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"I—I don't understand. Why are you suddenly angry?"
He stopped and turned to face her. Moonlight illuminated her feminine features, the line of her cheek, her full mouth. God, he didn't want to still care about her. He didn't want to be trapped by a love that would never be returned.
"You must be happy," he said, trying to keep the bitterness from his voice. "How convenient that your husband has at last become respectable. Now it's safe to be married tome."
"What are you saying?"
"The truth, Megan. It's all right to tell it to me. We're old friends. I guess I know you better than anyone. I know how much your reputation matters."
She flinched. "Is that what you think of me?" Her eyes filled with tears. "That I've been waiting for the town to pass judgment before I sanction this marriage?"
"Don't worry. I won't walk out on you." He couldn't, damn it all to hell. Even if he wanted to.
"Oh, Justin, I suppose I know why you think that, but you're wrong. I care about you very much."
The pain was worse than he'd remembered, he thought, wondering how he managed to stay upright. She placed her hand on his chest. It burned, not with the heat of passion
but with the fire of betrayal. He couldn't stand it anymore. Couldn't stand to be with her and know what would never be.
"Caring isn't enough," he said, stepping away from her. "Damn you, woman, how dare you tell me you care? As if I'm some maiden aunt you're going to tend m her dotage. I love you, Megan. I've always loved you."
She caught her breath. "Justin?" Her hand reached out toward him.
"No!" He moved back farther. "No more lies. No more pretense. No more betrayal."
"Justin, don't go."
The words were a whisper, but they came too late. He turned from her and disappeared into the night.
"But why isn't Justin here?" Bonnie asked, her voice plaintive.
"I told you, sweetie, he had to go back to his office. He'll be here in the morning, when you wake up." At least she prayed Justin would return.
"Promise?"
Megan bent forward and kissed the girl's cheek. "Yes. Now go to sleep. It's very late."
Bonnie snuggled under the quilt, her small world having been made right by a promise she believed. The trusting innocence jabbed at Megan's heart like a pinprick. As she rose to her feet and carried the lantern out of the room, she hoped she wasn't going to disappoint the child, come morning. Justin had to come back. For both of them.
At the top of the stairs, she hesitated, wondering if she should go down to the parlor and wait for him. She stared into the shadows below, then turned toward her bedroom. She trusted him to come home to his family. He wouldn't leave Landing without telling her.
She entered her room and closed the door behind her. Instead of starting to get undressed, she sat on the edge of hei bed and stared toward the open window. She could hear the sounds of the night and inhale the fresh fragrance of spring. Soon the first shoots from her vegetable garden would be making their appearance. She set the lantern on the night-
stand beside her bed, then lowered the wick until the room was plunged in darkness.
He loved her. Her eyes closed and she held the feeling of gladness close to her heart. He loved her. He said he'd always loved her. For the seven years he been gone and even before that. Justin had loved her. He loved her still.
Megan felt the tears on her cheeks. She didn't brush them away. She didn't want to. These were happy tears, joyful tears. Until he'd spoken the words, she hadn't known how long she'd been waiting to hear them, not wanting to admit her need, fearing she could never have that which she most desired. Until he'd said the words, she hadn't realized how much she still loved him.
She smiled, then laughed aloud and fell back on the bed.
"He loves me," she whispered. "Me! Justin Kincaid loves me.
She felt positively giddy at the realization. They could make it work now, she knew. Justin was the most honest, decent man she knew. He wouldn't he about something that important. She could trust his feelings and him. His proposal of marriage had been the act of an honorable man, as was the way he always stood by her. Of course, there were problems to work out. The whole issue of their past. But if he loved her, he must forgive her. She laughed again, overwhelmed by joy and relief. At last they were together. In her heart, she knew she'd been waiting for him to come back to her.
