More Than Perfect(63)
And that’s where he found her.
She woke to Mikey’s demanding cry, groggy and confused. “I’ll get him,” she muttered, her eyes refusing to unglue themselves. What in the world had happened to their bed? It felt like someone had filled it with rocks during the night. She yawned. “Probably needs his diaper changed.”
“Not really. I think he just needs his mother.”
Dishes rattled nearby and she caught the subtle fragrance of her favorite tea. Memory slammed through her. Lucius. Mikey. The Pretorius Program. Oh, God, their fight. Her eyes popped open, fighting to focus through the blur of a sleepless night and too many tears.
And there was Lucius, crouched beside her, steam wafting from the translucent porcelain cup and saucer he held. Mikey sat at his feet in a carrier, pumping his little arms and legs as though trying to swim through the air in order to reach her.
“What…?” She struggled to get her brain cells to fire. “How…? How did you get in?”
“You left the front door unlocked—an oversight we’ll discuss later. So, I made myself at home.” He handed her the tea. “Drink.”
She’d have refused, just on sheer principle, but the tea smelled too delicious. Plus, if she had a hope in hell of dealing with Lucius, she’d better get some caffeine in her. She took a restorative sip and nearly moaned. Or maybe she did. For some reason, the sound caused Lucius’s eyes to flare. Once upon a time she’d have said it was passion. Not anymore. Not considering how they’d parted.
She sat up, painfully aware she only wore a thin nightgown. Great. Just great. Could she be at any more of a disadvantage? She took another sip of tea before shoving her hair out of her face. And then she forced herself to meet his gaze. He continued to crouch in front of her, which put him far too close for comfort.
“Why are you here, Lucius?” she asked, seizing the offense. “If it’s to make more accusations—”
“I’m here to apologize.”
“And I’ve already told you…” Wait. What? “Did you say apologize?”
“Yes.” A smile twitched at the corners of his mouth, though he answered gravely enough. “I’m sorry, Angie. I should have trusted you. I should have known that even if you and Jett did put your heads together in order to manipulate the Pretorius Program, it was with the best of intentions.”
Angie scrubbed trembling hands across her face. “Either I’m dreaming or…” She shook her head, struggling to focus through the pain and fatigue. “I can’t think of an or,” she admitted in a heartbreaking voice.
“You’re not dreaming. I’m really here. And I’m really apologizing, most sincerely apologizing.”
Tears burned her eyes and throat. “Don’t,” she begged. “Don’t do this to me. Not unless you really mean it. I can’t bear—”
The sound of her broken plea proved too much for him and he swept her off the couch and into his arms. He cupped her face, took her mouth in a soft, tender kiss. “I love you. And I’m sorry.”
“Sorry you love me?”
He laughed softly. “I can never be sorry for that, regardless of your feelings for me. You gave me my son. A son I’d never have known I possessed if not for you.”
“Oh, Lucius.” She burrowed against him. “Why didn’t you come last night? I hoped you would. I waited and waited and you never showed up.”
“I had a stop I needed to make first. It took me longer than expected.”
Her head jerked upward. “The Ridgeways?” At his nod, she asked, “How did they take the news?”
“They demanded another DNA test. I agreed, of course. But I could tell they believed me, and it devastated them.” His mouth tightened. “It devastated them at first. Then they demanded I reimburse them for all the expenses they’d incurred while taking care of Mikey over the course of the past three months.”
“Oh, Lucius.”
His eyes went stark. “I wrote them out a check then and there.”
She hesitated. “So… What now?”
“Now we talk. Now we’re totally honest with one another, starting with… Why did you change the Pretorius Program? Why did you agree to marry me?”
She remained silent. And waited. Hope crept into her heart and took root there, which terrified her. What if she were mistaken? She didn’t think she could handle it if he got this part wrong. She didn’t have to wait for long.