She's the One (19 page)

She did a quick guestimate of the size, figuring four boxes of white lights would do. It was perfect, it would
be
perfect. Heck, she might even get a dog. A big cream-colored Lab that would keep her company, was good with kids and didn’t mind wearing a bow or a bonnet every now and again.

Smiling at the thought, she stepped off the curb and crossed the street, her thoughts focused entirely on her new venture and getting through Christmas with her family when she kept catching them staring at her with pity in their eyes.

That was the thing with family. She didn’t have to say a word but they knew how she felt. And since she had confided to Shelby about falling in love with Dylan, it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out Shelby had given enough information to the rest of them that they’d filled in the blanks. They were giving her space for now but she knew her reprieve wouldn’t last long.

Alex approached her apartment from the rear, her head down as she dodged slippery puddles and contemplated some sarcastic comebacks for her brothers when
they inevitably pulled her aside and talked about kicking Dylan’s ass for breaking her heart.

Almost at the stairs, Alex gasped when she saw a man step out of the shadows.

Alex jumped back, clutching the bit of pine to her chest like a droopy little shield. Then she realized who it was.

“I didn’t mean to startle you,” Dylan said, raising his hands as though to smooth over the fright he’d given her.

She blinked, hardly daring to believe her eyes. Barely daring to breathe in case he disappeared. He looked so different, his beard gone. “You’re
here?
”

“I couldn’t stay away. Colt and I are both here,” he said, tilting his head toward the car parked in the alley. “We came for the woman we both love.”

He loved her. They both loved her. So much Dylan had braved the crowds and airports and come all the way from Alaska without his beard?

She knew what it meant. He wasn’t hiding. Not anymore. Dylan had shown the world his face, stepped out of his prison.

For her. Because he loved her.

Alex tossed the tree aside and flew toward him, launching herself at Dylan and catching a glimpse of his smile before he wrapped his arms around her and lifted her off her feet, burying his face in her hair.

He was here. They would work their problems and issues out later. But he was here.

And that was all that mattered.

D
YLAN OPENED HIS EYES
and from behind the veil of Alexandra’s hair he saw the streetlights at the end of the alley. The light at the end of the tunnel?

He was so tired. Tired of hiding, tired from the long trip and the nerves he’d experienced wondering if someone would recognize him, what he’d say if they did.

But no one had. And now he was with Alexandra. He wanted time to stand still.

“I love you, too,” she whispered, kissing his cheek, his mouth, pressing her lips to his. “I missed you so much. I can’t believe you’re
here
. And your beard is gone, I like it gone. You look hot,” she said with a teasing grin, “and you’re here,” she repeated again, as though she couldn’t quite believe it.

In a way he couldn’t quite wrap his mind around it, either. After two years of hiding, it felt strange to be so exposed. “Don’t ever walk out like that again,” he ordered, his voice husky because he’d come so close to losing her forever.

There was a scuffle from within the rental car parked behind him. He would have liked more time to talk to Alexandra alone before Colt woke up from his travel-induced nap but one of the doors swung open wide.

Dylan set her on her feet and they both turned to face the car.

“Alex!”

Dylan heard Alexandra’s sharp gasp. Her mouth dropped open in shocked surprise before she caught Colt to her, hugging him and kissing him, her laughter filling the air.

“You’re
talking?
” Alexandra eased Colt away and palmed his face. “Oh, sweetie, say my name again. Please?”

“Alex,” Colt whispered shyly. He lifted his hands and showed her the horse she’d bought for him. “Can we see Bandit?”

Another beautiful, happy laugh bubbled from her, a laugh he’d missed more than he’d ever thought possible. “Colt missed you,” he said, wrapping his arm around her. “We both did.”

Her expression was soft, more than a little dazed. He could tell she was surprised. But did she want them there? Was it too much to show up like this after weeks of silence?

“How did you find me?”

He couldn’t help but smile at that. It was funny how life worked sometimes. “The address on the packet you sent. I didn’t see the apartment at first so I stopped in the gym to ask about you and the woman assumed I was asking about having Colt’s picture taken.”

Alexandra flashed a smile similar to the one she’d worn when she’d caught the fish. “Did that surprise you?”

Considering how she’d talked about traveling to get away from her family, yes. He wasn’t sure what he felt about her putting down firm roots in a town he’d never
heard of before meeting her but considering the size, maybe it would work.

Shaking his head at himself, he sighed. It
had
to work. “May we come in?”

She hesitated a long moment, a mixture of fear and hope flickering across her face. But without a word she led the way, carting the dying bit of pine with her.

Dylan urged Colt up the stairs, following Alexandra as she unlocked the door and left the tree on the tile by the hall table where she dropped her purse.

