Surprise filled Wes’ face and he sat up straight. “You remember!”
“I-I don’t know where that date even came from. I just knew. You had mentioned October, but you never said the exact date, right?” Her eyes grew wide and she bit her lip. Excitement flooded her and Wes grabbed her hand.
“I never mentioned the date. See. It’s all going to come back, Ellie. I know it.”
God, she hoped so. They talked well into the night and then Ellie curled up against her husband’s side, hand on his chest, and fell into the most peaceful sleep she’d ever had. At least that she could recall.
Chapter Twelve
Waking up with Ellie in his arms, her soft breath on his skin, made Wes’ heart nearly explode. All of the grief and rage he’d experienced over her “death,” as intense as it had been, couldn’t compare to the extraordinary love flowing through him at that moment. She made everything good and bright, and she cast all of his doubts and fears into the shadows.
Ellie was his reason—to live, to laugh, to love.
He lightly squeezed her shoulder. “Time to get up, Ellie-Bean. We have a flight to catch.”
She sighed softly in her sleep then her eyes fluttered open. Her irises looked more green than usual, and when they focused on him, he saw the exact moment when she remembered where she was and how they’d bonded the night before.
Pushing up off his chest, she gave him a shy smile, brushing her hair off her face. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to smother you.”
Wes grinned, happier than he’d been in so long. “You can smother me any time you want.”
“Good to know.” She ran her hand over his pecs and along his upper arms. “You’ve stayed in such good shape. I’m a little jealous.”
Her touch made his blood sizzle and tamping it down wasn’t easy. He was in bed with the love of his life, and he wanted her more than anything, but he knew sex was off the table right now. They had a plane to catch. But, damn, what he wouldn’t give to drag her back into his arms and spend the rest of the week in bed with her, exploring each other’s hearts and bodies like they used to do.
“I need to stay strong or I’ll have trouble getting around. The arthritis is already setting in, though. Some days, especially when it rains, my hips ache so much I feel eighty years old.” His gaze dropped, admiring the curves barely concealed beneath her thin pajamas. “You’ve kept in amazing shape, too. Perky as ever.”
“Hardly.” She laughed. “I suppose not having children helped things from getting too saggy, though.”
Shit.Wes tensed when she mentioned children, wondering if she suddenly had regrets. Although she’d always said she was fine with it, what if she wasn’t? What if he wasn’t enough for her? The thought continued to nag at him because it didn’t matter what she’d said in the past—especially if she didn’t even remember.
“You’re perfect, Ellie,” he murmured, trailing his hand along her hip and squeezing. “Even if we would’ve had ten kids, you’d still be perfect in every way.”
“Saggy boobs and all?”
“I could never not love your boobs.”
“Charmer. You sure know how to make a girl melt.”
“That’s my job as your husband. Keep you in a constant state of…melting.”
They both laughed.
“Any idea how long we can stay in Michigan?”
“Brand said probably only a day or two. But we can go back after the op.”
“Are we going to hit all the old haunts?” she asked.
“We’re going to try.”
With a nod, Ellie slid out of bed. “It won’t take me long to get ready.”
As Wes watched her pad out of the bedroom, heading for the guest bathroom, he sent up another thank you. By this time, he had thanked every god, saint, angel and the universe a million times.
Thank you.
A million and one times.