dry.

Billy snatched the medal from Andrew and handed it to Tess. "We're gonna go play on the playground. Okay, Mom?"

Without waiting for an answer, he took off out of the building. Tess shook her head. She'd been played.

Miles stepped close. "Hi."

"Hi," she said.

"Pretty awesome win, huh?"

"The win was great, but seeing you up on the stage with Billy was awesome." Her heart thundered in her ears. Lord, I've missed looking at his face. She wanted to reach out and touch him but didn't. "Can we talk?"

He chuckled. "I think that's the first time in my life someone has said that to me without it freaking me out." He tilted his head toward the front door. "Walk?"

She nodded. Outside, the sun was nearly gone, leaving the sky a purplish-blue. Tess sent Zoe a text to let her know they were at the playground. When the jungle gym was in sight, she faced Miles. "Why didn't you tell me you were coaching the STEM club?"

"Mostly because I wanted to prove to you I'm not going anywhere. This wasn't about putting on a show for you. If I'd called and told you, you would've thought I was doing it to fix things."

"Weren't you?"

"I wanted to make it up to Billy. I won't say this wasn't about you at all, but it was mostly about Billy. Even if you'd left the auditorium today without looking at me, I'd still be here for him next week."

How could she have shoved him aside? She loved him so much. "I screwed up, and I was unfair to you. I'm sorry."

He blew out a long breath and stared across the street.

Tess had no idea how to interpret that, so she forged ahead. "I know we probably can't go back to what we had, but I'd like us to at least be friends. I miss talking to you."

"I can't be your friend."

She swallowed hard and nodded, even though he wasn't looking at her.

He took her hand and looked into her eyes. "I had a whole speech planned to beg you to take me back. Your apology kind of ruined it."

Her heart gave a quick thump. He wanted her to take him back? "I'm not looking for you to beg for anything. But we do need to talk. Really talk."

"Anything."

"I want us to be together. These last few weeks without you have been miserable. But I'm worried because what we had—that relationship—was unbalanced. You wanted to make my life easier, but you never wanted to lean on me for anything. You didn't even tell me when you were having trouble at work."

He stroked his thumb across her knuckles. "I didn't want to add to your stress."

"If we're going to be together, we need to be equal partners."

"Then you have to trust me to do my part with the kids. It doesn't matter that I'm not their dad. I don't need to be their dad. I'm your backup. Part of being backup means I'll use whatever resources I have available."

She groaned. He wanted to spend money on her kids.

"Before you start making grumpy noises, I don't plan to buy them whatever they want, and I won't just throw money at things because it's easy, but you can't expect me to pretend I don't have money. I do. It's part of my lifestyle, and if we're together, that means you accept my lifestyle the way I've accepted yours."

It all sounded so reasonable when he said it. "I can try."

"So will I." He smiled and tugged her closer. "Can I kiss you now?"

"Please."

He slid his palm along her jaw as he lowered his mouth. He brushed his lips against hers, slipping his tongue along the seam of her mouth. She sighed with the rightness of it all.

He took his time relearning her. By the time their tongues touched, she was ready to climb all over him. It was magic and comfort all rolled into one.

That was until they heard, "Eww. Why are you doing that in public? Little kids play here."

Miles pulled away, and they laughed at Zoe's admonishment.

"I guess you guys finally made up, huh?" Zoe asked.

"We did," Miles answered. Tess turned in his arms with a smile and looked at her kids.

"Good. We were getting tired of her being all sad. Try not to screw it up again."

Tess clenched her jaw. "Zoe?—"

He stroked her arm. "It's okay. She's right. I'm not gonna screw up again. And I've got you guys to help me get it right."

"Hey, Mom," Billy called from the swings. "Can we go get ice cream?"

"Sure," she yelled back. She looked up at Miles over her shoulder. "Want to come for ice cream?"

"Can we hang out after?"

"We'll see." Tess was up for anything Miles wanted, because for the first time in weeks, she was happy again. She was glad she'd given them a second chance for love.

Next summer

Miles had no idea why Tess had refused to go to St. Mark's gala with him since they were together almost every day. He even had a drawer in her dresser for the nights he stayed when the kids weren't there. The kids knew he stayed over, but Tess still wasn't sure about him spending the night when they were there. It was unspoken that would happen in the future—their future.

