When the Heart Lies (38 page)

She leaned backward from the railing, holding tight. Nervous, self-deprecating laughter followed. “Marriage may mean something to me, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t made a mockery of the sacrament.” She looked out onto the city again to avoid his eyes.

He leaned over the railing forcing her to acknowledge him. “I don’t care. What’s in the past is over. Gone.”

She captured his eyes with hers. “Not always, Jackson. Some things follow you. They’re part of your life forever. And sometimes, no matter how wrong something may have been in the beginning, you’ll never regret the experiences or the effects the past have had on your life.”

He turned to her and seized her firmly by the arms. “I’m glad you don’t have to live regretting your past. But don’t throw away a chance at a future. That, you will regret. Now, tell me.”

Her eyes roamed from him then back again. He reached out and cupped the side of her face. “Please. Kinsley.” His tone was firm, but pleading.

She turned her face away from him. The cold hit her cheek where the warmth of his hand had been, and her shoulder rose in response, attempting to block the air. The sensation was almost painful. Not the cold, but the absence of his touch. She faced him again. “Nick isn’t Max’s father.”

He appeared confused, his lips parted slightly, and sounds snuck out that sounded dangerously close to amusement. “Okay.”

Her brows knotted, and her jaw dropped. His response puzzled her. “Are you laughing?” 

He smiled, nearly laughing again. “No. It’s just—I thought you were going to tell me something horrible. I can deal with the fact Nick isn’t Max’s father.”

“Xavier is.” She blurted the words out, turned away, and grabbed the railing to keep from falling into a heap of boneless flesh.

He turned her back once again. “Even less of a surprise.” He was still smiling.

She lowered her eyes. “Xavier will always be a part of my life. I don’t want to drag you into such a complicated situation. You deserve better. You should—”

He braced her arms and got her complete attention before she could continue. “I don’t need anyone to tell me what I should do. Do you love him?”

She relaxed, and his grip lightened. She sunk into his arms, and he held her. “Yes. I’ll always love him. I told him about Max last week; he already knew. He was there when no one else was. I needed him. We were only together a short time. We fell in love, but could’ve never have lived with ourselves if we destroyed Nick and Angela. It would’ve ruined what we had. It would have never worked. Having an affair was never intended…  it just happened.” She laughed sadly. “That sounds like something cheaters say.” She dropped her head against his chest.

Still holding her, Jackson’s hand slid around the back of her neck and buried itself in her hair. Grasping it gently, he drew her head back until her eyes met his. “Are you still in love with
him
? Or do you love
me? 
The way you’ve always wanted to love someone—with the absolute security that they love you exactly the same way and will promise you forever and mean it.”

“I love you. Only you. Xavier and I worked through our decision not to be together a long time ago.” The sincerity radiated from her eyes to his.

After a long sigh of relief, he closed his eyes, and took her into his arms kissing her tenderly. “And I love you. That’s all I need to know.”

No man could possibly be so good, so understanding, and so in love—with her. “You’ll question things later Jackson, even if you don’t now. You’ll wonder about his feelings for me or mine for him.”

Frustrated, he took his hands off her with a brisk release and leaned over onto the railing. For a few minutes, there was silence. Then he went to her.

“Do you think I don’t understand why Xavier loves you? Do you think I don’t comprehend you’ll both always love each other? That’s normal. You have Max and a past. Besides, I talked with Xavier, and he wants what’s best for you. Me. He wants you to be with me. How do you think I knew you would be here alone?” He took an envelope from his lapel pocket. “He gave me this today.”

She opened the envelope and stared at the papers. They were divorce papers with Nick’s signature.  No more lies. “Did he also tell you we kissed and held each other for hours just last week?”

“Jesus, Kinsley! Do you think we live in your romance novel? This is real life! The two of you had a child together.  There are a million different reasons why people kiss. Was the kiss closure? That’s all I need to know.”

A confirming sadness and reminiscence lingered in her eyes. “Yes.”

“Okay, then.” He pulled a pen from his pocket and handed it to her.

Knowing what he wanted, she signed the papers, wanting the same.

When he got down on one knee, her tears started falling. He took the ring off her right hand and placed it on her left ring finger while gazing into her eyes. “Kinsley Wentworth, will you promise to marry me, love me, and let me love you and your son for the rest of my life?”

Maybe hinting and letting him figure out I’m expecting is as good as telling him.

“Are you, Jackson Pierce, sure you want to marry a women who conceived a child with her husband’s father; ran off with a man she didn’t know; then met you, another stranger, fell in love, and conceived again?” She held her breath.

“Absolutely.” He said no more and stood silent, having taken in all but the last words.

When he tilted his head and jutted his chin forward a notch, she realized he was waiting for an answer.  “Yes!  Yes… I’d love to marry you.”

He slipped the ring onto the finger she had begun to dangle in his face as she spoke. “I love you, Kinsley. You’ll never doubt my love.” Taking her into his arms, he kissed her with ownership. She surrendered, giving up everything within her to the kiss. To him.

When the kiss finally ended, he smiled again, and with excitement in his voice, gave her a gift she never dreamed possible.

“Drew will be at our wedding. My friend in D.C. came through for me. I talked to Drew late this afternoon. He’s ready to come home.”

“What!” Her arms flew around him. He laughed as he stabled himself. She buried her face in the crook of his neck, half-laughing, half-crying.

“What kept him away?” she asked as he held her.

His hand crad
led her head, and he kissed it. “Why is never the important question. He’s coming home, and that’s what matters now.” The cool breeze picked up, and they held each other closer. 

Then— he pulled back, held her away from him, and took a good long look at her. “A baby?”

With tears running down her face and lips bunched tightly together, holding back sobs, she nodded.

His head sailed back with laughter. After a few seconds, he stopped and smiled at her.
“Of course we’re having a baby. Don’t all romance novels have the happy ending baby?”  He stepped closer and lifted her chin. “I suppose this is where we laugh and kiss and never stop?”

She couldn’t help giggling. “Absolutely, Mr. Pierce.”

With gentleness, he slipped his arms around her and hauled her in close. His eyes met hers, and his kiss grazed her lips as he whispered, “Forever, Mrs. Pierce.”

~ The End ~