by Stewart, JM
She didn’t want to talk to him, didn’t want to hear his excuses. She wanted to mend her heart and get on with her life, but he wouldn’t stop calling. The pain refused to leave her chest, leaving her unable to sleep.
Ignoring the call like all the others, she let her eyes close. Ten minutes later, she began to drift off again when knocking snapped her awake. The pounding sounded again and she glanced at the clock. Only one person would dare to come to her door at a quarter to four in the morning. The incessant pounding wouldn’t stop and she finally pried herself out of bed, padding out of her room and down the stairs. If he didn’t stop, he’d wake Annie.
When she opened the door, Dillon stood on her step. He leaned a shoulder against the frame, looking up when the door opened. His eyelids drooped, sorrow and regret adding a haunted shadow to the depths of his eyes. He looked like she felt—harrowed, miserable, and exhausted.
Her heart twisted at the sight of him, leaving Emma caught between how much she missed him and being so angry she couldn’t see straight. Caught between wanting to throw herself into his arms for the safety she used to find there, and slamming the door in his face.
That image of Leila pressing herself along his length chose that moment to insinuate itself into her mind, answering the quandary for her, and with a shake of her head, she simply shut the door and turned to head back upstairs to bed.
“I’m not leaving until you talk to me.” Dillon called through the door, his tone telling her he meant business. “I’ll stay out here all night if I have to.”
She paused midstep, halfway to the staircase. It was twenty degrees out there. “You’ll freeze to death.”
Never mind they risked waking Annie.
“That’s why I’m hoping you’ll have mercy on me and open the door.”
Emma didn’t know what to say. She didn’t want to open the door, didn’t want to fight with him or fend off any sweet talk. If he tried, his eyes would melt her resolve and she’d end up back where she started—in love with a man who’d never love her.
“This is one of those times when I really need you to give me the benefit of the doubt.”
Her heart lurched at that, the beginnings of doubt swirling through her mind. Hadn’t she once promised him to try not to always think the worst of him? To give him the benefit of the doubt? God, was it possible she misinterpreted what she saw?
The image flashed again, of Leila pressing herself against him, their mouths connecting…
She marched to the door and yanked it open. “I’m not blind. I saw you kiss her.”
Dillon shook his head, a sad frown curving his mouth. “You saw her kiss me.”
She rolled her eyes. “That’s splitting hairs, don’t you think?”
He shook his head. “No. I’m guessing that’s all you saw or we wouldn’t even be here.” He paused, one brow quirking up, his eyes daring her to deny it.
She couldn’t, and the thought occurred to her, again, she might have been wrong. Too much time lying in the dark tonight pondering her reaction made her realize she reacted out of jealousy. So intense she couldn’t be sure if she even saw things the way they were or the way the small, taunting voice in the back of her mind convinced her.
None of which she knew how to explain.
When she didn’t say anything, Dillon folded his arms across his chest. “Outside of what happened, what on earth would ever make you think I’d want her?”
“You loved her once, and she’s…” Emma looked down at her shapeless nightgown and shrugged. “I can’t compete with that.”
Saying it out loud, it felt stupid, childish almost.
Dillon’s hand cupped her chin. His thumb stroked her skin, running along the edge of her bottom lip. “You have a very warped view of yourself.”
Emma shook her head again. “No. I’m honest with myself. I know who I am…and I know what I’m not. I’m not that kind of beautiful.”
“I happen to think you’re the most beautiful woman in this town. You’re kind-hearted and compassionate, and you gave up your life to take care of someone else. First, your mother, then Janey, now Annie.” Dillon dropped his hand and tucked it into his pocket. “What I can’t figure out is…who takes care of you?”
She stiffened her spine. “I take care of myself.”
Dillon shook his head. “I believe that’s my job.”
A shiver ran the length of her spine. She opened her mouth to respond, but before the words left her tongue, Dillon pushed away from the doorway and shoved the door closed behind him.
He pulled a hand from his pocket and stroked her cheek. “What I felt for Leila isn’t even half what I feel for you. You’re like…coming home. When I talk, you listen, and lying in your arms at night is the safest place in the world. When I got those lab results…” He dropped his hand and diverted his gaze to the floor, giving a slow shake of his head. “I panicked. All I could think was…what if Annie’s not really mine? You’d have every right to take her and walk out of my life. I couldn’t bear the thought of a world without the two of you. Of never seeing either of you again. It scared the hell out of me.”
Her heart stuttered, and Emma looked up. “So you ran.”
Dillon smirked, an ironic self-loathing smile. “I ran.” He slid his hands on her hips, tugging her against him. “About two seconds after Leila kissed me, I sent her packing. I told her flat out I wasn’t interested and she didn’t like that. Had you kept watching, you would have seen the way she stormed off, because she sure made a show of it.”
He paused again and she knew he waited for her reaction, but she didn’t know quite what to say. “Why would she do that?”
He gave a miserable shake of his head. “She pulls crap like that all the time. She’s always been a spoiled brat and I think it pisses her off she can’t have what she wants. What she wants is my bank account. I have no feelings for her, and I haven’t for a long time.” A beat of silence passed. “I’m in love with you.”
