Love, Laughter, and Happily Ever Afters Collection (184 page)

“But tell me something, son. You so sure if you had been the one home with that little girl that this wouldn’t have happened? How many times have I walked by and seen you under the hood of your truck or in the garage when Emily is out riding her bike?

“Accidents happen. That’s just the reality of life. And when they do, you see what people are really made of. Who they are.”

“Haley loves that little girl like she’s her own. And she loves you despite yourself. You throw that away, the only person that needs to be apologizing is you. To yourself for being an idiot and to that little girl for ruining what could be her shot at a family, a mother.”

With that, The Colonel turned and walked out of the room.

Eddie stared after him, totally speechless. His words echoed in his head. “
You so sure if you had been the one home with that little girl that this wouldn’t have happened?”

Damn, Haley wasn’t the one who should be apologizing…he was.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

HALEY STEPPED OUT of the shower and grabbed the fluffy blue towel off the counter. As she dried off, she realized that her muscles were significantly less sore after she’d let the hot water run over them. Earlier today, she’d remembered a valuable lesson she’d learned in her youth: the key to being able to take a shower with hot water when four girls are sharing a bathroom was to take showers at night. So tonight, she’d done just that and reaped the benefits

Opening the cabinet beneath the sink, she pulled out the hydrogen peroxide. Placing her leg up over the sink, she tipped the dark brown plastic bottle and let the contents wash over her knee. Then she repeated on the other leg. Grabbing her Neosporin, she sat on the stool beside the sink and spread it on both wounds before carefully placing the gauze over them and taping them up.

Then, taking a deep breath, she tried to remind herself that life was good, no matter what she felt like inside. Emily was going to be fine. She’d heard from Chelle earlier that Em had been released from the hospital and was resting comfortably at home.

Opening day at Tempting had been off-the-charts successful. Her sales had quadrupled what she and Amber had projected. She’d even sold out of several items.

Her sisters were home for the summer. She had a family that loved her. The list of blessings she had in her life just went on and on. That’s what she needed to focus on.

Inside she might feel like she was dying, but she had to be rational. Eddie and her not working out was not the end of the world. Earlier today, when she’d seen him at the hospital, of course she’d wished things could have gone better. But they hadn’t.

She’d seen the truth in his dark eyes. He wasn’t going to forgive her for what had happened to Emily. And she couldn’t blame him since she was going to have a hard time forgiving herself.

Whatever she and Eddie had almost had was over. She knew that. At least now she could move on with her life. For the last four years she’d felt like she’d been in a holding pattern, not knowing if
something
might happen. Hoping. Wishing. Dreaming.

Well, as Grandpa J liked to say, “She dang sure got her wish.”

Something had happened alright.

Haley knew that she’d always have the memories of her time with Eddie. Maybe she was a glutton for punishment, but, even knowing what she knew now, she wouldn’t have changed what had happened between the two of them. Wouldn’t take back one intimate moment they’d shared. Even though her heart was in a million pieces, she had no regrets when it came to him.

Wrapping her towel around her tightly and tucking the end to hold it in place, Haley walked to her room knowing that she’d most likely be crying herself to sleep tonight. And the next night. And maybe even for the foreseeable future.

But after she was all cried out, she’d pick herself back up, dust herself off, and move forward.

Ready. Set. Go
.

She stepped into her darkened room and shut the door quietly so she didn’t wake up her sisters. Their sleeping had gotten all out of whack. Becca was on California time and Jessie was on Boston time. It seemed like no matter what time it was in the house, someone was sleeping.

After she slowly turned the doorknob, she ran her hand up the wall and flipped on the light. Turning towards her bed she jumped back against the door, startled at seeing a man sitting on her bed. It took a second for the information her eyes were seeing to process and travel to her brain, informing her she was perfectly safe. In that short span of time, Haley’s heart slammed in her chest.

“Eddie?” she said, clutching her hands to her chest. “You scared me.”

His face looked tortured as he apologized. “Sorry.”

What was he doing here?

Oh my God. No.

“Emily. Is she okay?” Haley rushed towards him.

