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He swore and looked away, his body tense, his hands fisted at his sides. “This is not… Jesus, Honey I didn’t expect this.”
“Don’t take her from me. Please, Nash. I’ll look after her, I promise. I’ll make sure she’s loved and never needs for anything. I can do this. I can be a family for her. I’m not my mother. I will put her above everything else.” Her voice caught, but she charged on. “I’ve saved money, and I have a job and a home, and she’ll…she’ll have me and…” She gulped in air and tried to calm herself. “And she can have you too. I’ll do whatever you want, just please don’t take away my baby.”
Honey bowed her head and tried to get her shit together. Never had she lost it like this before. But then she’d never had so much at stake.
When Nash spoke, she jumped and looked up. “You never answered my question.” Nash moved until he was inches from her. She tried to avoid his gaze, but he grabbed her chin and forced her to look up at him.
“What question?” she whispered, her heart hammering so hard, she was sure he heard it.
“Do you love me?” He spoke slowly, clearly, and never took his eyes off her.
“Nash…” She licked her dry lips and shook her head.
“Answer the fucking question, Honey. No more lies. Just the truth. Do you love me?”
She felt as if her heart and mind were exposed. As if the entire world was pressing in on her and she had nowhere to hide. As if she was on the edge of a cliff waiting to jump off. “Yes, Nash. I love you.”
“Do you forgive me for the shit I put you through?”
“Do I forgive…” Surprised, she didn’t know how to answer. “You had every right to be angry with me. I know how things looked. I know what I was. What I did.”
His hand slid along her jaw. “Do you forgive me for hurting you? I need to know. Because if not, we’ve got some stuff to work on.”
She thought of those first few months after she’d left Crystal Lake. How many nights had she cried herself to sleep? She hadn’t wanted to blame him for her pain, but there were times she did. The darkest times when it was three in the morning, and she was alone. “Yes.”
“Please tell me you don’t believe I’m the kind of man who would rip a child away from her mother.”
As she looked up into his face, Honey realized how wrong she’d been. She’d been protecting herself—protecting her heart. “No,” she answered carefully. “I don’t believe that. I just… I’ve never reached the finish line before. Never won the race. I was afraid because I’ve never in my life had what I wanted. Happiness. Family. And it was there, right in my hands, and I screwed it up.”
Nash was quiet for a few seconds, and when he spoke, his voice was so gentle, it made her soul weep.
“You don’t have to look anymore, Honey. You’re done with that.” He cupped both sides of her face. “I am your family. Got that? You. Me.” His hand slid down her body, and she cried out when she felt his large palm on her belly. “This baby. We’re a family now, and nothing will break us apart.”
He bent closer, his breath a warm whisper against her ear. “Nothing.”
Honey’s knees gave out, and she sagged against him. She couldn’t help it. Everything inside her had to come out. She sobbed into his chest as her body shuddered and her teeth chattered. Nash picked her up into his arms and made his way inside her home. He sat down on the small sofa and held her until she had no more tears left. Until she was spent, pliant as rubber band. Until the warmth from his body seeped into hers, and the sound of his heart had hers singing.
Stinker curled up beside them on the sofa, her tail wagging like crazy, her dark eyes twitchy as she watched them curiously.
Nash moved slightly, and Honey looked into his eyes, for the first time with no fear, and her heart swelled. All she saw was love. Acceptance. And, maybe, excitement?
“So,” he murmured, his hand sliding along her belly once more. “A girl?”
“I’m not sure, actually.” Her voice was scratchy, and she worked to clear the frog from the back of her throat. “I just have a feeling it’s a girl.”
The baby kicked, and Nash jerked, his eyes wide with wonder.
Every bone in Honey’s body relaxed, and she placed her palm on his hand. “She must know her daddy is here.”
“I like the sound of that.” Nash swooped down, and his mouth claimed hers in a sweet, searching kiss. When he finally dragged his lips from hers, his face was serious.
“You should know that John is sick again. Cancer this time. He’s home and medicated, but they don’t give him much time. He’s actually lasted longer than they thought.” Nash tucked a piece of hair behind her ears. “He wants to see you. To have a chance to make things right. You said in your letter that you forgave him. I think he’s holding on, hoping to hear the words from you.”
She yanked her head up. “He knows about me?”
“Hudson told him. He figured it out the day after the gala when we went to your apartment. H
e’s been with me the whole way, trying to find you. He’s sick about this and feels responsible for turning you away from the family.”
