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He didn’t continue.
Rufus, however, began his typical “are you a boy or a girl” investigation. “Okay, Rufus, no. Go away, boy.”
Her dog obeyed. Lucas, however, just stood there.
Shit. A white-hot brand of fear and guilt rammed through her heart. He knew. Oh, sphincter, he knew. Maybe she should’ve told him before, but—
“I need to tell you something.”
She swallowed, her throat so dry it clacked. She wished she was wearing something other than a Tweety Bird T-shirt and a pair of boxer shorts.
“Um...want to sit down?”
“No.” He just looked at her, then rather shockingly cupped her face in his hands. “Colleen...the only thing that’s ever really been mine is you.”
God.The words hit her like a sledgehammer. A good sledgehammer. “Oh, Spaniard,” she whispered.
“When I was a kid, I only remember my mom being sick, and then my dad worked all the time, and Steph was always out with some guy. And then when I came to live with Didi and Joe—” He scrubbed a hand through his hair. “I didn’t belong there, and Didi made sure I knew it.”
“Lucas,” Colleen whispered, tears slipping out of her eyes. “I know Joe loved you.”
“He sent me out of the room tonight. At the end.”
No. No, that was just not fair.Oh, Joe, why did you do that?
“I always thought if I was...good enough, quiet enough or helpful enough, I’d earn a place, you know? But I didn’t. And then it hit me, hard...the only thing I’ve ever had that was really mine was you, Colleen. Bryce got everything handed to him, he had a home and parents who loved him and did everything for him, but once I met you, it didn’t matter. I had you. You were everything to me, and I ruined it.”
“Well...I ruined it, too,” she whispered.
“No. You were upset, and you deserved to be. I handled everything wrong. I should’ve tried harder and done better by you, and I’ve regretted it every day for the past ten years. You’re mine, Colleen, and I’ll do better this time.”
“Lucas...” she said, but it was the only word she managed to get out.
He kissed her then, and she kissed him back with everything she had, wrapped herself around him, his hot skin and Spanish eyes, and though he’d finally said everything, almost, that she wanted to hear, finally, finally, there was a cold trickle of dread slicing through the sunburst his words had caused.
But that didn’t matter, she told herself as she led him to bed, to comfort him, to show him how much she loved him. That was nothing, and this—he—was everything.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
HUNDREDSOFPEOPLEcame to Joe Campbell’s wake. He had never been a mover or shaker in this town, not the type to join the school board or be a volunteer EMT, but the man had no enemies, either.
Bryce was doing okay; heartbroken, but able to smile and shake hands. Didi was there at the head of the room, accepting condolences with her son. She had a brittle smile on her face that most people attributed to grief, rather than pissiness.
Lucas and Stephanie and the girls came next, and that was it for family. Well, aside from Ellen Forbes and her parents, and her fiancé, all sitting in the second row of chairs. Which was nice, of course. Far be it from the Forbes contingent to do anything other than what Emily Post recommended.Should we all attend the wake of my ex-husband’s uncle?
But of course! Especially if you’re on good terms.
Which Ellen and Lucas certainly were.
As if reading her mind, Lucas looked over to her and smiled.
He loved her. Still hadn’t said the three magic words, but please. That was just a technicality. And good God, she loved him back.
“Hey, beautiful,” said Gerard, giving her a hug so mighty that he picked her up. “Have I thanked you for fixing me up with Lorelei? That woman can bake, let me tell you.”
“Well, so can Norine Pletts, so if things don’t work out with Lorelei, you can try her. Seventy-one years young.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Gerard said.
