Everywhere and Every Way(55)

Morgan pressed the remote in her hands and watched windows and doors  slide open on command with just a whisper of sound. The alarm had  finally been installed and the cable company had spent days working on  having everything wireless-not a cord in sight.

She walked through the heavily carved mahogany door inspired by Cal's  home and looked around in the hushed space. The grand staircase and  floating balcony overlooked the open kitchen, which was a dream for any  type of cook. Gorgeous precious-metal pendants lit up the marble  countertops in a huge horseshoe, with a built-in stove top and cabinets  shimmering with the richness of cedarwood. Cushioned stools lined the  countertops, and Dalton had constructed a table with special carvings in  the legs and matching benches. The golds, tans, and muted wine color  blended together to soothe the eye but also startle as bursts of vivid  orange and sunny yellow showed within the accents, from the mix of  sculptures and four-foot vases filled with exotic florals.

Her gaze assessed the subtle green walls, cocktail tables, and vintage  coffee table Dalton had restored. Beveled crystal glass mirrors  shimmered, and muted oriental carpets were thrown carelessly in  seemingly random patterns that set off the artsy chairs she'd lovingly  reupholstered in lipstick red. The punch of color was needed to pull  together the aesthetics of the open brick fireplace, wood, and neutrals.

A smile curved her lips as she took in the grandfather clock on the far  wall. It was the true centerpiece of the room, with the Rosenthals'  initials stenciled in place of the numbers. The soothing ticktock  brought a life to the room that would've made it more of an art show.  Morgan had made sure each room had a particular item that carried the  decor. For the main living room where people would gather, it was the  clock, representing the passing of time, the preciousness of moments  that tick by, and the reminder to spend them well.

As Morgan toured the rest of the house, a strange worry and restlessness  coursed through her blood. This was her client's house, but so much of  herself beat through the soul of every room. How many times had she  struggled not to cross the line of what she envisioned this house to be  and what the Rosenthals expected? She'd never had that problem before.  Morgan followed the rules. But this one time she'd taken a bit of a  gamble. From the herb garden on the back patio, to the stark white  lounge chair that was both comfortable and stunning, to the jewelry  armoire lined with velvet and embossed gold knobs, she'd picked every  piece of furniture and accent that would add to the spirit and beauty of  the house.         

     



 

It had to work. She'd done what Cal had urged and gone with her gut.  Surely her years of experience and knowledge would shine through. The  Rosenthals would see what she saw in this house and fall in love. Then  she'd score another large client and move on to the next house.

Morgan stopped as the thought held her. Was she going to leave? Maybe  she could stay in Harrington for a while. Take a mini vacation to  recharge, and see if they could build a life here. It was possible.  Anything was possible.

He loved her.

She hugged the knowledge to her heart. That night, his simple words had  buried deep inside her and claimed her forever. He wasn't a man to give  love easily. But once he did, Morgan knew she'd be his own personal  queen, because that was the way he made her feel every day and every  time he looked at her.

"Morgan? Are you up there, baby?"

His voice echoed through the house. She climbed the stairs and looked  into his beloved face. His dark tan had lost some of its color from the  turning of fall but was still a golden brown. Tiny lines bracketed his  eyes and mouth, confirming his nonstop schedule and little sleep gotten  within the past weeks. His T-shirt was dusty, and his jeans had a hole  in the knee.

"We alone?" he asked.

"Yeah."

"Good." Cal reached out and snagged her around the waist, dragging her  into his arms. His lips feasted on hers with a raw hunger that still  held an edge, as if he'd never get enough of her. She clung to his hard  strength, enjoying the scent of male sweat and spice that drifted from  his skin. She kissed him back with open enthusiasm that ripped a growl  from his mouth.

"We doing dinner tonight?" he asked.

"Yes. I told your brothers they could join us."

He groaned and nipped at the curve of her neck. She shivered. "Princess,  I'm sick of those bozos eating with us all the time. I have a great  idea. Let's go back to your hotel and order room service. Let them fend  for themselves."

She laughed. Funny, she was rarely at the Hilton anymore. Her nights  were spent over at Cal's, along with weekends when they could catch a  few hours of downtime. They'd gotten in a routine, including his family,  that made her soul happy. "I promised. The Rosenthals come in tomorrow,  so tonight is our last dinner for a while. I'll be tied up with them  finalizing details, completing paperwork, and making sure they're  settled in Harrington."

He blew out a breath. "Fine. But I'm kicking them out early."

"Fair enough." They gazed at one another for a moment, and she caught an  odd light in his eye. "What's the matter? Is something wrong?"

Cal cocked his head, as if wondering if he should say something. "Yeah. I  don't want you to go when this project is over, Morgan. I want you to  stay with me. Do you want that, too?"

Her heart surged at the same time that guilt struck her. She remembered  his words to Sydney. He wanted a big family. He was owed the truth  before they promised each other anything. "Yes. I'm in love with you,  Cal. I want to work something out, because everything about us feels  good and right."

He tried to pull her back into his arms, but she backed off. Wrapping  her arms around her chest, Morgan gathered her courage to tell him her  story. "What's the matter, baby? You don't look happy. Are you worried  about work? I don't intend to tell you to stop doing something you love.  Look at this house. It's amazing, and you put your whole heart and soul  into it. It's not just a house anymore. You actually made it a home  without one person living in it yet."

She blinked back the sting of tears. Damn the man. "Thank you for that.  No, I have to tell you something I've been holding back. It never seemed  like the right time, and I wasn't sure what would happen between us. I  never expected to fall in love with you." She gave a half laugh, trying  to gather her thoughts. "I don't want you to think I deliberately kept  this from you for any other reason than I just wasn't ready."

"Okay. I'm listening."

Morgan dragged in a breath. "I can't have any children, Cal."

A frown creased his brow. He scratched his head and probed her face with  his gaze. "Baby, of course you don't want children now. Did I scare you  when I told Sydney I wanted a football team?" He grinned. "I'm sorry, I  was talking about the future. Way in the future. Nothing to worry about  now, I swear."

"No, you don't understand." She fought her nerves and pushed forward. "I  can't have children. I'm not able to have children; I'm infertile."         

     



 

He shook his head as if trying to make sense of her declaration. "Okay.  I've heard of this before. When it's the right time and we decide we  want to try and get pregnant, we can go to fertility experts. We'll look  into options together."

"I had a hysterectomy, Cal. When I was eighteen, I was diagnosed with  cervical cancer. It spread fast, and my only option was the operation. I  will never have your children."

He jerked back. Shock filled his eyes, and she watched him try to process. "Wait. You were sick? You had cancer?"

She nodded. "It was a long battle, but I'm healthy and strong, and my  regular checkups have been clean. There are no guarantees, but the  doctors feel positive."

"God, Morgan. I wish you'd told me sooner. That must have been such a horrible experience for you."

"It was hard, but I got through it. I'm stronger now, and I learned a lot of valuable lessons along the way."

Respect glinted in his eyes. But there was something more. A distance  and worry that hadn't been there before. Like he was unsure what his  reaction should be to her news. "I'm not surprised. Another reason  you're incredible. I watch people give up every damn day. You? You're a  fighter."

"I look at every day as a gift," she said softly. "But I still lost something precious that I'll never get back."

"You think not being able to have children changes the fact that I love  you?" Temper flickered over his face. "You think I'm that type of man?"

She grasped herself tighter. "No. I knew you'd try to understand and  support me. I know you still love me. But my question is this: Are you  willing to give up your dreams of a family forever? Because I can't do  this with you unless you're sure. I can't give my heart and soul to a  man who's one day going to realize he needs to have a family to be  complete."