He shook his head, holding up his hand and quickly assuring her. “Em’s fine. She and Chelle are watching
Monster-in-Law
, they love Jennifer Lopez.”

Relief crashed through Haley as she let out a puff of breath. “Oh, okay.”

She still wasn’t completely sure something wasn’t wrong though since this was the first time Eddie had been in her room since the day she and Krista had moved into this house and he’d helped them move.

Since Haley did not possess Katie’s superpower detective skills, she didn’t know what could have possibly been the catalyst for his showing up tonight, but from the look on his face, this was not a happy visit.

“Eddie, are you okay? What’s wrong?” She wanted to move closer, wanted so badly to reach out to him. To touch him. To hold him. But she really didn’t think he’d appreciate that, so she kept a few feet between them.

“I had to see you,” he said with desperation in his tone.

She waited for him to finish. He didn’t. He just stared at her. She could see that so much was going on behind his tormented, gorgeous milk chocolate eyes, but she didn’t have a clue what it could be.

Out of pure instinct, she moved closer and nodded in assurance. “I’m here.”

He reached out and gripped her towel-covered waist, pulling her to stand between his legs. Wrapping his arms protectively around her, he hugged her midsection tightly, his cheek pressing against her belly.

Looking down at him, she ran her fingers through his thick dark hair. Her heart beat erratically as he held her. “Eddie?”

“I’m sorry,” he said in a strangled tone. “I’m so sorry.”

“For what?” Haley had no idea what
he
could possibly be apologizing for.

He looked up into her eyes and said, “For being an asshole in the hospital today.”

Oh. That
.

Haley shook her head and smiled down at him. “It’s fin—”

“No, Haley,” he interrupted sharply. “It’s not fine. I shouldn’t have treated you like that. I’m so sorry. I’m sorry for today. For the last
four years
. For not seeing what was right in front of me. I said I didn’t want to be in a relationship. People always said how great of a dad that made me. That I would sacrifice my happiness for Em. And in the beginning, yeah, I was sacrificing. But not since you came back.

“I was lonely before that. Really lonely. But then you came home and that first week you came over to teach me how to cook your mom’s stew. And then you started taking Emily on girls’ days. You would tell me what shirts you thought looked good on me. You made sure I went to the doctor when I was being a stubborn ass. You made sure Emily had the right size shoes for her recital.”

Haley could feel tears forming in her eyes as Eddie looked up at her with awe in his voice.

“Do you see? I’ve been in a relationship all this time. You’ve just been getting the shit end of it. I’m so sorry, Haley. I never meant to take advantage of you or hurt you.”

“I know that, Eddie. I did all those things because I loved you and Em. I didn’t expect anything in return.” Haley hated seeing him beating himself up. That was the last thing she would ever want. “I only did what
I
wanted to do.”

Eddie nodded even though she could tell he was still blaming himself.

“I have to get back to Em.”

“Oh, okay.” Haley tried to step out of his arms but he held her in place.

A small smile lifted on his face and he squeezed her against him. “I have to get back, but not before you know that…” He audibly swallowed, and she watched as he took in a deep breath, his eyes fixed on hers. “I love you, Haley. I don’t deserve you and I know that. But I do love you. And Em loves you. And I want to be with you. Really be with you. I love you so much. I don’t know what I would do without you.”

* * * * *

EDDIE’S ARMS TENSED around Haley’s tiny waist as he waited for her to answer. His heart was pounding in his chest so hard he thought it might wake Becca, who was sleeping downstairs. He needed Haley. More than he needed his next breath. If he’d blown it with her, then The Colonel was right. He would only have himself to blame.

Her big blue eyes were staring down into his and tears were falling down her face. Her chest was rapidly rising and falling beneath her blue terry cloth towel, but she remained silent.

Patience not being his strong suit, he prompted, “Hales?”

“What?” she asked, reaching up and wiping her tears as a smile spread across her face.

Well a smile was good. “Do you want to try this? For real? You said you loved me once. Do you think you might be able to love me again?”

