Page 102 of Play of Love
She brought her hands together and held them to her chest. She nodded, but I still didn’t know what she was thinking.
“I know. You never would, and you never have,” she breathed, tears spilling down her cheeks.
I straightened up and gazed at her. Now I could see. Now I could see that she believed me. “You believe me?”
“Yes.” She pushed a wayward golden strand behind her ear.
“How come?” I knew I should thank my lucky stars that she believed me and not press with questions as to why. However, I wanted to know what had changed her mind. Did she speak to Allegra? Did someone else convince her of the truth? I wanted to know.
“I love you.” A tear ran down her cheek as she spoke. “I love you so much and I trust you. I trust you, Josh, and I know that you were telling the truth.”
The fifty-ton weight that had rested on me since this whole thing happened lifted off my shoulders.
As I took her words in, my lungs expanded, relieving the constriction I felt from fear and I could breathe again.
“Amy…”
It was the first time any woman, except my mother and Clarissa, had ever told me that they loved me. I’d never even been lied to because all the women I’d been with weren’t looking for love. Neither was I.
Until her, until Amy. I found love with her.
“I’m sorry. Please forgive me for not believing you straightaway when I should have.” She covered her mouth as she started to cry. I rushed over to her and pulled her in, holding her close to my heart. In that moment, I promised myself I would never let her go.
“There’s nothing to forgive,” I said against her hair, absorbing the sweet fragrance of her and savoring the feel of having my girl back in my arms. “I love you so much, and I want to tell you that every day.”
She pulled away so she could look up at me. “Josh, I have to tell you something.”
“What is it?” I looked down into her beautiful eyes wondering what she could want to say.
“I’ve loved you for a long time.”
I thought of the times when I hoped that she could love me and it warmed my heart to know that she did. “Why didn’t you tell me?” I breathed, stroking the soft skin along her jawline.
“I was scared, and I thought that it would scare you away,” she answered, trying to hold back tears. “I never thought that you could love me.”
“And all this time I did. Baby, why would you think that?”
“I just thought I’d never be enough for you.” She lifted her shoulders and pulled in a breath.
I shook my head at her. “Kansas,” I chuckled. I hadn’t called her that in a while. She laughed and I relished the sound of her sweet laughter.
“Yes, your majesty?”
“Hey, I was never aware of you calling me that, but it does have a good ring to it. Amy.” I held her gaze. “You’re everything. My life doesn’t get much better than this. My life doesn’t get much better than you.”
As she smiled, I leaned forward to kiss her and immerse myself in the euphoric elation of having her back.
But…there was one last thing I had to do and I was feeling a lot better about doing it.
* * *
Amy
* * *
My skin tingled with happiness.
Finally, I’d faced my fears and could put aside everything I’d ever worried about. I knew now I’d never have to worry about suffering the same fate as my mother, because unlike my father, Josh loved me. And, like him, I’d tell him I loved him every day.
