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Even though her heart was broken she had begun to turn a profit. The postcards and prints were selling like crazy thanks to the bucolic scenery in Rainbow Springs, and a few other businesses wanted to start selling her postcards. Business was looking good and in a few weeks she would have her grand re-opening. “I haven’t heard from him since the night before I left.”
“What! You didn’t call or leave a note that you were leaving?”
“There was no need Soph. I’d served my purpose and if I wasn’t sure if that was true, his radio silence confirmed it.” She didn’t tell Sophie it took ten days of silence before she realized it, and that’s when her heart officially broke. Now she spent her time taking photos inside the studio and out and getting over her ill-advised love for Kade Steele.
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” Sophie pointed to the angry green eyed man standing behind her.
She turned to Kade. “What are you doing here?”
His green eyes were dark with anger. “I was driving by and imagine my surprise at finding a giant photo of me—shirtless—in the window for all to see. Didn’t waste much time at all, did you?”
Was he for real? “Well Kade since you got what you wanted and you seemed to have forgotten about the photos I needed. I had to use what I had.” She refused to back down. She might love him but she would not take crap from him.
“You’re right. I’m sorry.” His fingers raked through his hair. “But you could have gotten your photos you know, if you hadn’t left.”
“Why would I stay? You didn’t need me anymore Kade.”
“I wish that was true Ava. I do need you, so much and I didn’t realize it until you weren’t there.” He took her hands in his. “It’s not just the sex although that was out of this world, but I miss your smile Ava and your taste and that sexy little laugh of yours, even when its at my expense.” Then his expression sobered. “I rushed home to tell you all about the Henderson deal and you were gone. I was devastated. How could you leave me like that, Ava?”
She hugged herself around the middle. “You wouldn’t understand Kade. It doesn’t matter.”
His features darkened. “Well which is it, I wouldn’t understand or it doesn’t matter.”
“Both.”
“Can you just give me a straight answer! Why did you leave?”
She shrunk away at his volume but her anger was good and brewing at his tone. Who was he to be angry with her? “It’s because I fell in love with you jackass!” She began to pace, “How dare you come in here and yell at me after you, Kade Steele, got everything you wanted! What did I get? I’ll tell you. I got a dozen photos, a broken heart and a baby!”
He stared for a long moment, his thoughts indecipherable through the mask he wore. Then he walked away.
Ava collapsed back into her desk chair and cried.
Kade couldn’t believe it, not any of it. Ava had proclaimed her love for him in one breath and told him he was going to be a father in the next. It was too much information all at once and he’d responded poorly. Hell he hadn’t responded at all. Kade Steele had walked away.
He walked away two weeks ago and he hadn’t tried to call her once. To be fair neither had she but then again he was the one who had walked away. But a visit from Sophie had confirmed everything. Ava had fallen in love with him and left because she didn’t think he could love her back. She found out she was pregnant after she’d left and spent weeks crying for him and the family she would never have.
He was gutted by the time Sophie had finished telling him off. But she was still hopeful and that made him hopeful. Before leaving she left an invite for the grand re-opening of the photo studio and that’s where he stood right now.
“Coming in or are you going to stay out here all night?”
He sighed, the weight of what he had to do, weighed heavily on him. This would be the first time he set eyes on her since walking away. “I guess I’m coming in.” When he walked in there was a party going on. Several of the calendar bachelors were seated at a long table, posing for photos with the women of Rainbow Springs. Ava was selling postcards and prints on the other side of the room. He made his way to her. “Ava. Can we talk?”
“There’s nothing to talk about Kade. I’m keeping the baby but I don’t expect anything from you. Be involved as little or as much as you want.” Her attention went back to a few tourists buying prints.
“I don’t think so, Ava.” He grabbed her arm and pulled her around the tall counter, a gasp escaped at the small bump at her middle, showing clearly in the fitted dress she wore. His hand went to her stomach, awe on his face. “We should talk.”
“There’s nothing left to say, Kade.”
“Fine you listen and I’ll talk.” He pulled her behind him away from the crowd and into one of the small studios. He turned and pulled her hands to his heart. “Ava I’m so sorry for walking out last week, for laughing about what you said to Bruce. It touched me, so damn much. I just couldn’t believe that a woman as smart and beautiful and kind as you could actually love me.” He smiled and kissed her forehead, “I didn’t even think I was capable of loving anyone until Bruce told me my fake fiancé was in love with me.”
Her eyes widened. “He did? And he still signed the contract anyway?”
Kade nodded with a smile. “Said he was impressed with my business skill but more impressed I was able to get a woman like you to fall for me.” He reached for the brown paper covered package against the wall. “I have something for you Ava.” He unwrapped the photo while he spoke. “You see I was convinced we were both playing at being in love that I was too blind to see we had both fallen. I admit I was skeptical when Bruce said you loved me even though I was pretty sure I loved you.” He grabbed her shoulders and twirled her to face the photo. “But when I looked at this photo of us, I knew we were both fooling ourselves. I love you so much Ava and I want us to be a family, me and you and our baby.”
Ava looked at the photo and tears sprang instantly at the look of love she saw shining, in both their eyes. She couldn’t believe it. This man, this big lovable man who took care of everyone was hers. “I love you too Kade and I want to be yours and I want you to be mine. Forever.”
Kade looked down at the love shining in her eyes and he was sure she could see the same reflected back in his. He knew he would do anything in the world to keep that beautiful smile on her face, to have her always look at him like he was some kind of hero. “I’ll be yours for forever and beyond Ava. As long as you let me love you, I will.”
