Faking Forever (First Wives #4)(91)

“We’re not,” Angie told him. “I’m a year and a half younger.”

They both moved away from the doorway.

Angie looked at her. “I’ll be in the kitchen. Yell if you need me.”

Shannon gave her sister a smile, thankful she was there.

Victor stumbled through the door, running a hand through his hair. The five o’clock shadow on his face looked a little more like a full weekend of stubble. “Can I use the bathroom?” he asked.

Shannon motioned for the door where the washroom was and used the time he was in there to collect her thoughts.

Let him say his piece and then move him on his way.

He returned from the bathroom looking like he’d run a wet comb through his hair. His eyes were a little more focused, and some of the color had returned to his face.

“Thank you for not turning me away,” he said once he took the seat opposite her.

“I considered it.”

He paused, picked his words carefully, from what she could tell.

“I screwed up.”

“Yeah, you did.”

“I’m sorry. I could tell you I had been up for hours, that my emotions were shot, wondering what would happen if the tabloids told the truth . . . but all that would be making an excuse when I really don’t have one.”

Shannon felt some of her anger dissipating with his words.

“I trust you, I do. I know I didn’t show that with how I reacted, but believe me, I do.”

“A trusting man wouldn’t have behaved that way.”

“It’s Paul I don’t trust. I know I’m not the biggest catch out there. That your ex shares your past, and that you might just want him back.”

“I don’t want him.” With all certainty, Shannon knew her life with Paul was over and not worth repeating.

“I know that now. I do. Please hear me out. I realized, with all my time alone circling the globe the last few days, that your single status since your divorce means that the break between you and him really hurt you. The fact that you made it clear that you weren’t a person I could play and get away with it . . . your defensiveness when we first met . . . all of that fueled my head, and my imagination ran with it. I told you I was going caveman. I’m not proud of it, but I can’t seem to stop myself when it comes to you.”

“Even the caveman needs to trust when he’s out hunting, Victor.”

“I have never been a jealous person. Not with Corrie, not with anyone. Until you. The thought of you leaving scared the crap out of me. And then you did it. This has been the longest three days of my life.”

She could relate to that.

“I love you, Shannon. And I will do anything to make it up to you.”

Hearing him utter that four-letter word was music to her ears. She cautioned herself. “When a man tells you what you want to hear . . .”

“I’m not giving you a line.” He leaned forward, rested his arms on his knees. “When Corrie left me standing alone like a groom on top of a cake, all I could think of was . . . well, that’s over. I didn’t chase her down and force her to hear me. But I’m here, Shannon, and I’m going to force you to hear me. I love you! I want you in my life, my world . . . my arms. I’m going to make mistakes and screw up, but I hope you care enough about me to find forgiveness and a second chance. I’ve been an asshole all my life, and sometimes I fall back on those habits. I need you to ground me.”

He reached out and took her hand in his.

She searched his eyes and found them welled with unshed tears.

A lump that had formed in her throat sat like a rock in a stream that air needed to flow around. Her breath sounded like a choking engine. “Letting you in has been the most daring thing I’ve done in five years. You have the power to devastate me.”

He took both her hands, squeezed them hard. “I won’t. With God as my witness, I will never be that man. I can’t stop you from walking away, but it won’t be my back you see leaving.” He leaned forward, rested his head on their joined hands.

Shannon’s hands started to shake, the decision to risk pain for the love he offered or go on living in the world alone . . .

She removed one of her hands from his and placed her palm on the side of Victor’s face.

Slowly he looked up at her. “The problem with loving someone is that even if you walk away, the love is still there.”

“Don’t walk away.”

A single tear fell from her eye. “I love you.”

He captured her hand against his face, pushed into it, and closed his eyes. “Say that again.”

“I love you, Victor.”

He opened his eyes, took her face in his hands, and brought her lips over to his. Their kiss was salty with her tears and sweet with their hearts.

He broke their kiss to pull her into his arms; his steel embrace locked her in the moment.

“Don’t ever leave me,” he whispered.

“Always give me a reason to stay.”

He stood, taking her to her feet with him. “I’m going to give you my name, my life, my family. I’m going to give you all the babies you want. I’m going to shackle you with all the reasons I can.”

Shannon shook her head, placed a finger over his lips. “All I need is your love.”