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He shook his head. “No. She miscarried.”
Carly winced and Stone had to take a deep, steadying breath to be able to continue.
“I wanted to help her, Carly. I really did. I could see she was struggling with her pregnancy and the changes to her life. But she kept pushing me away because she knew I didn’t love her. She says I willed her to have a miscarriage because I didn’t want a wife and child.”
Carly’s eyes were wide, her jaw slack, her expression one of shock. “Oh.”
“Yeah, oh. She was already battling depression and the miscarriage compounded everything.” He sucked in another deep breath. “She refused everything I tried to do. I could see how bad things were for her, but she blamed me for her problems and wouldn’t let me in.”
“Like what I did, even though it was my fault for not nipping our attraction in the bud,” Carly mused, pacing across the room as she tried to work through the things he was telling her. “I really am sorry, Stone.”
What had happened with Carly was nothing like what had happened with Stephanie. It had taken him a while and overhearing her conversation with Rosalyn to realize that. But he had realized it.
“When Stephanie divorced me…” He shrugged. “I felt I’d failed her, that I hadn’t been able to help her and was guilty. I married her because I wanted to make her life better and I just ended up making everything worse. Just as I wanted to make things better for you, but ended up making things worse. I didn’t plan to ever marry again, Carly, but you need me.”
“Don’t,” she stopped him, shaking her head emphatically back and forth from where she stood across the room. “Don’t offer to marry me to solve my problems. It’s what you did with her, why your marriage fell apart, because it was for all the wrong reasons. Don’t make the same mistake twice.”
“That’s not what I was going to do.”
“Isn’t it?” she challenged. “You’re a good man. A man who has a big heart and wants to help those in need. It’s what makes you such a great surgeon. But I don’t need you playing the role of superhero in my life. I really can manage okay on my own.”
“I know you can, Carly.” She could do anything she set her mind to. She truly was the strongest woman he’d ever met. “But haven’t you heard a thing I’ve said? I want it all. The good, the bad, I’ll take it all if it means having you.”
Carly’s lower lip disappeared between her teeth at the same time as fresh tears streamed down her face. “I can’t let you do that.”
“Can’t let me be with the person I want to be with?”
She began pacing again, still shaking her head. “You have no idea what you’re offering to take on, the cost, the emotional and physical burden.”
“I’m a doctor, Carly. I have some idea.” He crossed to where she stood, took her hand into his, and dropped to one knee. “Marry me, Carly. I’ve been lost without you. Say yes, quit the insurance job.” He shrugged. “Quit both jobs and stay with your mother, and let me take care of both of you.”
She didn’t answer him, just cupped his face with her free hand and asked, “Why would you want to do that?”
“Why?” He laughed self-derisively. “Because I love you.”
* * *
Carly’s body lifted with joy at Stone’s words. He loved her. How could that even be?
Yet even as excitement filled her she quelled it and closed her eyes.
“Saying yes would be taking advantage of how wonderful you are. How can I do that and not feel guilty?”
“Taking care of you would make me happier than you can imagine.”
“You won’t leave me?” she asked, not quite able to believe what was happening.
“Never.”
She stared at him for long moments, saw the truth in his eyes. There were so many unknowns in life, so many things that could change in the blink of an eye. Anything worth having came with risks.
Love came with risks.
Looking into Stone’s eyes, holding tightly onto his hand, trusting in him, didn’t feel risky.
It felt right.
“I love you, Stone.”
“That’s why I’m here. Once I set my wounded pride aside, it didn’t take much for me to realize you had strong feelings for me. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have risked everything to be with me.”
“I think I loved you from the moment we met.”
“You going to answer my question?”
She smiled, caressed his face, and nodded. “Yes.”
“A-about t-time.”
Both Carly and Stone spun toward the bed.
