Enticed by His Forgotten Lover (Pregnancy & Passion #1)(41)

They ventured closer to the water that foamed over the sand. Soon the cool waves washed over their feet, and Bryony smiled her delight as they danced back to avoid a larger one from getting them too wet.

Soon Laura’s and Bryony’s cottages were distant points behind them as they approached the land that he’d purchased from her.

“My father used to bring me here,” she said. “He used to tell me that there was nothing greater than owning a piece of heaven. I feel like I’ve let him down by selling it.”

Rafael grimaced feeling even guiltier over his part in the whole thing. It didn’t matter that if it hadn’t been him it would have been someone else. She could no longer afford the taxes and if someone hadn’t bought it, eventually the land would have been seized for taxes owed. Either way it would no longer belong to her.

But you have the power to give it back to her.

The thought crept through his mind, whispering to him. It was true. He owned the land. Not his company. Not his partners. He’d purchased the land outright. The building of the resort and development of the land was what he’d brought investors in for.

“I love you,” she said as she squeezed his hand.

He looked curiously at her, startled by her sudden affection.

She smiled. “You just looked like you needed that today.”

He stopped and pulled her into his arms, brushing a thick strand of her hair from her eyes as the wind blew off the water. “I did need that. I shouldn’t be surprised that you always know just what to say.” He took in a deep breath. “I love you, too, Bryony.”

Her eyes went wide with shock and then filled with tears. Her body trembled against him. “You remember?” she whispered.

He shook his head. “No, but it doesn’t matter. You said I loved you then. I know I love you now. Isn’t now all that matters?”

Wordlessly she nodded.

“The whole story doesn’t seem so crazy anymore,” he admitted. “I couldn’t accept that I fell in love with you in a matter of weeks and yet here I am in love with you after only a few days.”

“Are you sure?”

He smiled but his heart clenched at the hope and fear in her eyes. She seemed so worried that he’d change his mind or that he wasn’t really sure of himself or his feelings.

He tipped her chin up and leaned down to brush a kiss across her lips. “I’ve handled this whole thing so clumsily. I don’t have any experience with telling a woman I love her. I imagine there were more romantic ways of doing it but I simply couldn’t not say it any longer.”

“Oh, Rafe,” she said, her eyes bright with love and joy. “You’ve made me so happy today. I’ve been so afraid and unsure. I hate being uncertain more than anything else. The not knowing just eats at you until you’re a nervous wreck.”

“I’m sorry. I don’t want you to worry. I love you.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him to her. “I love you, too.”

He slowly pulled her arms away until he held her in front of him. She looked a little worried at the sudden seriousness of his expression and he tried to soften his features to reassure her. But he couldn’t really offer her any reassurance. Not yet.

“I need to leave tomorrow,” he said grimly.

Her expression went blank and her mouth opened but nothing came out. “Wh-why?” she finally stammered out.

“I need to go back and work things out with my partners and our investors. I’ve avoided it for as long as I can. I can’t do so any longer. I wanted you to know how I felt before I leave. I don’t want you to have any doubts that I’ll come back this time.”

Uncertainty flickered across her face and her eyes went dim. He could tell she didn’t entirely trust him and he couldn’t blame her. Not after what had happened last time.

“You could come with me,” he said. He was grasping at straws, anything to allay her fears. “We wouldn’t have to be gone long. A few days at most. I know you don’t like to be away from…here.”

She reached for him, her hands clutching at his arms as she looked up at him, her eyes so earnest. “I don’t like to be away from you, Rafe. You. Not here. Or there. Or anywhere.”

“Then come with me. I won’t lie to you, Bryony. I don’t know if I can fix this. All I can do is promise to try.”

She let her hands slide down to grip his, so tight that her knuckles went white. “I believe in you.”

He crushed her to him and buried his face in her hair. She made him want to be the man she was so convinced he already was.

“You’ll come with me?”

“Yes, Rafe. I’ll come with you.”

She pulled away and he laced their fingers together, holding their hands between them.

“No matter what happens, Bryony, I love you and I want this to work out between us. I need for you to trust in that.”

“I do trust you. You’ll fix this, Rafe. I know you will.”

He smiled then, feeling some of the anxiety lift away. He could breathe easier. The idea of expressing his feelings had given him a sense of uneasiness, but now that he’d done it, he realized it had been harder not to tell her what was in his heart even if his head still screamed that this was all wrong.

He’d spent a lifetime of listening to his head and being ultra-practical. Maybe it was time he threw a little caution to the wind and let his heart lead for once.