Dillon shook his head, a sad frown curving his mouth. “You saw her kiss me.”
She rolled her eyes. “That’s splitting hairs, don’t you think?”
He shook his head. “No. I’m guessing that’s all you saw or we wouldn’t even be here.” He paused, one brow quirking up, his eyes daring her to deny it.
She couldn’t, and the thought occurred to her, again, she might have been wrong. Too much time lying in the dark tonight pondering her reaction made her realize she reacted out of jealousy. So intense she couldn’t be sure if she even saw things the way they were or the way the small, taunting voice in the back of her mind convinced her.
None of which she knew how to explain.
When she didn’t say anything, Dillon folded his arms across his chest. “Outside of what happened, what on earth would ever make you think I’d want her?”
“You loved her once, and she’s…” Emma looked down at her shapeless nightgown and shrugged. “I can’t compete with that.”
Saying it out loud, it felt stupid, childish almost.
Dillon’s hand cupped her chin. His thumb stroked her skin, running along the edge of her bottom lip. “You have a very warped view of yourself.”
Emma shook her head again. “No. I’m honest with myself. I know who I am…and I know what I’m not. I’m not that kind of beautiful.”
“I happen to think you’re the most beautiful woman in this town. You’re kind-hearted and compassionate, and you gave up your life to take care of someone else. First, your mother, then Janey, now Annie.” Dillon dropped his hand and tucked it into his pocket. “What I can’t figure out is…who takes care of you?”
She stiffened her spine. “I take care of myself.”
Dillon shook his head. “I believe that’s my job.”
A shiver ran the length of her spine. She opened her mouth to respond, but before the words left her tongue, Dillon pushed away from the doorway and shoved the door closed behind him.
He pulled a hand from his pocket and stroked her cheek. “What I felt for Leila isn’t even half what I feel for you. You’re like…coming home. When I talk, you listen, and lying in your arms at night is the safest place in the world. When I got those lab results…” He dropped his hand and diverted his gaze to the floor, giving a slow shake of his head. “I panicked. All I could think was…what if Annie’s not really mine? You’d have every right to take her and walk out of my life. I couldn’t bear the thought of a world without the two of you. Of never seeing either of you again. It scared the hell out of me.”
Her heart stuttered, and Emma looked up. “So you ran.”
Dillon smirked, an ironic self-loathing smile. “I ran.” He slid his hands on her hips, tugging her against him. “About two seconds after Leila kissed me, I sent her packing. I told her flat out I wasn’t interested and she didn’t like that. Had you kept watching, you would have seen the way she stormed off, because she sure made a show of it.”
He paused again and she knew he waited for her reaction, but she didn’t know quite what to say. “Why would she do that?”
He gave a miserable shake of his head. “She pulls crap like that all the time. She’s always been a spoiled brat and I think it pisses her off she can’t have what she wants. What she wants is my bank account. I have no feelings for her, and I haven’t for a long time.” A beat of silence passed. “I’m in love with you.”
She jerked her gaze to his, her mouth dropping open. Whatever she expected him to say it hadn’t been that. Was he toying with her? Looking at his eyes honesty stared back. Dillon bared his soul in his eyes, daring her to see the emotion, to deny its existence, but she couldn’t deny it. It shined like a beacon, there for her to see, and the emotion wrapped itself around her, warm, sweet, and enticing.
“Completely.” He leaned down, his mouth a bare inch from hers, hovering out of reach, like he was waiting for an invitation, or permission. “Forgive me for being a fool. I’m sorry it’s taken me this long to get to this point. I need you, Em. I love you.”
Emotion swamped her, and the wall of ice she built against him melted. Very aware of how much she missed him these last two weeks, she slid her arms around him and pressed close.
“I love you too.” She lifted onto her toes to capture his mouth.
His lips sought hers in return, his kisses tender and sweet yet etched with raw need. His arms held her so tight she wasn’t sure where he ended and she began. The emotion rose up around her, so simple that tears burned behind her eyelids. She didn’t want to let him go again, didn’t want to think about what life would be like without him.