Knowing the time had come, Dylan squatted down in front of Colt. “Okay, Colt, this is it. Remember what we talked about on the way here? About how Alexandra and I need to talk about grown-up stuff and how you
have
to stay put?” He waited until Colt nodded. “I want you to play while Alexandra and I talk, okay? You stay in this room, right here.”

Alexandra looked confused by his insistence with Colt’s whereabouts, but that was a subject to be explained later. And he’d be damned sure she didn’t think for a second the only reason he’d come was because Colt had run away. He’d braved airports and city traffic to see her, all because
he
loved her. This wasn’t only for Colt. Now he had to find the words that had been missing for so long.

“How about a movie?” Alexandra walked over to the television. “My nephew left some of his behind when he moved out.”

With efficient movements Alexandra put a DVD into the machine and seconds later Colt was ensnared by Disney magic.

With one last look at his son, Dylan followed her into the kitchen. Where to begin? “I saw the review.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m not.”

She blinked at him, visibly confused. “I thought you’d be angry.”

“I was. I was furious—until I remembered I couldn’t throw stones. Even though you knew who I was and had pictures, you didn’t use them.”

“I would never do that.”

“I know that, too.”

She closed her eyes briefly and inhaled. “We’re a pair, aren’t we?”

That they were. But it was nice, too, knowing he wasn’t the only one with rough edges. “I realize given the arrest and suspicion that withholding my identity from you was much more serious than you not revealing your job.”

“We were both wrong, Dylan. We weren’t to that point in our relationship yet and I understand why you didn’t tell me. I admit, I was freaked out because I did remember, but…I get it. You didn’t want that label attached and you knew it would be. What I don’t understand is what changed? Don’t get me wrong, I’m so glad you’re here. But
why
are you here?”

Dylan tugged her body against his. “Because I wanted to look you in the eyes when I say you’re right, I have been hiding. Thanks to you and Colt, it’s finally sunk in that I don’t want to be the last man in the bubble,” he said drily, trying to smile but not quite managing it. “I don’t want him growing up resenting me and thinking I’m holding him back, or wondering if the rumors are true because of how I act or where I live.”

Her stance relaxed a bit. “Go on.”

He stared into her upturned face, memorizing every feature, thanking God she’d ignored him and got on the Beaver that day. “Alexandra, there’s something else I haven’t told you. I haven’t told anyone, not even Zeke. But I’m here, and I want you, but you need to know what we could be up against and…why I felt the need to hide.”

S
EEING THE LOOK ON HIS FACE
and hearing the tone that he used, Alexandra’s heart began to beat too fast. “What do you mean?”

“You’ve probably read the articles about me on the Internet.”

She’d read them all. Page after page, site after site. It had taken a
long
time.

“Sweetheart, the man Lauren was with that night—it wasn’t the first time she’d cheated.”

She gripped his coat, appalled by what he was saying. She couldn’t imagine being with Dylan and doing such a thing. Why take vows if you had no intention of keeping them?

Alex felt his pain, his humiliation. She remembered the photograph in the back of his novel, the arrogance. That arrogance was gone now and in its place was a man matured by life.

“I told you we had problems but Lauren and I stayed together. She got pregnant with Colt, and…everything seemed okay. Then I found out she was cheating on me. And even though she retracted her words later and claimed she’d only said them in anger, she’d once screamed that Colt wasn’t mine.”

Dylan loved Colt as only a father could. Not his?
How could he not know for sure? “You haven’t taken a test?” Wouldn’t that be the first step?

“No. I couldn’t risk it. There is always a paper trail, no matter how confidential.”

“You’re afraid someone will find out and bring up his paternity.”

“And take him away,” he added, holding her gaze and nodding slowly. “Regardless of what happened between me and Lauren, I’ve always thought of Colt as my son and I always will. I don’t care if he’s not my flesh and blood, he’s the only good thing to come from that disaster of a marriage.

“If the truth is known, how is he going to feel if his mother’s lovers start coming out of the woodwork?” He swore softly. “After the fire, Colt was all I could think about. He’d lost his mother, his home. I hadn’t loved Lauren the way a man should love his wife. But I loved Colt. I learned what was important. And right or wrong, I know if someone finds out, there are idiots out there who would come forward for their fifteen minutes of fame or a payoff.”

Dylan was right. There was a huge chance of that happening. Sex tapes, DNA tests. Scandal seemed to make the world go round.

“After everything Colt had been through, I couldn’t put him through that. And I couldn’t risk losing him. When I sat in that jail cell and everyone was going nuts plotting out how I’d allegedly murdered her, I decided that no matter what Lauren had done, Colt was mine. I was going to be the father he needed. But as you so accurately pointed out, I haven’t done a good job of that.”

“You’ve done a wonderful job. Despite all he’s been
through, Colt is a sweet, caring little boy.” She couldn’t imagine a better father than Dylan.

