Always in My Heart (20 page)

She saw something on his face that caused all the air to leave her lungs in a rush. Because it was more than mere concern. He was scared.

“We came as soon as we could,” Nigel said.

Callie nodded. “I—I’m sorry I put you both through this. Especially Kwame. He must’ve been terrified.”

“He wasn’t the only one worried,” Nigel said, giving her a pointed look.

“Of course not. I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. Sorry.”

“Don’t apologize,” Nigel told her. “Tamara filled me in, and I know you were trying to help out your friend. I also know that Patrick will never be a problem again. If he weren’t caught, I would hunt him down myself and make sure that he never laid another hand on you or any other person.”

There was something utterly sexy about a man when he made it clear, without a doubt, that he would always protect you.

“Thankfully, both Tamara and I are safe from him.”

“And for that, Kwame and I are both grateful. Trust me, when Tamara called and told me that you’d been rushed to the hospital, I was terrified.”

Callie looked at Nigel, and saw in him all the man she had ever wanted, or could ever want.

He had embraced fatherhood in a wholehearted way, completing Kwame’s life. And as much as he could have been upset with her—and no doubt he had been—he let none of that affect his relationship with his son.

“Kwame, will you give me and your father a moment?”

Kwame stared at her a few seconds before answering. Then he nodded. “Okay.”

Once he left the room, Nigel spoke. “Our argument yesterday—”

“Shh,” Callie interjected. “I need to speak first, get something off my chest. You said something to me before I left, when we had our argument. You pointed out that while you hadn’t said that you loved me, I hadn’t given you any reassurances that I would not take off again.

“I realize now that I’ve been holding my heart so close to my chest because I didn’t want to get hurt. But in doing so, I didn’t give you what you needed. I don’t know if you’ll ever love me again, but I want you to know that I love you.

“I walked away from you years ago because I was afraid. Not because of anything you said or did, but because I was scared to death that you wouldn’t love me forever. My own mother didn’t…” Callie’s voice cracked, and she stopped.

“Even now, I’m still afraid. But I’m going to put my heart on the line and tell you how deeply I feel for you. And I know you might reject me, and that terrifies me. But I can’t live my life being afraid anymore.

“Seeing you with Kwame has made me realize that perhaps if I hadn’t been so scared, I would’ve had the life I’d always wanted all along. I threw it away. I have no one to blame but myself.” Callie paused and reached for Nigel’s hand.

“And if you don’t think you can ever love me again, I—I’ll have to be okay with that. Because what you’ve done for our son…” Her voice trailed off, and she actually choked back a sob.

Then Nigel was stroking her cheek, and she raised her gaze to meet his once more. He was looking at her with an expression she had seen so many times when they’d been together ten years ago. And it was unmistakable.

It was love.

“When I asked you before what you regretted about leaving me and all you said was that you regretted taking my son away from me, I wondered if you would ever stop running from your fears. Because I knew that’s what made you run the first time. And indeed, the only reason that I’ve been able to feel love for you again is because I know deep in your heart you were just so afraid, so unable to believe and trust in love because of your mother.”

Callie’s heart filled with hope. “Did you say you love me?”

“I don’t think I ever stopped loving you,” Nigel explained. “I had serious doubts about whether or not we could have a relationship again, especially not if you were guarding your heart the same way you did back then. But damn, Callie—” His lips curled in a slow smile. “You’re the only woman who’s ever had my heart.”

Callie reached for his shirt and pulled him toward her while lifting her own head toward his. She planted her mouth on his and kissed him. Reluctantly, she broke the kiss, saying, “Oh, Nigel. You don’t know how happy that makes me. I thought I had ruined my chances with you forever.”

“One thing I’ve learned where you’re concerned,” Nigel began, “is that I can’t get you out of my heart. Even if I want to. Make no mistake, when we made love, it was because I still love you. Even if the next morning I gave myself the lecture that I’d be foolish to give you my heart again.”

Callie squeezed Nigel’s hand.

“I should have laid my heart on the line then,” he went on. “But like you, I was afraid.”

“We’ve both made mistakes,” Callie said, “but we’re here now. That’s what matters.”

Nigel raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. “I have something to tell you.”

Was he going to propose to her now, in earnest? “Yes, sweetheart?”

Nigel beamed. “Damn, I love the way you call me sweetheart.”

“Get used to it. Because I’m going to be doing it for the rest of my life.”

Nigel stroked her forehead. “As my wife. In the real sense of the word. Because that’s the only reason I proposed. Because I love you. You’re the only woman I’ve ever wanted to mar—”

Callie placed a finger on his lips to silence him. “I know. And yes, I’ll be your wife.”

He kissed her again, and sighed as he pulled apart. “If we keep this up, I’m going to forget what I want to tell you.”

Even in a hospital room, Callie was getting turned on by him. She had no doubt that Nigel was the man she was supposed to spend her life with.

“Okay,” she said. “What do you want to tell me?”

“It’s about your mother.”

Callie’s heart began to accelerate. “My mom?”

“I’ve got a very good lead on where she was last. She was living—as far as I know—in Philadelphia. I’ve got a lead that we can follow, and hopefully we’ll find her.”

“Are you serious?”

“I would never joke about this. I know how much this means to you.”

“And
you
mean everything to me,” she told him, and then, slipping her arms around Nigel’s neck, she kissed him again.

A kiss that showed him that she was no longer holding back.

And a kiss that proved to her that when you let down the walls around your heart, the sweetest of rewards awaits you.

* * * * *

ISBN: 9781459227439

Copyright © 2012 by Kayla Perrin

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