“Oh!” A burst of laughter escaped her as she smiled from ear to ear. Her eyes widened as she explained, “I didn’t even think that was a question. Of course I want to be with you. I love you, Eddie. I never stopped loving you.”

His entire body reacted to that news. Relief washed over him as need welled up inside of him. He stood, turning with her in his arms, and he laid her on the bed. Her towel started slipping off and she reached up to grab it, but he was faster and tugged it off her body completely.

“You don’t need that,” he said as he reached behind his head and pulled his shirt off. Stepping out of his shorts, he looked down at her beautifully naked body when his eyes landed on something that made his heart clench. Her bandaged knees.

Kneeling down at the edge of the bed, he traced his finger around the tape.

“You got these when you were helping Em, didn’t you?”

Lifting up on her elbows, she nodded. Her wet hair fell around her face, her lips were swollen, her nipples were hard, and a flush had spread on her chest. She was the sexiest thing he’d ever seen.

His hands moved up her soft thighs as he said, “I wish I could take my time and make love to you all night long.”

Sliding his hands back down her supple thighs, he stopped just above her knees and spread them apart. He saw Haley’s breathing become more labored and she bit her lower lip, watching his every move. His large hands trailed back up her parted legs grazing over her hips. Gripping firmly, he pulled her rear to the side of the bed. She let out a little gasp of surprise as she fell onto her back.

He was a breath away from the moist heat of her sex. Need inflamed him as he moved his thumbs up and down the pouty lips of her core already slick with desire. His mouth watered as he breathed in her heady scent. Needing to taste her, he continued his erotic massage as he covered her soft, dewy flesh with his mouth and slowly circled his tongue around her distended nub. With every pass of his tongue, her body trembled around him. With each swirl, he began building his speed until the hood of her sex was swollen and demanding his attention.

He felt Haley’s fingers digging into his shoulders. She arched her body into his unrelenting mouth as she writhed beneath him, moaning and begging for more. With his middle finger, he traced up and down the seam of her pulsing core, teasing her with tantalizing pressure until he felt her body clenching with release and a rush of moisture covered his finger. Eddie continued his suckling kisses, absorbing her essence into his very cells as she rode out her orgasm against his mouth.

As her body relaxed, her limbs going limp, he reached for his shorts to grab a condom. Haley sat up and grabbed his wrist. Through labored breathing and with need shimmering in her eyes, she said, “I’ve been on birth control since I was twenty-one.”

Eddie knew exactly what she meant—that he didn’t have to use protection. With his lifestyle, he’d always worn condoms and got tested every six months. At the thought of being inside of her, skin to skin, no barriers between them, his dick twitched against her leg.

A mischievous smile tilted her lips. “Well, he obviously likes the idea.”

Damn, she was so cute.

As ravenous desire spiraled through him, he dropped his shorts and moved onto the bed over her, capturing her mouth in a kiss. Slowing the pace, he took his time, exploring her as his tongue made love to her mouth, mimicking what his body was going to do. Reaching between them, he took himself in his hand and positioned the broad head of his shaft at her opening.

Breaking their kiss, he rested his head on her forehead. Threading his fingers in hers, he lifted her arms above her head and slowly pushed into her tight, warm passage. A guttural moan ripped from his chest at the erotic oblivion that washed over him. He could feel her inner walls pulsing against his steel-hard member as her fingers gripped his hand tightly.

“I love you,” he whispered, looking down into her heavy-lidded blue eyes as he held himself perfectly still, buried deep inside her.

Then he continued to whisper those three words between each of his soft kisses. He kissed her forehead, her chin, her cheeks, declaring his love each time his lips touched her soft skin. She whispered her own declarations of love as he began moving slowly in and out. With each thrust, he was overwhelmed by the delicious friction of the motion. Every illicit stroke filled his body with a pulsing rush of unrestrained release.

Haley’s hands gripped his as she begged him not to stop. As he moved over her, her hardened nipples grazed his chest and she began quivering beneath him, crying out in pleasure. Pinning her hands above her, he leaned down, covering her mouth with his, swallowing her sounds of ecstasy as he surged once more into her and rode out the hottest, longest release of his life.