“Alexandra, sweetheart, I love you. I want to be with you. I have no more secrets.” He trailed his knuckles down her cheek. “But I’m begging you to keep this one. Don’t ever repeat what I’ve told you, for all our sakes.”

The words made her heart sing even as sadness cut deep. Dylan was trying to protect Colt, yes, but Dylan was so very afraid that he didn’t see that not knowing was worse than the actual truth.

She stood on tiptoe and pulled his head low, nuzzling against him, pressing a soft kiss on his lips meant to comfort and support. “I love you.” She whispered the words against his mouth. “I love you,” she repeated, lifting her lashes to meet and hold his gaze. “Your secrets are my secrets. But, Dylan, you’ve come all this way, and it’ll all be for nothing if you can’t face Colt’s paternity, too.”

Dylan closed his eyes, pain etched on his face. “What if he’s not mine?”

Such a raw, bare whisper. “He’s
ours
no matter what the test says. No matter what it says, we’ll face it together because neither one of us is alone anymore. We have each other. We
love
each other. Don’t you want to know? Don’t you want to be prepared and build your defenses if the day comes that it’s questioned?”

Silence.

Alex watched as Dylan looked away, withdrawing from her even as his hands pulled her closer to him. She waited, she
prayed
. But Dylan didn’t speak.

Alex fingered the hair at his collar. “As a writer it’s all too easy to think of all the scenarios, but what about Colt’s feelings in this? What about having that knowl
edge ahead of time if a medical issue comes up? God forbid it happen, but if that day came and Colt found out you’ve known all this time…Even though you’re
the best
father he could ever have, he would feel betrayed.”

“I don’t want anyone to know. It’s too risky.”

For a lot of reasons he’d just stated, that was true. But…“I can help you.”

“How?”

She raked her nails lightly over the softness of his face, amazed at the heat that unfurled within her from the feel of his skin. “My father’s a doctor. He could perform a DNA test for you. He can take the samples so we’d know it’s accurate. No one would ever know but us.”

“And him. That’s not the way to impress the father of the woman I want to marry.”

She was debating kissing him again and how out of hand it could get with Colt so near when Dylan said the words, but she froze as they sank in. “Marry?”

“You said you love me. Will you have me? Marry me?”

Marriage?
She could only imagine her family’s response to the suddenness of it. “We’ve almost spent more time apart than we had together.”

“It’s not quantity but quality that counts.”

She gave him a quick, sweet kiss for that. “I agree.” Because they’d lived a lifetime in those three weeks. Sometimes you just knew. “I will marry you. But I don’t want to rush.”

Her words brought out one of Dylan’s smiles, all the more glorious because there was nothing to distract from it now. “Whatever you want, so long as you agree.”

“What about you? Will you agree to talk to my dad about the test?”

Dylan remained silent for so long she knew he was going to refuse. She should let him handle this in his own way but he was so close to freedom and she wanted to help him take that final step. Still, he had reasons for concern and she wouldn’t blame him for balking. Everything in its time.

A deep sigh left his chest and Dylan lowered his head and brushed her mouth with a kiss, delving inside when she parted for him. She would never get tired of his kisses, never get tired of that
zing
she felt every time he looked at her.

“Yes,” he whispered. “I want this to be our new start. If you’re by my side I can face anything.”

“I hope so because it’s Christmas and at some point you’ll have to meet my family.” She made a face. “Let me say now that I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

Alexandra groaned softly. “You’ll understand when you meet them,” she said as she kissed him again.

S
OME POINT
CAME THE VERY NEXT
morning when Alexandra took him and Colt to her studio. She’d already purchased paint and the needed supplies and since they couldn’t spend the
entire
time in bed—Colt required food, supervision and entertainment—Dylan had volunteered his services to paint the interior.

Alexandra had taken Colt into the back with her to carry rollers and extension rods. The two of them were making quite a bit of noise rustling through bags and boxes she’d stashed out of the way. That’s why he didn’t hear the door open.

Giving the paint one final stir, Dylan suddenly
realized he was being watched. He turned to find several women carrying plastic containers of food, studying him with varying expressions of surprise, interest and out-and-out animosity. Into the building behind them came a troop of dark-haired men carrying ladders, buckets, toolboxes and more.

Once they were all assembled in a semicircle Dylan was being stared at by no less than twenty people. He straightened slowly. “Hello.”

“Who are you?” asked one of the women.

Her gaze slipped to his hands before moving back to his face. That glance was all it took to make him realize she already knew who he was. Asking was a formality.

Alexandra’s studio wasn’t the O.K. Corral but this was definitely a showdown. He was outnumbered. They all loved Alexandra, so he tried to get a handle on his unease. She’d obviously told her family enough about him that they questioned his reasons for being here and his presence in Alexandra’s life. But Alexandra loved him and he knew she would stand her ground. Her family might not like him or the events it had taken to get them to this place, but they’d better get damned used to having him around.