Chasing Second Chances by Shelly Logan Page B

should wake him so he could move into the guest bedroom and get a proper good night’s sleep or if she should just leave him alone. Just when she was about to go with the latter, though, he stirred, slowly lifting his head.
    Before she could think of tiptoeing off, their gazes met. Quickly, he straightened his shoulders and rubbed the sleepiness out of his eyes while she simply stood there, frozen in place, holding her glass of water with her other arm folded below her breasts.
    “Kate, what are you doing here?” he asked, running his hands through his hair.
    “Just going out to get some fresh air,” she answered truthfully.
    “Oh, I see.” He squinted to see the time on his laptop. “1:32,” he muttered. “I must have fallen asleep.”
    “You should go to sleep in your bed,” she told him. “Good night.”
    She walked on towards the patio, standing at the edge of the stone-paved area as she sipped her glass of water and savored the breeze. A few minutes later, she heard the sliding door open behind her. She didn’t turn her head, instead waiting until she found Lloyd standing beside her, stretching his arms.
    Suddenly, it hit her that the two of them were alone again, just like they had been that morning at the kitchen sink and just like that morning, she was beginning to feel a little uneasy.
    Maybe she should have run away when she had the chance.
    She could still run away, too, but at the memory of his expression earlier, she was reminded of how lonely he was, of how much she had wanted to offer him comfort then but had been unable to. Now was her chance.
    “Can’t sleep?” Lloyd asked her, stretching his left arm behind him. “Or was it a nightmare?”
    “I dreamed of Lena. I dreamed she was dead.”
    She felt Lloyd go completely still beside her. For a moment, the air was silent, heavy. Then, Lloyd spoke.
    “I’m sorry, Kate,” he said softly.
    The unexpected apology caused her to glance in his direction.
    “I should have been a better father. I should have protected them.”
    Kate cradled the glass of water in her hands. “It’s not your fault, Lloyd. There was nothing you could have done to prevent all this. Isn’t that what you’ve been trying to tell me all along?”
    Lloyd grinned. “You’re right. I’ve been telling you to stop saying ‘sorry’ too and now, look at me. I’m going against my own piece of advice, which as far as I can tell is the first time.”
    “Well, you can’t be perfect all the time.”
    “Never thought I was.”
    Kate set down her glass and reached for his hand. “Listen, Lloyd. I understand how you feel more than anyone. It’s hard. Heck, it’s hell. But I want you to know that I’m here for you. You don’t have to force yourself to be strong and brave in front of me.”
    He chuckled. “So my cover’s already been blown off, huh?”
    “You’re a good man, Lloyd. You can do so many great things and you probably don’t need anyone else, but it’s all right to be lonely sometimes. It’s all right to be human.”
    “I’m human?”
    It was Kate’s turn to chuckle. “You may seem like half superhero, half machine at times…
    “Half machine?” He raised an eyebrow at her.
    “But you’re definitely human, Lloyd Marrick.”
    “Thanks, Kate.” He squeezed her hand as he smiled at her. “And you’re right. Well, mostly.”
    “Mostly?”
    “I need someone. I need you, Kate. Always have.”
    She froze at the sudden confession, then slowly withdrew her hand from his.
    “You know I’m in love with Bryan now,” she said, rubbing her arms as she felt uneasy again. “I love him.”
    “Do you even know him?” he asked with a challenging look.
    “I’ve known him for almost two years,” she answered confidently.
    “That’s not what I was asking.”
    “That’s longer than the time I knew you before we got married.”
    For a second after that, he was silent, her barb seemingly effective, but he recovered quickly. “There are some things he