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Gutsy. Her vision blurred, hot tears springing to her eyes. Take that, Jack Nieman.
A knock sounded on the front door. She snatched up a tissue, thinking Beth must have buried her keys in her purse again, and went to open the door. A glance through the peephole made her heart leap in her chest.
She took a deep breath, wiped the tears from her eyes and forced her galloping heart to slow. Then she swung the door open. Her husband stood on the doorstep still dressed in the charcoal-gray suit he’d worn to the press conference. Battle weary and disheveled, he was still the only man who could make her heart race with a single look.
His gaze scored her face. “What’s wrong?”
“Other than the fact that you gave me an ultimatum on the job of a lifetime and told me we’re over?”
He grimaced and ran a palm over his face, sinking his fingers into the deep lines furrowing his brow. “I was out of my mind Friday night. I spoke rashly.”
Rashly. She drew in a jagged breath. “I came today because I love you, Coburn. Because I said I wouldn’t be the one to walk away this time. But you have to give, too. That’s how this works.”
“I know.” His brilliant blue eyes glittered as he focused them on her. “I was a Neanderthal. But my head is clear now. Give me a chance to make this right.”
Her fingers curled tightly, her nails biting into her palms. Every nerve, every muscle, every tendon in her body craved him so badly, missed him so badly, she ached with it. She had waited for him to come to her all weekend, and when he hadn’t it had nearly broken her heart. But she wouldn’t, couldn’t allow herself to give in to him until he proved he could meet her halfway.
“All right.” She stepped back to let him in.
He shook his head. “Not here. Get your coat.”
Thinking maybe it was better Beth didn’t walk in on them, she retrieved her coat and purse from the front closet and followed Coburn down to the car parked on the street. The Jag purred noiselessly through the night until they reached Chelsea. When they passed the street the penthouse was on, she darted a glance at Coburn. “Aren’t we going home?”
“We are.” He threw her an impassive look in the dark confines of the car. “To our new home.”
Her breath caught in her throat. “The town house is ready?”
“They finished the renovations on Friday.”
She sunk her teeth into her lip. She wasn’t sure she was emotionally ready to see her new home, not with such a big issue lying unresolved between her and Coburn. On the other hand, it was the place where they had no history together. None of their demons were present. They would choose their future there.
They pulled up in front of the town house. Lights blazed from the windows, casting the elegant Italian marble facade in a warm glow. Diana looked over at Coburn. “Were you here earlier?”
“Frankie was.”
He escorted her into their new home, his big hand splayed against her back. An elegant, granite-floored foyer greeted them, the first impression of the character-filled historic home she had fallen instantly in love with. Coburn wrapped his fingers around hers and led her into the living room she’d insisted be done in rich dark woods to give it the warmth it needed. Her breath caught in her throat as she gazed around her. Hundreds of candles were the source of the light they’d seen from the street, glowing from every surface in the elegantly wainscoted room. Stunning bouquets of red roses filled the spaces the candles didn’t, blanketing the air with a heavenly sweet smell.
Her pulse fluttered, then took off at a gallop. She turned to look at Coburn, but he was dropping her hand, shrugging off his jacket and loosening his tie. The tight look on his fatigued, dark-shadowed face threw her completely. Was he nervous?
He came to stand in front of her, reaching for her hands. She stepped back. “I think this conversation needs to be done without you touching me.”
His eyes flashed. A rueful expression passed over his face as he shoved his hands into his pockets. “Fair enough.” His gaze caught and held hers. “It meant everything to have you there today, Diana. I could not have done what I did without you. Every time I wanted to backtrack, to take the easier path, you were there forcing me to follow my heart.”
Her chest tightened. “You did it. All I did was remind you why you were doing it. You are so busy bristling at the comparisons everyone is making between you and Harrison, between you and your father, you don’t see what I see, Coburn. What the world sees. A man unafraid to do the right thing despite the enormous pressure on him to do the opposite. A man who has not only stopped running, but who has surpassed his legacy.”