She jerked her gaze to his, her mouth dropping open. Whatever she expected him to say it hadn’t been that. Was he toying with her? Looking at his eyes honesty stared back. Dillon bared his soul in his eyes, daring her to see the emotion, to deny its existence, but she couldn’t deny it. It shined like a beacon, there for her to see, and the emotion wrapped itself around her, warm, sweet, and enticing.
“Completely.” He leaned down, his mouth a bare inch from hers, hovering out of reach, like he was waiting for an invitation, or permission. “Forgive me for being a fool. I’m sorry it’s taken me this long to get to this point. I need you, Em. I love you.”
Emotion swamped her, and the wall of ice she built against him melted. Very aware of how much she missed him these last two weeks, she slid her arms around him and pressed close.
“I love you too.” She lifted onto her toes to capture his mouth.
His lips sought hers in return, his kisses tender and sweet yet etched with raw need. His arms held her so tight she wasn’t sure where he ended and she began. The emotion rose up around her, so simple that tears burned behind her eyelids. She didn’t want to let him go again, didn’t want to think about what life would be like without him.
When the kiss grew strength, and his mouth slanted over hers, a thought occurred to her. She pulled back enough to meet his gaze. “Ronnie and I aren’t dating. We only had coffee. I told him I wasn’t interested in anything romantic. He said that was good because he refused to compete against you.”
His chest rumbled against her with his quiet laugh. “Somehow, I’m not surprised he noticed. Ronnie’s my eyes and ears. He doesn’t miss much.”
She frowned. “Why didn’t you offer him my job?”
“I did. He didn’t want it. Says he likes his job too much.” He leaned down, his voice lowering to a husky murmur against her lips. “Tell me you love me again.”
“I love you.” She whispered the words again and again with each tiny kiss she pressed to his lips. It floored her. Never in a million y
ears would she have thought she’d find the love of her life in him, yet it felt like the most natural extension of their relationship.
When finally she pulled back, he reached both hands up to brush her hair back from her face. “Now tell me you’ll marry me.”
Her breath caught in her throat, and she searched his eyes, finding only sincerity. “You’re serious?”
“Very.” He nodded. “I don’t want to lose you. Ever.”
Tears welled in her eyes, emotion clogging her throat. She didn’t want to lose him either. They were a family, the three of them.
She could only think of one thing to say to that, and leaned up on her tiptoes to press her lips to his. “Yes.”
He seized her mouth and kissed her long and deep and tender. Finally, after what seemed an eternity, he pulled back.
“I have to warn you.” He stared down at her, tender heat flaring in his eyes. “I’ve decided something else.”
“What’s that?”
“I want kids. Lots of them.”
She slid a hand up his chest to the back of his neck and pulled his mouth back down to hers. “I’m okay with that.”
Epilogue
“What do you suppose Janey would say about us?”
Seated between Dillon’s thighs, her head resting back against his chest, Emma stared up at the stars twinkling in the night sky and let out a blissful sigh. The snow was long gone, the heat of summer nearly oppressive during the days. They sat in the gazebo in the backyard, enjoying the cooler night air.
They’d been married for six months now. He sold his house and moved in with her. He said this house felt more like home than his parents’ estate ever had growing up and he couldn’t imagine living anywhere else with her. She didn’t think she could ever feel close to someone the way she did to him. He’d become like an extension of herself.
“Janey used to tell me she hoped you’d find someone someday who made you happy. Someone to take care of you.” His hands stilled on her swollen tummy, his voice a low hum in her ear. “Do I make you happy, Em?”
She turned her head until she met his tender gaze. “Very.”
“I’ll always take care of you.” He placed a gentle kiss to her lips. “I think it would make her happy to see us happy.”
She settled back against him, slipped her hands over his, threading their fingers. “I still miss her.”
“I’m not sure we’ll ever stop missing her.”
“I’ve decided I want to name the baby after her. Would you be okay with that?”
“I’d like that, but what if it’s a boy?”
She grinned. She knew he hoped. “Then we’ll name him after your father.”
“Told you he’d come around.”
His father had come around. When Dillon announced their engagement, the man’s fury melted. Apparently, he’d only wanted to know his children were safe and happy. She could understand that. Mr. James, of course, apologized for his harsh words, and in the end, he walked her down the aisle at their wedding.
She had a family now, a rather large and growing one, and she was happy. Deliriously, disgustingly content. The loneliness that encompassed her life became a thing of the past. All because of Dillon. He used to drive her nuts growing up, but the man he’d become completed her and she was grateful for it, for him, for Annie, for the family she now called her own.
She reached back and stroked a hand down the side of his face. “I love you.”
His lips skimmed her cheek, his voice low in her ear. “And I love you.”
~ About the Author ~
J.M. writes what she likes to call sweet and spicy contemporary romance. She's a stay-at-home mom by trade, married to her very own hero. They live in the Great Northwest with their two boys and two very spoiled puppies. J.M. has been devouring romances for as long as she can remember. Writing them has become her passion.
Find out more about J.M. Stewart here:
Website: http://jmstewart.webs.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/JMStewartWriter
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorJMStewart
Blog: http://jm-stewart.blogspot.com/
Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3159044.J_M_Stewart
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Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
