"I could never hate you, Calla." He stroked warm fingers against her cheek, pushing her hair back from her face. "'Twaspainful, I admit, but I never hated you. Nay, indeed, you stole my heart that first night we shared almost seven years ago. I just didn't know it at the time. I looked for you. I thought of you often."
Tears burned her eyes. "You stole my heart, too," she whispered. "And I'm sorry I used you."
"No more apologies for that. I understand why you did it. Damnation, I hate thinking of you living with that beast, Stanbury, all those years."
"He didn't touch me again after I was with child.'Tisyou I must thank for that."
"I'm glad I helped, then. And I'm thankful you picked me that night."
She marveled at his words. "Are you truly?"
"Of course. You're the only one for me, the only woman on earth I would want to marry."
Joy reverberated through her, making her heart thump harder. "You're the only man I've ever loved. I cannot believe I'm here with you now," she whispered, breathing in the sensual scent of his skin. "How did I become so fortunate?"
"I'm the one who's fortunate. You're a remarkable mother. And Jamie—he is amazing. So bright and handsome."
She smiled. "He takes after his father."
He gave her a quick kiss. "I thank you. Tell me what I missed."
"What do you mean?"
"Of Jamie's younger years, when he was a weebairn."
"Oh." Calla's eyes burned when she realized how much Rebbie had missed and how badly he now wanted to learn about his son. "Well, he was a sweet babe. Not too fussy. Always smiling.'Twassome of the happiest times of my life. I spent each day with him. I would rock him and look into his adorable face and… realize how blessed I was. I would thank God, and I would thank you. If not for you, I couldn't have had him."
Rebbie stroked his thumb by the corner of her eye, wiping away the tear.
"When he was older, he loved naught better than going outside and seeing the horses. He wanted to pet them and feed them apples."
Rebbie snickered. "He must get that from me."
She nodded, realizing just how alike the two of them were, and she was certain her son would one day grow up to be an amazing man much like Rebbie. "Sometimes, when we visited the horses, I would think of you. I would wonder where you were and wish you could be there with us. Then, I would realize how daft and impossible that was. I'd only known you for one night, but in some ways, I felt I knew you deep down. As if we were kindred spirits.'Twasclear you were a good man. And now that I know you much better… I was right. We understood each other on that first night."
"Aye, we did," he whispered. "We needed each other, we just didn't know how much. We were so young, too, aye?"
She nodded.
"Too young to realize such things."
"And now, destiny has brought us together at the right time," she said.
"Aye." He kissed her forehead, and she slid her hand around his neck into his hair, bringing his mouth to hers. His kiss tasted of warm, peaty whisky and Rebbie. Like heaven to her.
While he slowly and gently kissed her, he untied her smock. Her skin tingled in anticipation.
Abruptly, he drew away. "I don't wish to hurt you."
"You won't. After what I went through today, I need you," she whispered.
Though she couldn't see his expression, she sensed his flash of anger toward Claybourne.
"Aye. You must not think of that." Rebbie kissed her again and all thoughts but him left her head. Moments later, he helped her slip the smock from her body, then lay cradled between her thighs. There was nothing more delicious than lying naked with Rebbie, his hot skin brushing against hers.
Epilogue
One month later