He'd gotten the same suite at the Peninsula as last year, and he couldn't look at the picture window without imagining taking her up against it. He snapped a picture and texted it to Tess.

Like the view?

Her response was quick.

I don't remember much about the view last year. I was…preoccupied.

He was glad he'd sent a car to pick her up so she wouldn't have to drive, even though she'd tried to argue. It allowed for this playful texting.

Aren't you going to send me a picture?

Moments later, he received a picture of her bare thigh and the hem of her shimmery blue dress. The woman was such a tease.

You'll pay for that.

We'll see.

That phrase was one of her favorites. It was a mom thing. He was slipping on his jacket when a knock sounded at the door. He opened it to see his mom there smiling.

"You're ready," she said.

"Don't be so shocked."

She huffed. "You're just in a hurry to go see Tess. Why isn't she here with you?"

"She said she wanted to make sure the kids were okay. She'll be here soon enough." He pulled the door closed and held out his arm for his mom to take. "How are you doing?"

"This year is easier than last. Attending with you helps."

As they stepped into the elevator, he realized that was probably the reason for Tess wanting to come alone. She knew how much his mother liked this benefit. He shook his head and smiled.

"What?" Mom asked.

"I think I figured out why Tess is meeting me here."

"Why?"

"So I'd be here with you now."

She patted his arm. "She's a good woman."

"Yes, she is." It was why he was thinking about asking her to marry him. He was just trying to figure out the right time and way. She wouldn't want anything showy.

They got to the ballroom, and Miles grabbed a glass of champagne for his mother and walked her to a table. She would hold council there as she did most years. People came to her to talk. Miles, on the other hand, preferred to mingle. He went to the bar to order a drink.

Sipping on his scotch, he leaned against the bar, so reminiscent of last summer when he'd dreaded coming here with his mother.

He knew the moment Tess entered the room. He felt her presence. They made brief eye contact, and she gave him a coy smile but didn't walk in his direction. Instead, she snagged a glass of champagne from a waiter and headed to the silent auction table. He waited to see how closely she would follow the events from last year.

She moved slowly at the tables. When she glanced back to him, he lifted his glass to her before draining it and then snuck up behind her as she placed a bid. "Still bidding on things you don't plan to win?" he whispered against her ear.

She started at his voice and shifted to face him. "I might win, but mostly I bid to get others to bid more. It's all for a good cause, you know."

"Any fancy French soaps? I could really use some."

She laughed, and he took her hand while she was distracted. "I don't like pretending we're strangers."

"I thought that was the kind of thing that keeps romance alive."

"Romance and lust is plenty alive in me. Thank you, by the way."

"For what?"

"It took until I was in the elevator with my mother to realize why you put me off."

She ducked her head but didn't say anything.

They made their way around all the tables, made a few bids, and then went to the dinner table where they found Angie. "You better hurry if you want to bid on the coffee basket. Tess thinks it's hers."

Tess gave him a gentle shove. "Hey. You're supposed to be on my side."

"Always," he said and kissed her.

"I'm glad you feel that way, because I have another reason for wanting to arrive separately."

"Yeah?"

She inhaled deeply, distracting him with the rise of the swell of her breasts in the low-cut dress. "I wanted tonight to be as special as it was last year when we first met."

She licked her lips before continuing. "This past year has been good. You've brought so much happiness into my life and the lives of the kids. We're all better for having met you."

"I feel the same. I love you."

Her eyes were wide, and it registered she was nervous about whatever she was about to say. "I love you, too, which is why I'm hoping you'll want to make an honest woman out of me." She pressed something in his palm, and he opened his hand to see a gold band.

"Miles Prescott, will you marry me?"

He stared at her, drinking in her beauty and vulnerability, as if there were any possibility he could refuse. He could deny this woman nothing. "I would love to marry you."

He slipped the ring on his finger and held her face to kiss her. "You couldn't even let me have that, could you? Always have to be in control."

"If I left it up to you, who knows how long we'd wait? I want us to start our life together now." She pulled him close. "Don't worry. When we get upstairs, I'll let you have all the control."

"Sounds like your best plan yet."

***