Page 123 of It's Always Been You

“You didn’t know this when you left for the airport,” she said gently. “What made you change your mind?”

“I realized all this was pride.” He took her hands in his. “And it didn’t matter what happened before. You were right. It wasn’t fair to you. You can’t defend your actions in the past if you can’t remember.” He was shaking his head in remorse. “Then it hit me that if I’d only stopped and thought about it, you wouldnevercheat on me. Just not in you, babe.” Travis’s face looked pained. “You getting hurt is my fault . . . I shouldn’t have left you—”

“I’m the one who got us in this mess—”

“Cat, no—”

“You got hurt too; all I could think about was Porter’s threat to torture you.”

“Ah . . . babe,” Travis whispered. “I’d walk through hell for you, as long as you’ll be waiting for me on the other side. I’ll go through anything for you. I’ll bear all your pain, sunshine. I wish I took that bullet for you. I don’t care if you drive me nuts trying to protect you.” Travis ran his fingers through her hair before cupping her face and tilting it up. “All I hope and pray is that you never leave me. Never, Cat.”

“I won’t.”

“I do stupid shit.”

“I know.”

“I’ve got a bad temper.”

“I know that, too. And you need to rein in that jealous streak of yours. I’ve been meaning to lay in on you about nearly strangling Nate.”

Travis scowled. “I squared that away with him.”

“Oh, is that why he’s so tentative when he hugs me?”

Her husband looked away.

“Travis?”

“What?”

“Shut it down.”

His jaw clenched stubbornly. “I can’t, Cat. That’s me.”

“You can’t barricade me from every male relative, friend, and acquaintance.”

“Watch me.”

“You don’t want to be known as the psycho husband, do you?”

Travis smirked.

Caitlin sighed. She would have to condition him slowly. A little voice inside her wished her luck.

“Caitlin?”

“Hmm?”

“There’s something else I need to know.”

Caitlin smiled. She was waiting for the right time to say it, but she kept putting it off. Amazing how when you were near death the feelings that mattered cut through all the crap.

“Did you mean it, Cat?” His voice was so uncertain, it broke her heart.

“I love you,” Caitlin whispered. And she watched in wonder as his entire face transformed. Every line, every worry, seemed to dissipate from his handsome face, leaving only the man she knew she had loved for a long time. She may not remember everything about him, but her heart always did. She accepted that now. “It’s always been you, Travis.” The last statement was said with a catch in her voice.

Half-groaning, half-growling, Travis kissed her deeply. He was struggling to be gentle, but his kiss was full of longing. He pulled away. “God, Caitlin, I never thought I’d be this fucking happy again.” Suddenly, he was slipping a huge diamond ring on her finger. “You can’t say no. You’ve sealed your fate, sunshine girl. Once you get back on your feet, you’re officially becoming Caitlin Blake. I love you. I fucking love you.”

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