“Ever since you came back, I spend my days desperate to see you. I think about you all day, to the point I’m distracted on calls and in meetings and people think I’ve lost my mind. I have. And my heart. Over you. I think about the life we could have together. I think about the boys growing up at the ranch with the horses. I think about us being a family and you and I having more kids.”
“Kids?”
“One. At least. Two if you’re up for it. However many you want. You can quit your job and be with the kids. Or keep your job. Cut your hours. Take a different job. I don’t care. Settle all this other stuff the best you can and be happy with me.”
She knew it wouldn’t be easy to live with what happened, but she’d find a way, so she could be happy with him. “Okay.”
“Really?” Genuine surprise filled his voice. “I thought I’d have to do a hell of a lot more convincing.”
“Why? No one has ever loved me the way you do. I want the boys to grow up with a man like you to look up to. I want a husband who thinks my happiness is the most important thing in the world. I want to show you that the love you give me is appreciated by loving you the same way. I want to be ridiculously happy. And maybe part of being happy is letting go of the past and the people who have hurt me.”
“I’m not sure you’ll really be happy without your sister in your life.”
“I don’t know if I’m capable of forgiving her. I know I’ll never trust her again.”
Mason frowned. “Are we good?”
“Yes. When I got home tonight, my emotions were raw and all over the place. I was angry and hurt and just a mess. But I pulled into the drive and saw your truck, and though I didn’t want to feel anything, a spark of joy burst because you came to see me even after I ignored you. You didn’t give up.”
“Never.”
“Then I saw you with the boys and it was so obvious that you love them. You owned up to what happened and told me the truth about what you knew even though you didn’t want to paint a picture of how my husband and sister betrayed me right here at my home, right under my nose, even though I knew they’d been together.”
Mason rubbed his hands up and down her arms. “It makes it harder and more real to know the details.”
“Yes, it does. It’s all part of the same betrayal. I can’t escape what happened or how it’s changed my perspective of the past and how I feel about David, our marriage, and my sister. Nothing is the same. I’ll need time to come to terms with all of it. But I don’t need time to evaluate how I feel about you. That is so clear in my mind and heart. David’s death, the fire, they’ve taught me that time is precious. I don’t want to waste any more of it or give anyone else a chance to interfere in our lives again. I love you. I want to build a life with you. I won’t let anything or anyone come between us again.”
“Then let’s make it happen.”
“Okay.” She didn’t hesitate to go after what she wanted.
Mason stared down at her with a smile that lightened her heart when she thought nothing would today. “Okay. Where do you want to start?”
“I could really use a hug.”
“Come here, sweetheart.” Mason pulled her in to his chest and held her close.
She slipped her hands around his sides to his back and hugged him close.
“Best thing that’s happened all day.” Mason kissed her on the head.
She loved that he tried to make her focus on the good. Right now, she had the best in her arms. And she wouldn’t let him go, not for anything.
“It’s late. You’ve had a hell of a day. You must be tired. I don’t want to let you go, but . . .”
“Don’t.” She leaned back and stared up at him. “I don’t want to lie in bed alone all night with my head spinning.”
“Come home with me. I’ll hold on to you.” That’s exactly what she wanted him to say and do. “I’ll make sure you’re up and home before the boys wake up. Tomorrow, we’ll figure out the rest.”
“As long as it begins and ends with you and me, I think we’ll be okay.”
Mason kissed her softly. “My whole world begins and ends with you.”
That beautiful statement wiped away any and all lingering doubts trying to creep in and spoil this reconciliation. Sierra let all the bad get washed away by the wave of love she felt for him.
She’d have to deal with what she knew about David and Heather, but she didn’t have to do it alone. Mason would stand beside her. He’d hold her when she needed it. He’d love her through the bad and fill her up with nothing but good.
If he could do that for her today of all days, she bet he’d have no problem making her happy and feel like she was wanted and needed like she did right now every day for the rest of their lives.
She didn’t want much, but she refused to live another day without love and trust.
Mason made her feel safe.
He had her back.
He’d lift her up when she was down just like he’d done for her today with his open honesty and heartwarming love.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Heather stood next to the stove in the late-morning light lost in thought until the high-pitched whistle of the teakettle broke into her reverie. That’s when she realized the other sound she heard was someone pounding on the front door.
She turned off the stove and headed for the loud knocks, ready to send whoever it was on their way.
Her mother stood on the stoop, dark circles under her bloodshot eyes. She’d pulled her silver-streaked brown hair back into a sleek bun, which had the effect of making her look even more tired. “If you slam that door on me, you will regret it.”
Heather checked the urge to close the door on the inevitable scolding and refrained from rolling her eyes. “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be home judging me?”
Dede brushed right past her and stood in the living room. “After what you’ve done, you deserve a good talking to from your mother.” She glanced into Hallee’s room. “Where is she?”
“Day care. I needed some time alone.”
“I bet. Your sister is really angry. I taught you better than this.”
This time, Heather did roll her eyes. “Please. Four husbands. Don’t tell me you never strayed.” Their lives growing up had been a revolving door of men coming and going. Dede tried to be discreet with the dating, but they knew what was going on.
“When I was done, I left. I never cheated. I never went after someone who wasn’t available. David wasn’t free to love you. He had a wife and a family. He was bound to them. No matter how it happened, you knew that and you participated in ruining that marriage.”
That hurt, but deep down Heather knew it was true.
“He degraded you. He made you his dirty secret, knowing you two would never really end up together, not with so much standing in your way.”
Harsh!
“And you went along with it.”
Because I loved him. I thought the time we had together would be enough.
Heather had dreamed about the beautiful life they’d share raising Hallee, knowing it was only a figment of her imagination. Nothing but wishful thinking.