Secret Obsession (Carder Texas Connections #6)(61)

A swirl of hope pushed Noah to his knees. “I thank God every day for them, Jack. I’m sorry she lost you. I’m sorry you lost her, but I love them both with all my heart and soul. I don’t know if she’ll ever love me as much as she loved you, I’ll probably always be second best but I’ll take what I can get. A little piece of her heart is worth the world.”

He pressed his fingers to his eyes, straightened his shoulders and turned around. Shocked he hadn’t heard her walk up behind him, Noah flushed.

Lyssa stood behind him, her eyes wet with tears, and Jocelyn in her arms. She gripped his shirt collar and pulled him to her. “You listen to me, Noah Bradford. I loved Jack. I’ll always love him and remember him, but you, you hold my heart. Jack loved the woman I was. You accept the woman I became. The woman I am now.” She brought his head close to hers. “You healed my heart, Noah. I never thought I’d believe in love again. I need you with everything in me. Believe that. Believe in me.”

He wrapped his arms around her and Jocelyn and pulled them close. His body trembled. “I want to, but won’t you always wish for what might have been. How can I compete with a memory?”

“You don’t have to.”

She pulled his head down to hers and took his lips in a kiss. The passion in her touch tugged at his heart. “I admire the man who was smart enough and strong enough to stop the man who killed Jack. I need the man who holds me in his arms each night. I adore the man who took Jocelyn into his arms and quieted her when she cried. I cherish the man who even now checks on her in the middle of the night when he thinks I’m still asleep.

“And I love the man standing in front of me with all my heart. I love you, Noah Bradford. And I always will.”

“I love you, Lyssa. I’ll always love you.” Noah tightened his hold, the fear in his heart melting when she placed her head on his shoulder. Together they walked to the car.

He opened the door.

“Da!” Jocelyn yelled when he got in.

He stared at Lyssa. She grinned. “She learned a new word. Guess she knows who you are.”

He leaned over and kissed Lyssa’s lips tenderly, then ruffled Jocelyn’s hair.

“Let’s go home, family.”





Epilogue

Noah drove up to his father’s Denver ranch house. It looked the same as it had a week ago. Of course, Noah’s life was completely different now.

He rounded the car and opened the door for Lyssa. She hesitated. “Are you sure they’re not angry with me? I stopped you from coming home.”

Noah unbuckled Jocelyn from her car seat and pulled the chatterbox into his arms. “Sierra is safe. That’s all that matters. They understand.”

Still, Lyssa paused.

“Hey, it’s my family. I love you, they will, too. Besides, you’ve got me staying in Denver most of the time. They like that. A lot.”

Holding her hand, he strode up the stairs and gave three short knocks.

His sister stood in the doorway, smiling at him. “It’s about time!” He studied her face. Her cheek was scraped and her arm was in a sling. There was a haunted look in her eyes he understood but didn’t like. She should never have been taken.

Sierra turned to Lyssa. “I’m so glad to meet you.” His sister pulled Lyssa into her arms.

“I’m so sorry.” Tears filled Lyssa’s eyes. “It’s my—”

“Don’t say it.” Sierra waved the apology away. “He was a nut job. I’m glad he’s dead.” Even then, Noah noted the tremor in his sister’s hand.

After a gulp of wine, Sierra tilted her head. “I heard he left a list of all his so-called sacrifices. Way more than anyone knew.”

“How’d you figure that out?” Noah asked.

“It’s not like you’ll brag,” Sierra said. “I had to find out through the grapevine that the code you deciphered from his crazy symbols opened a safe where he kept a record of everything he’d done. You guys make quite the team.”

Lyssa looked up at him. “Yeah, we do.”

They entered the Bradford home. The wooden floors gleamed, and Paul wheeled over to them. “So, you finally brought her here.” He smiled at Lyssa. “Thank you,” he said, holding out his hands.

She reached out to him, a furrow of confusion on her brow. “I don’t understand.”

“You gave me back my son.”

Paul looked up at Jocelyn. “And who might this be?”

Jocelyn tilted her head at Paul, then she grinned and held out her arms, wiggling toward him. Noah maneuvered the baby into his father’s arms. Paul laughed and set her on his knee. “Want to go for a ride, little lady?”

She giggled and Paul wheeled them around the room.

“Where’s everyone else?” Noah asked, taking Lyssa’s hand in his and giving her a slight squeeze. She smiled up at him, even while keeping an eye on her daughter.

“Mitch and Emily will be here soon,” Sierra said. “Emily’s only two weeks away from delivery, so they’re a little slow getting out of the gate sometimes. Chase is on his way.”

Noah took Lyssa’s coat and hung it up. His shoulders tingled. He turned. Rafe stood in the door of the kitchen. Noah strode over to him. “Thank you.”