Page 99 of I'll Be There
So, she’d acted on instinct, the one that wove through her core, that told her she belonged forever with this man. It moved her to meet her groom at the end of the aisle, read her own promises. And when she kissed him in front of her family—sinking into the sweetness of his kiss, so much desire reigned tight at the edge of it—she felt the rush of joy in his heartbeat.
“You like the party?” Now, Conner’s expression betrayed the look of a man who longed to please his wife.
“Mmmhmm,” she said, suddenly keenly aware of the intoxicating male fragrance of his aftershave, the way his hand curled in hers. The sudden, heady thought of this man taking her into his arms, forever, slipped away her breath.
He reached for the door latch.
“Not yet,” she said, pressing a hand to his arm.
He turned back to her, frowning.
The band switched to a cover of “Higher and Higher.”Your love keeps lifting me...
“Drive.”
“Really?”
“We have a great adventure waiting for us. And it starts right now.”
His gaze roamed her face, found a resting spot on her lips before finding her eyes. “Um...I’m all in, babe, but...shouldn’t we wait until, uh, tonight?”
“Tonight, I want tosleep.” She reached up and tugged on his tie, loosening it. “Right now—”
“Yep.” He leaned over, slipped his hand around the back of her neck, a soft caress that matched the way his lips foundhers. His kiss lingered, deepened. She wound her hands into the lapels of his tux, drank it in, sinking into his touch.
Conner. Dangerous, brave, heartbreaking...and yes,safeConner. The man who lived with his whole heart, now given to her. And would hold hers in his constant protection.
How had she ever thought she couldn’t marry this man?
He drew away, caught her eyes, and the tiniest smile hiked up one side of his mouth, the blue in his eyes deepening. Awakening.
“Let them party without us,” she said, heat flushing through her. “For now.”
“I knew I married the right woman,” Conner said and moved away. “I’m driving already.”
And she’d married the right—and perfect—man.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Please let him not be making the worst move of his life.
No, he’d already done that. A couple of times, but the doozy of them all was certainly sending Blue away—and not following her. Not showing up to tell her he was alive.
Letting her carry his secret alone.
Justin stood outside the door of Blue’s hospital room in Minneapolis, carrying a stupid bunch of flowers he’d picked up in the gift shop. As if that might make up for...
For abandoning her.
The door opened and a doctor strode out.
Justin stepped away, whirled fast, and put his back against the wall. Breathing harder than necessary, probably. Sweat dotted his temples, drew a line down his back.
He should simply leave her alone. Let her go on with her life.
Heal from the trauma of the past, the broken promises, the heartache.
She deserved better than a guy like him.
