Page 41 of Forbidden Earl

Chelsea smiled as she walked past them and said, “Like I should have been. Remy, please make my sister happy with you. She deserves love like she’s always wanted.”

Cassidy froze. She never should have told anyone her silly dreams. She had to be an adult. She let go of Remy and walked her sister to the door. Chelsea took her keys to her shiny, clean but at least ten years old Mercedes and left. Cassidy waved, “Bye Chelsea.”

Once her sister drove off the property, she returned inside and found Remy in the blue room. This time he was alone, so Gigi must have gone to her sunroom. He launched out of his chair and asked, “How are you?”

Remy was the most handsome man she’d ever laid eyes on. If only her heart didn’t hurt when he touched her. She knew he’d treat her right, but she felt prickles in her eyes. She swallowed and pointed toward the garden in the back even though it was night and all she’d have was the moonlight out there. “Good. Glad to be home. Would you mind if I go walking in the gardens alone for a few minutes? I want to breathe, if that makes any sense.”

He put his hands in his pockets and acted like he had something to say. However he nodded and said, “Gigi does the same thing. You must be hungry still, so I’ll have a small dinner set up for when you return.”

“Sounds perfect.” She just had to get her head on straight and not let her feelings get in the way. They were legally married and her property was now entwined with his. Their future looked bright so she needed to be happy about all of this.

She stepped into the rose gardens she’d helped plant years ago and tried to remain calm. This was her home now. She was safe here. Tears fell.

She wiped her eyes and hugged her shoulders. She had no right to be sad. Everything was good, but the positive thoughts didn’t help. More tears washed down her face, so she kept her head bowed and continued walking, refusing to go near the house until she stopped.

From behind her on the gravel path she heard Remy’s voice like a low rumble. “Cassidy, don’t cry on me.”

Goodness. He’d seen her. She wiped her tears with her fingers and turned with a sniff. “It’s nothing to worry about, Remy.”

He walked over to her and brushed her hair back from her cheek. “If you’re unhappy, then tell me what I can do.”

Another tear leaked out of her eye and she turned. Right now she’d sound stupid if she tried to explain. She kicked at a small round pebble. “That’s just it. Nothing. You can’t do anything. This is all in my head.”

“What?” He turned her toward him and cupped her face.

Despite the emptiness inside, she had to tell the truth. She swallowed. “Chelsea was right that I’ve always wanted love. I hid the results of my program from you for years because I know there’s no way someone as wonderful as you could ever love someone like me.”

A laugh escaped his throat and Remy slowly traced her back until his hands rested on her hips. The empty parts started to fill when he said, “I can’t love the smartest, funniest, most easy-going woman I’ve ever met? A woman who also happens to get me like no one else ever really did. Now, yes, you can see through me, which always made me feel weaker because you saw the truth that no one else could see, that I was a spoiled boy who didn’t appreciate his life.”

“But that’s not true. You always gave back to those you loved.” The tears stopped and she no longer felt like she choked on her own sorrows. She brushed her hair out of her eyes and stared at Remington Burke, the most handsome man she’d ever met. She took a deep breath. “Guess growing up together ruined any chance for falling in love.”

His hands tightened on her hips, in a gentle, protective fashion. “You’re wrong. When I almost lost you, I couldn’t breathe. You have always been in my life—I can’t live without you.”

There was nothing she could do to change their situation, and now he was being a gentleman, because he understood that too. She pressed her palm to his shirt. “You don’t have to, Remy.”

He held her hand there and she felt his heart beat. “Listen to me, Cassidy for once. I’m trying to tell you I love you.”

The moon seemed brighter in the evening sky and the roses from the garden smelled so wonderful, but she could hardly believe her own ears. “Wait. What? That’s impossible.”

He kissed her knuckles. “No, no it’s not. There was never room in my heart for anyone else but you, Cassidy. My heart and soul are yours and always have been.”

A huge choir of angels sung in her heart. She wrapped her arms around him. “Remy, I love you too.”

Then his lips met hers and nothing else mattered. Remington Burke loved her. Everything in her life was exactly what she’d always dreamed. They had their chance at happily-ever-after. The spark of his kiss made her believe him.

Chapter 19

Cassidy kissed Remy’s cheek as he still slept and rolled out of their wooden sleigh bed—king-sized oak with gold leaf inlays—flipping the white sheets and white comforter off her naked body.

She rushed into the bathroom a little faster than normal and let the shower take away all her muscle aches.

Soon, she was ready to face the day. She dressed and saw that Remy hadn’t moved from his pillow.

Even as a boy, he’d slept like the dead. She smiled with satisfaction—they’d stayed up late and he probably needed to regain his strength. Cassidy left and walked downstairs, and headed right toward Gigi’s room. She knocked and saw the gray-haired older woman she loved sitting on a chair, reading a book. She made a sound to let her presence be known, and then asked, “Gigi, care to take that walk in the gardens with me this morning?”

Gigi closed her book and left it on the table beside her as she stood on her own. She walked without a cane and said, “You’re glowing, my dear.”

“I’m happy. You look great.” Cassidy answered, unsure what else she could say. Gigi’s cheeks were pink again and her eyes clear. She offered her arm and Gigi accepted.

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