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‘You were hurting. And you were right. I was acting out of guilt.’
‘No. You were doing whatever it took for you to move on—whereas I let one stumbling block shatter me. I resented you for that.’
‘The blows you were dealt were enough to knock anyone sideways.’
‘But I let it colour my judgement. I told myself I had recovered, that I didn’t care, but I did. Do you know that until you came to León I hadn’t entered that garage in over ten years? You opened my eyes to what a barren life I’d led until then.’
‘Look at the letter, Marco.’
He inhaled sharply and stood. ‘No. If you’re going to condemn me I’d rather hear it from you.’
‘You might want to sit down.’
He stuffed his fingers into his coat pockets, but not before she caught the trembling of his hands.
‘Just tell me.’
‘Fine. But if you faint from shock don’t expect me to help you. You’re too big—’
When he made an incoherent sound racked with pain, she unfolded the paper.
Anxiety coursed through her. He’d said he loved her, but what if Marco truly didn’t want another child? What if the loss of his unborn child had been too great a pain for him ever to move on from?
‘Sasha, por favor.’
‘That’s the second time you’ve said please in the last five minutes,’ she whispered.
When his eyes grew dark, she read aloud. ‘“Marco, you were an ass for hanging up on me but I think you should know—”’ She looked up from the sheet. ‘“You’re going to become a father.”’
For a full minute he didn’t move. Didn’t breathe, didn’t blink. Then he stumbled into the chair. His hands visibly shook when he reached out and cupped her cheek. ‘Sasha. Please tell me this isn’t a dream,’ he rasped.
‘This isn’t a dream. I’m pregnant with your child.’
A look of complete reverence settled over his face before his eyes dropped to her still-flat stomach.
‘Are you okay? Is everything all right?’ he demanded.
‘You mean with the baby?’
‘With both of you.’
‘Yes. I saw the doctor. Everything is fine. Does that mean you want the baby?’
‘Mi corazón, you’ve given me a second chance I never would’ve been brave enough to take on my own. I may have burned my bridges with you, but, yes, I want this baby.’ His eyes dropped to her stomach, and lingered. ‘Por favor, can I touch?’
Sweet surprise rocked through her. ‘You want to touch my belly?’
‘If you’ll allow me?’
‘You know the baby isn’t any larger than your thumb right now, don’t you?’
‘Sí, but my heart wants what it wants. Please?’
Renewed tears clogged her throat as she nodded and unbuttoned her jeans.
Warm fingers caressed her belly. Watching his face, she felt the breath snag in her chest at the sheer joy exhibited there. Then his eyes locked on hers and his fingers slid under her sweater, heating her bare flesh.
Her heart kicked, the fierce love she felt for this man and for her baby making her throat clog with tears. Reluctantly she withdrew from his seductive warmth. ‘Marco, I haven’t finished reading the letter.’
A look of uncertainty entered his eyes. ‘I know what a hard bargain you can drive. Is there any room for negotiation?’
‘You need to hear what’s in it first.’
He gave a reluctant nod, his joy fading a little.
‘“If it’s a boy I would like to name him after my father. One of his names, at least.”’
A quick nod met her request. ‘It will be so.’
‘“I want our child to be born in Spain. Preferably in León.”’
He swallowed hard. ‘Agreed.’
She looked up from the paper. ‘“I’d like to stay there after the baby’s born. With you.”’
His eyes widened and he stopped breathing. ‘You want to stay in León? With me?’
Her heart in her throat, she nodded. ‘Our child deserves two parents who don’t live in separate countries.’
Disappointment fleeted over his face. ‘You’re right.’
‘Our child also deserves parents who love each other.’
Pain darkened his eyes. ‘I intend to do everything in my power to earn your love again, Sasha.’
She shrugged, her heart in her throat. ‘You’ll need to focus your energies on other things, Marco. Because I love you.’
He sucked in a breath. ‘You...love me...?’
‘Yes,’ she reiterated simply. ‘I knew in León, even though I’d convinced myself it wouldn’t work.’
