Stay With Me(36)

Her meek acceptance of the status quo of their marriage put her as much at fault as it did them.

“We could play the blame game for infinity,” Rhys said gently. “What if Logan and I hadn’t been such bastards? What if we’d shown up for our anniversary dinner and you’d told us like you’d planned? What if we’d been with you when you started feeling unwell? What if we hadn’t put our business before you?”

“What if I hadn’t let you?” she challenged.

Logan’s hand tightened around her leg and she looked down at him. The same love, beautiful and untarnished, shone in his dark eyes.

“I think it’s safe to say that we all have our share of what-ifs. But baby, it won’t change the past. We can damn sure change the future, though.”

She licked her lips and drew up her courage to ask him what had weighed on her mind and heart since that last night in Jamaica.

“Logan, there’s something I need to ask you.”

He stared unflinchingly back at her. “Anything.”

His calm bolstered her, gave her such hope.

“That last day in Jamaica, when you called Kingston. I-I overheard part of your phone conversation when I was on my way to the restaurant.”

He cocked his head as though trying to remember as well.

“You said that there was nothing more important to you than the deal, that there was nothing you wouldn’t do to secure it. You said the vacation wasn’t important, that it was just downtime.”

His face grayed, and his lips tightened. Then he leaned forward until his chin rested on her knee. His arm snaked around her drawn-up legs.

“Listen to me, baby. I won’t deny saying just that. I was furious. I was trying to impress upon Kingston how important the contract was to our business. In that moment, I would have said anything at all. I didn’t mean it.”

“I believe you,” she said softly. And she did. She just had to know, to get it out of her mind so it wouldn’t take root, dark and insidious.

Rhys touched her chin, his fingers gentle yet firm as he turned her toward him.

“Do you believe we love you, Cat? Do you believe that there’s nothing we want more than you and our baby, here with us, always?”

She dipped her head until her mouth slid across his fingertips. She kissed each one then peeked back up at him. “I do,” she said.

“And will you stay?” Logan asked, his voice shaken and a little unsure.

She reached for his hand then took Rhys’ and pulled them to her heart. “I love you both so much. I’ve made mistakes too. I want the chance to make things right between us again. I’ve never wanted anything other than a life with the two of you. I want to stay. I never want to be anywhere but where you are.”

She savored the connection, the symbolism of holding their hands over her heart. Then she slid them slowly down until they covered her belly. Their family. Their connection to each other. Love. Perfect and true.

Rhys wrapped his other arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. He trembled against her, his body shaking as he gripped her arm fiercely.

Logan rubbed lightly over her belly, his large hand molding to the curvature. Then he leaned down and pressed his lips to the mound before turning his head to rest his cheek against her stomach.

She smiled and let go of his hand, lowering her fingers to run through his hair. It was a picture she’d carry with her always. That one moment of discovery, that love, despite all its imperfections, was glorious above all else.

What else could make past wrongs and hurts pale, slide silently away, forgotten and forgiven?

Here, in her hands, her heart, pressed close to her body and soul, was all that mattered.

Epilogue

She loved Saturdays. Sundays too. But Saturdays seemed more special because after a long week of work, Logan and Rhys slept in.Today was no exception. Catherine awoke to gentle hands exploring the bulging mass of her stomach. The baby rolled beneath their fingertips, and both men grinned.

“Good morning, princess,” Rhys said, pressing his mouth to Catherine’s belly. “You sure did keep your mama up a long time last night.”

Catherine laughed softly. That she had. In turn, Catherine kept Rhys and Logan awake with all her flopping around.

Logan swept his palm across one particularly noticeable protrusion. A delighted smile crossed his face when what Catherine suspected was the baby’s foot moved in response.

“Does she ever slow down?” Logan asked in awe.

“No,” Catherine said darkly.

Rhys rubbed along her tightly drawn stomach. “How’s your back this morning?”

“I haven’t moved yet, so it’s doing fine,” she said with a grimace.

“It won’t be long now,” Logan soothed.

She let out an unhappy sigh. “I know.”

Rhys and Logan both cocked their head in question.

“You don’t sound happy about that,” Rhys commented.

She grinned ruefully. “Isn’t it ridiculous? As much bitching as I’ve done about swollen feet, aching back, leaking br**sts and insane hormonal swings, I wouldn’t have traded this for the world.”

She glanced between the two men and reached out to touch their cheeks.

“I’ve loved being pregnant. I’ve loved having you both with me every step of the way. You’ll never know how much this has meant to me.”