Page 63 of Texas Temptation

“Why?”

“I said in the note.”

“That it would be better for us to go our separate ways? Better how?”

“I’m very grateful for what you’ve done for Caleb,” she began, but he interrupted.

“Grateful be damned. I don’t want your gratitude. I never did.”

“But I don’t think you wanted my love either, did you? Wasn’t I just an obligation you felt saddled with?”

“No.” Cade sounded firm.

“I’ve had a lot of miles to think through. Do you remember asking me to marry you?”

“Of course.”

“I was third choice.”

“What?” he said in disbelief.

“It was third choice. First you offered to send me to college, then find me a job. When I didn’t take either of those, you came up with marriage.”

“I didn’t want you to leave.”

“And I don’t want to live with and compete with a ghost.”

That would end the discussion. He couldn’t come back against that.

“What are you talking about?” he asked.

He ran his fingers through his hair and stared at her, a frown marring his features.

“I still don’t know why you asked me to marry you, but you don’t love me. You love Marissa. You always will. I didn’t want to be second best.”

He crossed the room in three steps and took her in his arms.

“You are not now nor ever will be second best. Marissa is dead. Yes, I loved her. A part of me will always love her, I expect. Don’t you still love your aunt even though she’s dead? But I’m notinlove with a dead woman. I’ve known that for a while, ever since you came into my life. Didn’t you say life moves on? It does. I’ve been given another chance at the golden ring. Another chance to love a woman who means everything to me, to build a new family, starting with Caleb, but hopefully continuing with more kids of our own. Sadly, Marissa is gone. You’re alive, vibrant and enchant me beyond belief. When you left—” he hesitated a long moment, gazing into her eyes. “I knew what it would be like if you never came back. I couldn’t deal with it, Jordan. I need you. I want you. You’re a part of me.”

“You have never once said you loved me,” she said simply, almost afraid to believe what he was saying.

The facts spoke for themselves. She’d trusted a man long ago and been let down. She wasn’t sure she was up to it again.

He looked away, as if in pain, releasing her arms and crossing his own across his chest. Then he faced her again, his eyes wary.

“Sorry about that. I regret it. I didn’t know.”

“Know what?”

“I didn’t know how much I loved you until you left. It was worse than Marissa’s dying. At least her death was an accident. Nothing either of us could prevent. And it was over and done with. But your leaving—suddenly I realized what my life would be like without you in it. No bright-eyed optimism, no wide-eyed wonder, no laughter, no loving. It was a pretty bleak picture, let me tell you. And there wasn’t the clean break as with death. You’re still alive and so am I. All I could do was plot how to get you back. This time, fate wouldn’t win. You and I belong together, Jordan. I love you with a love so strong I can’t imagine going on if you don’t marry me. If you don’t spend the rest of our lives with me, I don’t know what to do. I can’t live in this world and know you are also in it and not with me. Come back. Give me another chance, and I won’t blow it this time. I’ll tell you every day how much I love you.”

Jordan’s heart began a heavy beating. Her hopes rose sky high. Tentatively, she reached out a hand and rested it on his cool skin.

“You really love me?”

“Oh, darling, yes, I love you. More than anything.”

He leaned down and kissed her.

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