by Rose Lange
Just like that.
Finally when her tears subsided, she finished her task and turned out the light. Blowing out the candles at the kitchen table, she made her way to her bedroom when she heard a car pull into the driveway. She frowned, although at the same time her stomach did a somersault. Go figure, she was angry with him, but her body was thrilled at the thought of seeing him.
Going to the door, she opened it, and he was coming up the stairs looking haggard and tired. But she wasn’t about to lose her bravado.
“Hi, Annabelle.” He smiled as he approached her. But it was a weak smile, as though the day had taken its toll on him.
Annabelle sucked in a breath when he reached her and wrapped his arms around her waist. She looked into his eyes and lost all train of thought. Her anger dissolved and she felt only passion and desire. He didn’t say a word as he gazed into her eyes, into her face, as though she was the only woman he could see. Her bones melted from his scorching hot gaze, his lips so close to her mouth she was tempted to put her arms around his neck and pull those lips to hers.
She shook her head. Damn it, she’d gotten carried away without even realizing it, and so quickly.
Annabelle pushed him away, angry with herself for getting carried away in the first place. “You have a hell of a lot of nerve.”
“What are you talking about, babe?”
“Don’t babe me.”
Annabelle stepped aside to let him pass, when what she really wanted to do was toss him out on his ass. Slamming the door behind her, and knowing she had to put distance between them, she took refuge behind the sofa.
Turning to face him, she noticed as he appreciatively assessed her figure, raising his brows. “You look great.”
“Thank you,” she said automatically. Then she huffed, “You stood me up and now you’re here to what, give me some bullshit excuse?” Her tone came out sharp but she didn’t care.
“Annabelle, I can explain.”
She waved a hand in the air, as if telling him to proceed. “Okay, I’m listening.”
“Woman, you are so stubborn and pig-headed. Don’t you ever watch the news? Two of my men were seriously injured today.” His voice tired.
That took all the wind out of her sails. Her jaw dropped, and she wished she could crawl under the nearest rock and hide. Here she was complaining and angry, when he, and not to mention his men, had been in a life and death situation. And Kade had had to shoulder most of the burden.
“Oh my God,” she whispered.
“They’re in the hospital and in critical condition. So by the time I finished the paperwork, and seeing them in the hospital, I wasn’t able to call you. And as usual you fly off the handle, and assume the worst.” He shook his head, putting his hands on his hips.
Annabelle lowered her eyes, unable to meet his annoyed gaze. Uncrossing her arms, she backed up against the sofa for support. Then nearly fell back when he came closer, their bodies so close, they were chest to chest.
Gently, without saying a word, he tipped up her chin, and forced her to look into his incredible eyes.
“What is it, Annabelle? What’s on your mind?” His tone came out softly and right against her waiting lips.
Her mouth was parched, and in need of oxygen. For a moment she wasn’t able to speak.
“I just wanted to make you dinner and have a talk. But I’m not so very hungry right now.” Her voice nearly giving out on her.
It never ceased to amaze her that after all this time, them being forced to live in this cabin, that her heart still skipped a beat when he was close. That her mouth was unable to formulate even one word when he was near her, and that her body craved his touch as though they’d just met.
“Neither am I.” Just before he captured her mouth in a soft kiss.
And after weeks without contact she slid her arms around his neck and eagerly kissed him back. Her heart thumped loudly as though wild horses raced in her chest. His warm body pressed up against her, and sent shock waves of desire throughout her entire being. Every nerve ending was hyper aware of him. The way he smelled, of Old Spice aftershave, and how soft and wavy his hair was beneath her fingers. She couldn’t help but be swept up in his kiss, but she couldn’t lose sight of why she wanted him here. So she reluctantly pulled away, stepping out of his reach. Because it was the only way she could say what she had to say. She needed the space to finally say what was on her mind, and in her heart.
He frowned.
She gently put up a hand in protest, seeing the questions in his eyes and took a deep breath.
“I wanted to tell you this over a romantic candle-lit dinner, but this will have to do.” Taking a deep breath, she began, “Being here with you these last few months, I’ll admit have been crazy but amazing. And at first, I wasn’t sure if I could really handle it. Then one day it hit me and I realized that I never stopped loving you. Never stopped wanting you.” She finished, not sure if she could keep the tears at bay.
Kade stepped toward her, closing the space between them. He placed his hands on her cheeks, and gently brushed the tears away. He didn’t say anything, but merely stood there and studied her. My goodness how she wished she could read minds. His silence was unnerving.
“Would you please say something? Your silence is killing me.”
She looked up in his handsome face and couldn’t help the smile that spread across her face. “You know I never could think straight when you come close to me.”
Kade grinned wickedly. “I know that, sweetheart, why do you think I do it?”
She smiled wide. “I love you, Kade, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I’m done hiding from the ghosts of my past, and allowing them to dictate my future, our future, together.”
He put his arms around her, resting his forehead on hers. “I love you too, Annabelle. I never stopped loving you.”
Her heart skipped several beats in her chest, and did a somersault. In her heart and in her mind, she was content and at peace. Even though he didn’t say anything more, his body spoke volumes. In the way he held her, like a porcelain doll.
“So, when do you want to get married?” she asked.
He smiled. “How about right now.”
Epilogue
Two Years Later
Annabelle reveled in the warmth of the hot July sun, glancing up at the blue sky as she combed out her daughter’s light red curls. She parted her daughter’s hair, putting each section in cute pigtails. They were sitting outside and had just finished having a picnic, waiting for Kade to arrive home from work.
She sat at attention as she heard his tires on the gravel, and smiled with anticipation.
“Gracie, guess who’s here?” she whispered in her daughter’s ear.
“Daddy?” Her little girl looked up at her, the smile that was so much like Kade’s beaming back at her.
“Why don’t you go get him?”
Annabelle set down the comb, and started waddling toward the back door. Trying to catch up with her, as she grasped her large and still growing belly with both hands. She smiled as she saw father and daughter hugging, as they greeted one another, and her heart swelled to twice its size at the sweet sight.
“How’s my little girl?” Kade asked, kissing her and holding her close.
“Fine, Daddy.” She kissed him on the cheek, and put her arms around his neck.
“Where’s Mommy?”
Annabelle finally made it to the pair, the child’s stubby finger pointing at her.
He came closer, and she thanked God that he’d spared her having to walk any further.
She smiled. “Hi.”
“Hi yourself.” He kissed her soundly on the lips.
He put his hand to her stomach, lovingly stroking her watermelon-sized belly. “How’s littl
e Michael doing?”
She let out a deep breath. “Just fine, and very active today.”
Annabelle watched as he put Gracie Victoria down and she scampered off into the yard, going to play in the sand box Kade and his dad had built. Her curls bouncing and gleaming in the sun, as she made herself at home and began creating a sloppy mini sand castle.
Annabelle looked up at Kade, and he was looking at her as if he wanted to devour her whole. His eyes heavy lidded with desire, speaking volumes as they grazed over her. Which after all this time, and two children, it never ceased to amaze her.
“What are you looking at?” She laughed, for she already knew the answer.
“At the most beautiful woman in the world, of course,” he whispered, nuzzling her neck.
She motioned to her belly. “Kade, the baby.”
“That’s never stopped us before. The doctor said it’s perfectly safe to have sex.” He held a wicked gleam in his eyes.
“Well, do you think your dad could take Gracie for the evening?” Already feeling light-headed from his nearness.
He chuckled. “I’m sure he wouldn’t mind spending more time with his granddaughter.”
Annabelle smirked, as her lips found his. “Then let the games begin.”
