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She was grateful beyond measure, but the tears weren’t just out of gratitude. Callie had a good reason to feel an extra dose of anguish today. A private reason of her own …
She closed her eyes. She missed Eduardo so much. His handsome face. His glowing dark eyes. And his voice. She could almost hear it now, rough with an edge of Spanish accent.
“Where’s my wife? Where is she, damn you?” The man’s voice echoed down the hallways of the small hospital. “I want to see her now!”
She knew that voice. She still dreamed about it every night. Slowly Callie turned.
And saw Eduardo arguing at the nurses’ station down the hall. His black hair was rumpled, and so was his suit. She’d never seen him so disheveled before, so completely out-of-place, so handsome and powerful and everything she’d ever wanted.
“Eduardo,” she choked out.
At the end of the hall, he turned and saw her. With a sob, she started toward him at a run, in the same instant he started running for her.
They fell into each other’s arms, and it was only when Callie actually felt him, strong and solid beneath her hands, that she knew for sure it wasn’t a dream. She felt his protective, steadying arms around her and all the fear and shock of the last twenty-four hours fell away. She no longer had to be strong for her family. She burst into tears.
“Callie, Callie,” he whispered fervently, kissing her forehead. “You’re all right. Thank God, you’re all right.”
Pulling back, he looked down at her, his eyes glistening suspiciously in the hospital’s fluorescent lights. Then he wrapped his powerful arms around her tightly, holding her as if he never wanted to let her go. Callie exhaled for the first time in two months, weeping with the joy of being again in his arms.
“You’re safe,” he breathed, stroking her hair as she pressed her face against his chest. “Safe.”
Wiping her eyes, she looked at him in confusion. “But what are you even doing here? I thought you were in New York?”
“Would you believe me if I said I was in the neighborhood?”
She smiled weakly.
“I, um, brought you some flowers and candy.” Looking around, he cursed softly. “They are here somewhere …”
“Oh. Right.” Her heart dropped. With all the worry about her sister’s accident, she’d forgotten his week started today. She said dully, “You’re here for Marisol.”
Eduardo stared at her, his dark eyes infinite and deep as the ocean. “I’m here for you.” He took her hands in his own. “Come back to me, Callie. Give me one more chance.”
“What?” she breathed.
“Be my wife. Let me be your partner, by your side. Let me spend the rest of my life loving you. And striving to deserve your love in return.”
Her voice caught in her throat. “I …”
He gave her an unsteady smile. “I’m too late, aren’t I?”
“Too late?”
He looked past her ear. “You’ve moved on.”
Turning around, she saw Brandon peeking out of her sister’s door, his face questioning before he ducked back. Frowning, Callie turned back at Eduardo. “What are you talking about?”
“The girl at the car rental counter told me about your accident. She also told me that you’re engaged. You and Brandon.” His eyes were bleak as he tried to smile. “I guess I should offer my congratulations.”
Callie nearly staggered back with shock.
“You don’t know,” she whispered. Sudden rising joy filled her heart, choking her with hope. “The engagement announcement was on my mom’s web page days ago. It was even in the newspaper this morning. But you don’t know.”
Eduardo shook his head, his jaw tight, his eyes forlorn. “I fired my investigator two months ago. Told my lawyers not to talk about you. I even threw away my phone.”
“Your phone?”
“I was mad at it.” He gave her a small smile. “I still do some stupid things. But my therapist says there’s hope …”
