Page 78 of Need Me
“I do love you and you are the most special, incredible woman in the world, babe.” He smoothed a curly lock of hair back from her face. “I have some things to work through, but I’m not closing the door on havingkids.”
Her forehead wrinkled and her eyes grew larger. “What changed yourmind?”
He smiled. “The McIntyre triplets. I helped Anna feed them tonight. Everyone else was busy and there were a lot of births, so staffing was stretched thin. Anna called me, and I couldn’t sayno.”
Robert moved off Brooke, and she rolled to facehim.
“I feel like such a shit for not visiting them. I haven’t been a very good friend because I’ve been a complete ass,” he said. “I’m tired of letting fear hold me back from living a full life, Brooke. I’m not going to give in to it anymore. From now on, I’m going to treat the bad things in life the same way I do the mountain. I’ll keep finding the next hold and work my way past whatever obstacles lie in the way ofhappiness.”
“I love the sound of that,” Brookesaid.
Running a hand over her side, he stared into her eyes. “Everything that’s happened has made me realize that I never truly grieved for Liam. I was so hell-bent on getting on with my life and honoring him by helping others that I forgot to let myself experience his loss. I just kept the pain locked up, but I didn’t deal with it. Can you be patient with me aboutkids?”
She took a deep breath and he experienced a sinking sensation in his chest. “Only if you can be patient with me about marriage. My parents should never have married, they didn’t suit, but neither of them would face up to the fact. I think that is why they were so miserable. When I marry I want to do it only once. I have a few nerves to get over before I can commit but when I finally do, you’ll know it’s because I’m sure. I love you so much, Robert, but I need more time to get to know you better before we make that kind of commitment. We owe it to each other to take our time and do thingsright.”
Robert pressed a kiss to her lips. “You’re so smart. Just one more reason I love you. I know I sprang the marriage thing on you, and I’m sorry about that. In case you haven’t figured it out, I’m not very good atrelationships.”
She poked his chest hard. “No, the women you were with were the ones who sucked at relationships, Robert. Not you. You need to realizethat.”
“I’m startingto.”
“Good. And about that guy in the picture withLiam?”
Robert made a face. “What abouthim?”
“I’d have loved to have him drill me into the mattress just as much as I do this guy,” Brooke informed him with another jab of her forefinger. “He has the same adorable, sexy, sweet smile and I’ll bet he was just as good at accents. I think he was every bit as nice to look at as the man lying here with me right now. The only thing I don’t like about him is knowing that he went through something so terrible and that he had to do it allalone.”
Gathering her close, Robert said, “You have no idea how much it means to me that you feel that way. I don’t know how your ex could be so blind and throw away his chance with you, but I’m glad he did. I’m sorry if he hurt you, but I’m not sorry that you’re mine now. I promise that I’ll never cheat on you or lie to you,Brooke.”
Brooke snuggled against him and kissed his shoulder. “You don’t even need to say that for me to know it, but I still like hearing it. You’re the most honest person I’ve ever met. Well, except for Hoss, but he’s a little too honestsometimes.”
Robert laughed. “Agreed. Where did Chase’s nickname come from? He keeps asking you, but you never answerhim.”
Brooke’s shoulders shook with laughter. “I can’t believe that he hasn’t figured that out yet. He loves the TV showBonanzaand Hoss is his favoritecharacter.”
Robert’s chuckle grew into a full belly laugh. Brooke shared in his mirth and they laughed until their stomachs ached and tears trickled from theireyes.
As they calmed down, Brooke brushed his still-damp hair off his forehead and brushed her lips against his. “I loveyou.”
“I love you,too.”
She touched her fingertips to his lips. “Fly me around the world again like the superhero youare.”
Robert kissed her fingers and rolled her over. “As you wish,milady.”
