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As soon as the words were out of his mouth he knew it was true. But, even more importantly, another realisation was forming. It was as if the storm clouds in his head were clearing—leaving the truth standing bold and undaunted in his mind.
‘I love you,’ he said, his voice full of confidence and amazement at the same time.
Kerry stared at him in shock.
The thread of his conversation had already been disconcerting. She’d never expected to hear Theo admit that he had been controlling. And now to hear him tell her that he loved her was just too much to take in.
‘I’m sorry,’ Theo said, lifting his hand and cupping her cheek gently. ‘I shouldn’t have just come out with that—it wasn’t fair of me.’
Kerry frowned, gazing at him in confusion. He was being kind to her. He’d said he loved her. But after everything that had happened between them—after their argument the night before—how could he be telling the truth? And why had he just apologised for saying he loved her? Nothing made sense.
‘When I first met you I was drawn to your beauty,’ Theo said, slipping his fingers beneath her wet hair to caress the nape of her neck. ‘Then I discovered what a gentle, sweet-natured person you are. I think I started to fall in love with the woman I believed you to be—but I wasn’t prepared for what happened next.’
‘I let you down.’ The words caught in Kerry’s throat as she thought about the terrible thing she had done. It wasn’t surprising Theo had realised the mistake he’d made in sharing his life with her.
‘No—I let you down.’ Theo’s voice was deep and resonant, and Kerry stared at his handsome face, transfixed. ‘I wasn’t prepared to realise that you were not just the beautiful, angelic creature I imagined you to be.’ He paused. ‘You are so much more than that—more than I ever deserved.’
‘I…I don’t understand,’ Kerry stammered, finding it impossible to make sense of what he was saying.
‘I controlled everything and everyone that came into my orbit,’ Theo said. ‘That was how I liked it—or so I thought—but I was so focussed on taking command that I never realised I was standing still.’
He drew her close and locked his eyes with hers, so that she could see the naked truth illuminated in their depths.
‘But then you and Lucas exploded into my life—setting my cold, unchanging world in motion,’ he said. ‘I never knew what I’d been missing until I realised what you’d given me.’
Kerry stared at him, feeling her heart start to patter inside her. A warm feeling was spreading slowly through her body—but still she hardly dared to hope. What he was saying seemed too incredible to be true.
‘I love you, Kerry,’ Theo said.
Suddenly the pure, simple truth of his words wrapped around Kerry’s heart like a tender embrace. She knew he meant what he said—and at that moment all her doubts disappeared.
‘I love you too,’ she said, her voice quavering with intense feeling.
She saw a flash of emotion pass across his face, but then he frowned, shaking his head in denial.
‘How can you, after the way I’ve treated you?’ Theo said. ‘I’ve made you so unhappy.’
‘It was partly my fault,’ Kerry said. ‘I was wrong not to tell you about Lucas. I should never have kept him a secret from you for so long.’
‘But I’d thrown you out,’ Theo said. ‘It’s no wonder you didn’t contact me. I’d never done anything to make you feel it was safe to confide in me, or to ask me for help.’
Kerry hesitated, suddenly feeling unsure of herself. Growing up unwanted in her grandmother’s house, she’d learnt not to ask for anything, never to expect too much. It had been the best defence against inevitable disappointment. But Theo wasn’t like her grandmother. He’d been generous from the day she’d met him—and he’d never given her reason to doubt his willingness to help.
‘I should have had more faith in you—and in myself,’ Kerry said. ‘Right from the start I never wanted to make myself vulnerable by asking for anything—but now I realise I was shutting you out.’
‘Knowing you didn’t want me hurt my pride,’ Theo admitted, a wry smile playing on his lips.
‘But I did want you—I always wanted you,’ Kerry said. ‘I was afraid of you rejecting me.’
She gazed into his eyes, feeling the love inside her growing, knowing it was real. This magical moment with Theo was real.
‘I love you,’ she said. ‘I’ve always loved you.’
Suddenly his lips found hers, and he kissed her in the gentlest, mos
t tender way she could imagine. She felt her happiness growing alongside the blossoming love she felt for him.
‘We’ve wasted so much time,’ Theo said, drawing back and looking down at her, his eyes burning with emotion.
