Page 52 of Taming a Heartbreaker

“Right.”

“I’ll make arrangements with my pilot to come tomorrow.”

“Okay.” She leaned over and placed a kiss on his lips. “Thanks for everything, Redford. You were a big help, and I appreciate it.”

“Don’t mention it.”

“At least we accomplished what we set out to do,” she said, looking at him.

“What’s that?”

“Bond. Although we don’t love each other, we used the time together to bond for our baby’s sake. That’s what we wanted, right?”

He stared into her eyes, thinking yes, that’s what they wanted, but in the end, he’d also gotten something he hadn’t thought he wanted. A woman he would love for the rest of his life. “Yes, that’s what we wanted.”

“Time to go to sleep now,” she suggested, resting her head in the cradle of his shoulder. He had gotten used to her sleeping that way beside him and knew in the coming nights he would miss it. He would miss her.

Redford was still awake, long after he’d detected from Carmen’s even breathing that she had fallen asleep. Sleep might have come easy for her tonight, but it hadn’t for him. He had a feeling during the coming nights, after he returned to Anchorage, he would lie awake and think of her. However, he’d never been a man who stayed where he wasn’t wanted. Nor would he remain with a woman who didn’t want him, no matter how much he might want her. Or love her.

He exhaled a long breath knowing that he’d taken a chance on love for the second time in his life. This time he had truly learned his lesson.

“I think I got everything, but if you find something I’m leaving behind, let me know,” Redford said.

“I will.”

Carmen thought he wasn’t wasting any time leaving. He had called for his jet that morning, prepared breakfast for her one last time and talked her into going for a walk around the neighborhood. When they’d returned, it hadn’t taken him long to pack after receiving word a private car would be picking him up at one o’clock.

“Will it be okay if I call and check on you and our baby sometimes?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Good.”

Taking a step closer to her, he brushed her chin with the pad of his thumb. “Take care of yourself, Carmen, and our son or daughter,” he said in that throaty voice. The one that could turn her on in an instant.

She forced a smile, fighting back the urge to tell him she didn’t want him to go. “I will.”

He leaned in and feathered kisses along her jaw. “I’m going to miss you.”

Would he really? Didn’t he understand she had to send him away? She couldn’t go through life loving a man who would never love her. The longer he was here, the more she was bound to get attached to him, and she would be setting herself up for heartbreak of the worst kind. But still, she couldn’t stop herself from saying, “I’m going to miss you, too.”

Suddenly, he kissed her fully on the mouth, capturing her tongue in his as he stroked a need within her she didn’t want to deny but knew that she must. It would be for the best. When their paths crossed again, hopefully by then she would be better equipped to deal with the only kind of relationship she and Redford would share.

Pulling her mouth away, she said, “If you don’t get going your driver will wonder what the holdup is in here.” She knew her words sounded unemotional, but she couldn’t wane on her resolution. Nodding, he took a step back before turning and walking out the door.

Carmen moved to the window and fought tears as she watched Redford get into the private car. Not once did he look back, and that made the pain in her heart worse. Knowing she needed to leave, get out of the house for a while, she decided to go walking around the neighborhood.

She needed time to think and come to terms with what she’d done to protect her heart. She had sent away the man she loved.

“I just got word from air traffic control that takeoff is being delayed for about thirty minutes due to foreign dignitaries arriving in this air space, Mr. St. James,” the pilot said over the intercom.

“Thanks, Todd.” Unfastening his seatbelt, Redford stood and stretched his body before heading for the minibar. His phone rang and the special ringtone indicated it was Sloan.

He clicked it on. “Yes, Sloan?”

“I heard that you’re returning to Alaska.”

Redford selected a bottle of bourbon from the rack. “Any reason I shouldn’t? Carmen is better now.”

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