Page 449 of The Christmas Wife

"But you are, Eddie. I don’t know what the incident did to you, but I know it couldn’t have been easy. And yet, you picked yourself up and moved on. You survived. You lost the woman you thought was meant to be your soulmate?—"

"She’s not; you are." I cup her cheek. "You’re everything I prayed for all through those years when I was a priest."

She frowns.

"Oh, I don’t mean I prayed to find a soulmate. But I prayed for peace, for a way to still the thoughts that never allowed me to sleep, the images from my past that haunt me. I asked for a way to release the hurt, the pain, the sorrow. And the only time I find any measure of stillness is when I’m with you."

The water pours down over the both of us. Her hair sticks to her forehead, long strands plastered to her cheek. I reach behind her and shut off the shower. The silence envelops us, punctuated by the drip-drip-drip of the last remaining drops of water. Then that, too, cuts out.

"Eddie, the way you twisted things around in my life?—"

"Is unpardonable."

"The way you engineered the situation around me so I had to marry you?—"

"Is reprehensible."

She swallows, then wraps her arms about her waist. "I should leave you."

"You should."

"But I’m not able to bring myself to."

Every muscle in my body tenses. My pulse rate shoots up further. And my heart… It stutters, then starts again.

"I hate myself for not being able to walk away from you."

"Don’t." I go down on my knees. "Don’t do that. I’ll never be able to forgive myself if you do. You’re an angel. The kind of woman I don’t deserve. And I won’t blame you if you hate me forever."

"I wish I could."

I take her palm in mine and kiss her knuckles. "I’m so sorry I hurt you. I truly am."

She cups my cheek. "I know what happened to you made you put up walls, so you’d come across as cold-hearted and uncaring about the consequences of your actions. It’s why you pretended to be so unfeeling, when I know deep down you’re anything but."

My heart booms in my ribcage; pinpricks of disgust course down my back.Tell her, tell her.I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. I try again, then shake my head.

Her lower lip trembles. “It’s okay, Eddie. I know you’ll tell me when you’re ready.” She half smiles, then pulling her hand from mine, she brushes past me and out of the shower cubicle.

I rise to my feet and follow her. Grabbing a towel from the shelf, I draw abreast and place it about her shoulders. "I’m sorry," I swallow. "I really am.”

"Where the fuck are the sales reports? They were supposed to be on my desk an hour ago."

The woman on the other side of the desk pales. "I… I…"

I glare at her, and she takes a step back. "I… I…"

"Have you forgotten how to speak?"

"I… I…" She—whatever her name is—continues to gape at me like a dying fish.Enough of this nonsense.I rise to my feet. She yelps, then turns and scampers out of my office.

"Fuck!" I drag my fingers though my hair, then grab hold of whatever is nearest, which happens to be my empty coffee cup, and throw it in the direction of the doorway.

The man entering ducks—quick reflexes, I’ll give you that—then straightens and smirks. "Getting your jollies by scaring your employees?"

"Get out." I point my finger at Nathan. "Out."

He prowls over to the window. "Nice view."

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