And with that, she turned and walked away. Still holding her seven-layer dip. She was going to go home and eat all of it. Every single bite.

She got just outside the gate when a gentle but firm hand settled on her arm and turned her.

Ryan. He was holding Killer.

“I’m sorry,” he said very quietly, very seriously. “I would never have wanted you to overhear that.”

“Don’t.” She stepped back from him. “Please don’t.”

“Ali—”

“Look, I know you can’t control what your family says or thinks. That’s not what got me. What did were the things they said, the things that had to have come from your mouth; the not being able to see having a family with me, that your friends think I’m cold and distant.”

Ryan closed his eyes briefly. “I know, and those things shouldn’t have ever been voiced.”

“Of course you should have voiced them, they were your feelings. But I did try. I was with you, in the only way I know how to be—and you broke up with me instead of helping me fix what was wrong. And yeah, I’ve got issues, but you do too. You don’t just end things because there are issues. Not if you really love someone.” She felt her eyes burn. “You gave up on me,” she whispered. “Threw me away.”

“You’re right,” he said quietly, staring into her eyes, his own filled with regret. “After that week we spent together and we clicked into place like we were meant to be, I didn’t think about how things might change in the real world. I took your hand and jumped with you into the deep end with my life and expected you to be able to swim in the shark-infested waters.”

She choked on a laugh.

He didn’t smile. “It was wrong of me. You’re not me. You’re more thoughtful, more internal, a beautiful soul that deserved better. I never wanted you to think you weren’t enough just as you are. I’d never ask you to change for me.”

“But I would have tried,” she said quietly. “In a heartbeat. Not just for you. But because it was the right thing to do. I was immature. Insecure. And far too needy to even consider how much you were hurting too. I’m sorrier for that than I can ever say.”

“And I’m sorry I wasn’t more open with you.” Ryan moved in closer. “You were going through your own things, and I wasn’t there for you. This is on me, Alison. And I can only hope you’ll give me the chance to fix it. I want to be the right guy for you.”

She’d never been the right girl, not once in her life. “I need you to be really sure,” she whispered. “Because I don’t ever want to go through losing you again.”

He tipped up her face to give her a soft, warm kiss filled with promise that was no less intimate for being sweet. “I’ve never been more sure.”

Alison’s chest filled with warmth. It spread outward to all her hard spots and she fisted her hand in his shirt. “How can we make sure it’ll work this time?”

“We start over. From the beginning.” Shifting Killer to tuck her under an arm, he held out his free hand to Alison. “Hi, I’m Ryan Dennison. I’m an engineer. I’ve got a close but annoyingly nosy posse.” This caused a ripple of whispers behind them, which they both firmly ignored. “I love all sports, all food—”

“Except for tomatoes,” she whispered. “You hate tomatoes.”

“I really do.” Ryan smiled and tugged Alison a little closer. “I make a good show of being easygoing and laid-back and open, but the truth is, I’ve recently had my heart broken, so I can actually be quite guarded and hold my emotions inside. I’m working on that, by the way. Also working on showing, not telling, people how I feel.” He paused. “I hurt someone, someone very important to me, and I’m going to learn from my mistakes so that never happens again.”

Throat tight, she squeezed his hand. “I’m Alison Pratt. I’m a numbers girl. Things have to add up for me, which means I can miss the nuances and the little things. I’m obsessively organized and anal, and sometimes when I get defensive or someone hurts my feelings, I say stupid stuff and then retreat. I’m working on that. I’ve not let many into my life, and I’m working on that too.”

Alison caught sight of Bill on the other side of the yard, giving her a thumbs-up and an encouraging smile, which helped. “I’m never going to be perfect,” she said, “but I’m loyal and honest and will step in front of a train for those I care about. Oh, and I can do ten cartwheels in a row before falling over.”

Ryan laughed. “Impressive.” He brought her hand to his chest and pressed it over his heart. “I’m not perfect either, Alison. I’ve let you down. I promise to do better at letting you know what’s on my mind and protecting you from my well-meaning but overbearing family.”

This brought more whispers from the sidelines.

Alison didn’t care. Her heart felt so full it hurt. “I’ll get better at trying to fit in with your family and friends, who obviously love and adore you, which is an amazing thing to have. I’m new to that, I’ve never had more family in my life than my cousin and uncle, and they’re both guys, so . . .” She shrugged a little self-consciously, extremely aware that the whispers had abruptly stopped.

Ryan touched Alison’s jaw, then let his fingers slide into her hair. “Alison,” he said, voice low and hoarse with regret. “I love you—”

She kissed him, just as he’d kissed her a moment before, soft and sweet, full of her own promises. She lifted her head and glanced over at his mom and sister. “Should I repeat any of that or did you catch it all?”

Both his mom and sister grimaced, but Alison smiled. “I’m actually asking sincerely.”

“Can you really do ten cartwheels in a row?” his sister asked.

“Do you really love him?” his mom asked.

“Yes and yes—more than you’ll ever know,” she said.

Ryan smiled, his gaze holding hers as he spoke. “Mom, Nicole, everyone . . . meet Alison. She’s going to be a big part of my life, the best part, and I hope you can get on board with that.”

There was no hesitation from his mom or sister; they both nodded yes like two bobbleheads.

“Maybe we can even be friends,” Nicole said.