After she dried off, Rachel combed her hair and put on her most comfortable pair of pajamas. Then, she flopped down onto the couch. She picked up her remote, but nothing appealed to her. She wasn’t as sad after her big cry, but now, she felt incredibly drained. She didn’t have the energy to do anything that would require her brain to function at more than two percent.

She dropped the remote and was shuffling back down the hall to her room when she heard a knock at the door. Out of habit, she turned and walked to the entrance. It didn’t occur to her until she was kicking her crap out of the way to open the door that she had no idea who would be knocking after eight p.m. on a Friday. Or that she didn’t want any company and that she should just ignore the knock, go to bed, and bury herself under her covers.

Rachel wasn’t normally a feel-sorry-for-yourself kind of person, but everyone deserved those days occasionally. And it was her day. Whoever was on the other side had better be prepared for some unfriendly company.

After she kicked her last item far enough to get the door open, Rachel finally figured out it had to be Shelly on the other side of the door. Her friend had been worried when Rachel left so abruptly, and she was too sweet to not check up on Rachel.

But, when she swung the door open, it wasn’t Shelly on the other side. It was Sean.

Rachel had been crying. Sean could tell by her puffy eyes and red cheeks, and there was also the fact that he’d dated her for six years. He knew this woman despite their years apart.

“Sean? What are you doing here?”

“I came to see you.”

Rachel stared at him.

“Can I come in?”

She blushed and stepped aside for him to enter. “Oh, sorry. Of course.” She shut the door behind him. “Come in.”

She showed him to her living room where there was a couch and a recliner, but neither of them sat.

“How did you find out where I lived?”

Sean smiled. “I called your mom.”

“That was nice of her. She always did love you.”

Rachel sniffled, and he did what he’d wanted to do since she opened the door. Since he saw her in the restaurant. He stalked toward her and took her in his arms.

“You’ve been crying.” He wiped a lone tear from her cheek.

She lifted her chin. “Maybe.”

“You can’t lie to me, Rach. I know you.”

She disentangled herself from his arms and took a step back. She crossed her arms over her chest. “Sean, why are you here?”

He took a step closer. “I told you, I came to see you.”

“Why? I can’t imagine your girlfriend likes you being here.”

“Girlfriend?” Who in the hell is she talking about?

Rachel raised her brow at him like he was stupid. “Teri. Or did you forget that I just met her?”

Sean barked out a laugh, and Rachel scowled at him.

“I don’t see how this is funny.”

“Teri’s not my girlfriend.” He took another step closer.

Rachel rolled her eyes. “Fine. Your date.”

Sean took another step and yanked her into his arms again. He buried his nose in her neck and inhaled. She still smelled the same, and his knees almost buckled.

“She wasn’t my date either.”

Rachel pushed against his chest, so he looked at her.

“She’s a headhunter.”

“Huh?”

Sean put his mouth where his nose had been and sucked on her skin. “Mmm.” She still tasted the same, too.

She clutched the back of his head and drew in a breath.

He smiled. He still knew her sweet spots. He moved his mouth up to her ear. “She’s a headhunter. She found me a job here. I was just meeting with her to sign the final paperwork.”

Rachel had her eyes closed and tipped her head to the side to give him better access. “Headhunter?”

He nuzzled her. “Yes. She searched for a job for me, so I could move back here and settle some unfinished business.” He slipped his hand up her pajama shirt and flicked his thumb over her nipple.

“And what unfinished business is that?” she asked, the words strained due to her desire.

“The business where I come back and marry the fuck out of you.”

Rachel straightened and arched back as far as his arms would allow to meet his gaze. “What?”

“I made a mistake all those years ago. I should never have left you.” He stared into her hazel eyes. “I should have asked you to marry me. I would like to say I was young and dumb, but at twenty-seven, I think I was just dumb. I have missed you every day.”

“Why didn’t you say something sooner?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. I felt stupid. I didn’t want to be wrong. I don’t know. It took me a while to comprehend that no other woman would ever be as good as you. When I did realize that, I knew I couldn’t let what I’d sacrificed go to waste. I put my time in at my company, got my experience, and moved up so that, when I moved back to Minnesota, I could get a good job.”

“And here you are.” Her voice didn’t sound like she was on board with him.

“Here I am.”

“And why am I just hearing about this tonight? How do you know I’m not already in a relationship? Do you know how crazy you sound?”

He laughed. “I wanted to surprise you after I had everything in order, but us running into each other tonight changed my plans. I know you haven’t dated anyone for about six months or so.”

Her mouth dropped open.

“You shouldn’t post so much stuff on social media.”

“But…”

“I might not have accounts, but I know people who do.”

She tried to look stern, but he dismissed her expression and continued on, “And I might sound crazy, but it’s only because I’m crazy in love.”

“Now, you just sound cheesy.”

He laughed again. “Yeah, so? It’s true. I love you, Rachel Garwood. I want you to be my wife and for us to live happily ever after. I’m sorry it took me so long to understand that.”

Rachel put her head in her hand. “This is crazy.”

“I believe you already said that.”

She peered up at him. “But it’s true.”

“Do you love me?” He knew he was taking a big gamble, asking her that after they’d been apart for so long.

She swallowed and closed her eyes. “Yes. I realized that tonight more than ever. I still love you.”

“Fuck yeah.” Sean pulled her close and kissed her.

She pushed against his chest again. “But we can’t get married right away. People will think we’re crazy.”

He sighed. “I’m beginning to hate that word.”

She laughed. “It’s true.”

“As long as you agree right now to marry me, I can wait as long as you need.” He thought about what he’d said. “I amend my statement. I will give you two years, and then I’m hauling you to the justice of the peace. I can only wait so long to be your husband and put my babies in you.”

Rachel’s hazel eyes filled with tears.

He touched his forehead to hers. “Baby, you’re not supposed to cry.”

“These are happy tears.”

“They are?”

She nodded. “Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you, but we are going to wait at least a year.”

He rolled his eyes but then smiled. “Okay, I’ll take it. I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

He’d never heard sweeter words. He kissed her and then pulled away. “Can I make love to you now, fiancée?”

She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I thought you’d never ask.”