Gage, Ronna - The Search is Over (Siren Publishing Classic) (24 page)

“I will, baby.”

Rafe pulled her into his lap, and she broke down and cried her pain. She felt soft and warm in his arms while he soothed her hurt, soaking the shoulder of his denim shirt. In that quiet moment, his heart shattered to pieces all over again at the pain that he caused her. At the same time, it mended in her forgiveness.

“Candi, I’m so proud of you,” He softly stroked her back and kissed her hair. It smelled of the coloring formula and the herbal shampoo she used. He took in a deep cleansing breath, and her scents filled his nose with the smells of rubbing alcohol and a hint of her perfume. He felt himself getting hard.
This isn’t the time!

“Since when have you gone by Candice?”

“It’s the name I use in my professional environment.” Candi climbed out of his lap, but sat next to him.

“You still haven’t answered my question.”

“What question?”

He took her hands into his. He had missed her touch, and he saw in her gaze that she missed his.

“Will you be my date for Thanksgiving?”

She nodded. “I can’t let you show up without an escort.”

Rafe couldn’t let it go at that. He had one more question he had to ask her. “Are you the one?”

Candi’s head jerked up, his eyes met hers. “Yes.” She answered his question without hesitation.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked softly, reading her eyes.

“You had to find it out for yourself. I’ve always been the one. I was the one you looked for when you married
Chelsea
. It was me you sought for this whole time.”

Rafe let out the breath he held. “Will you spend the rest of your holidays with me?”

“If I have to.”

“For the rest of our lives?” Rafe smiled at her shocked look.

“Say the words, Rafe.”

“Candi would you…would you like to be my date for your wedding?”

“That’s close enough.” She laughed, “Yes, I accept your half-assed proposal.”

He rested his forehead against hers and gazed into her eyes. His erection served as a reminder of how much he did love her. He glanced down and saw the protruding reactions of her nipples.

“I wish I could see your new apartment.”

“As you wish.”

“Show me the way home.”

Leaving her car in the parking lot, he turned to Candi. “Which way?” She pointed to the right. “How far away is your apartment?”

“Two miles.”

He snickered. “Just a measly two miles away!”

“Yep, that’s all.”

Driving to her apartment, Rafe smiled.

“What are you smiling about?” she asked without looking at him.

“Oh, nothing really.” He put his arm around her shoulder. “I realized today that all roads lead back to you, and I didn’t need directions.”

“Wow! That is something nice. How did you find me?”

Rafe shrugged. “I followed my heart.”

THE END

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