Secret Obsession (Carder Texas Connections #6)(60)

She could destroy him.

He covered her hand with his. “I couldn’t leave. I had to be sure—”

She wouldn’t meet his gaze. “I’m fine. Jocelyn will be fine. I’ll make sure she knows what an amazing woman raised her for the first two years of her life. We’ll be f-fine,” she stammered.

He grabbed her hands. “I know you will. That’s the thing, Lyssa. You’ll be fine on your own. I have no doubt about that. You don’t need me. But I—”

She leaned forward. “What are you trying to say?”

“I want you,” he rushed out. “I know it’s too soon. I know you still love Jack, but I want to be part of your life. I...I love you, Lyssa Cafferty.”

He squeezed her hands until she winced. Cursing, he let her go.

“I’m sorry.” He turned away. “This was a mistake.”

“Noah,” she said softly. “I love you, too.”

He spun around, afraid to hope, afraid her big heart was lying to her, but he couldn’t stop himself from tucking her into his arms and sitting down on the chair with her in his lap. His hands gentle, he kissed her slowly, reverently, and pressed his closed eyes against her shoulder, unwilling to admit the burn behind his eyelids was anything other than the residual effect of the fire and smoke.

“Are you sure?” his voice choked out. “We’ve been through a lot. It might not be—”

“Don’t say it isn’t real, Noah. I know what I feel. You’re brilliant, you’re determined, you’re the man I fell in love with. All of you. All your masks. The Falcon, Noah Bradford, CEO, but mostly, I just love you, the man, Noah.”

His smile broadened and he lowered his lips. Her mouth parted under his. His body surged with desire until they heard a toddler squealing.

A harried orderly walked into the room and thrust her at Lyssa. “She’s all yours. Nothing wrong with her lungs.”

Tears fell down Jocelyn’s face. Lyssa stood and held out her arms, but the little girl pulled away. “Marmie. I want Marmie!”

Noah couldn’t bear the crying. He took Jocelyn into his strong arms and bounced her a bit. “What are those tears for, pumpkin pie?”

The orderly gulped in relief and rushed away.

Noah lifted Jocelyn in the air. Her green eyes—so like her mother’s—stared down at him, then she smiled and giggled. After a few more soars into the air, he pulled her into his arms and sat down next to the bed.

Lyssa touched Jocelyn’s hair. “Mama loves you, baby girl.”

Jocelyn blinked her eyes, settling her head against Noah’s shoulder.

He smiled, holding the small body as gently as he could. “She’s going to have me wrapped around her finger in no time.”

“Me, too.” Lyssa risked a look at him. “She could use a good man in her life.”

“One man?” Noah asked. “Would you settle for one man, Lyssa? Me, the man who loves you, who runs his companies, who stays home and doesn’t live an exciting life?”

“What about the Falcon?” Lyssa asked. “Won’t you miss it.”

“The Falcon is dead,” Noah said. “I think it’s time I remind myself who I am and hang up the adventures for a while. Besides, I have a feeling you and this little lady will provide plenty of adventure for me.”

*

ROWS OF WHITE crosses dotted the military cemetery. A nip of cold brought a chill to the winter air, but Noah didn’t feel it. Lyssa’s joyous smile warmed him from the inside.

When they’d pulled Archimedes’s body from the remains of the gym, he’d finally seen that little line on her forehead smooth completely away. Until that moment, somewhere in her mind she’d wondered if he was still out there.

The nightmare was over. Archimedes was dead.

Now they had one more goodbye.

Lyssa placed a small photo on top of the cross. She laid her hand reverently on the stone. Part of Noah winced. Would she ever love him the way she’d loved Jack? For now, he’d just accept what she said, but he had to admit he doubted. She and Jack had been perfect together, but Noah wasn’t Jack.

He couldn’t pretend to be.

She walked over to the car with Jocelyn. The toddler didn’t smile much but clung to Lyssa.

“You ready?” Noah asked, opening the back door for her so she could put Jocelyn in her car seat.

She nodded. “Thank you for bringing me here.”

“You okay?”

Lyssa smiled up at him and gripped his fingers, squeezing tight. “Yeah. We have Jocelyn back. We’re safe. Jack would like that.”

After she’d put Jocelyn into the car seat, Noah opened the passenger door. Lyssa scooted inside out of the wind.

Noah paused, glancing at the gravestone. “Give me a minute?” he asked.

Her gaze quizzical, she nodded.

Slowly, he walked to the lone cross and stared down at the name.

Jackson David Holden.

His chest tightened with emotion, filling his chest and heart. Hope and more fear than he wanted to admit. “You were a lucky man, Jack. I wish I had been there that day, more than you know, but she’s safe now. You’d be proud of her. Man, she’s a hell of a fighter.”

He swiped at the bit of dirt at the base of the cross. “You have an amazing daughter, my friend. That little girl is just like her mom. Beautiful, smart, funny. And stubborn. She tells you what she wants and doesn’t let go until she gets it.” He rubbed the base of his neck. “She’s got your charm, too. I’m in so much trouble when the boys start coming around. I’ll take good care of her. Of both of them. I promise you that. Until the day I die.”