Her voice caught in her throat. “I …”
He gave her an unsteady smile. “I’m too late, aren’t I?”
“Too late?”
He looked past her ear. “You’ve moved on.”
Turning around, she saw Brandon peeking out of her sister’s door, his face questioning before he ducked back. Frowning, Callie turned back at Eduardo. “What are you talking about?”
“The girl at the car rental counter told me about your accident. She also told me that you’re engaged. You and Brandon.” His eyes were bleak as he tried to smile. “I guess I should offer my congratulations.”
Callie nearly staggered back with shock.
“You don’t know,” she whispered. Sudden rising joy filled her heart, choking her with hope. “The engagement announcement was on my mom’s web page days ago. It was even in the newspaper this morning. But you don’t know.”
Eduardo shook his head, his jaw tight, his eyes forlorn. “I fired my investigator two months ago. Told my lawyers not to talk about you. I even threw away my phone.”
“Your phone?”
“I was mad at it.” He gave her a small smile. “I still do some stupid things. But my therapist says there’s hope …”
“Your therapist!” she cried, nearly falling over in shock.
“Talking about the past has helped me understand the choices I’ve made as an adult. And why I was so afraid to love you.” He took a deep breath. “Because I do love you, Callie. So much.” He looked down at the green cracked tiles of the floor. “Brandon is … he is a good man. I know he’ll make you happy.”
Moving closer, she reached up and lifted his chin. “Brandon and I aren’t together. He’s engaged to my sister.”
Slowly Eduardo lifted his head. Shock filled his expression, followed by savage joy. “Your sister?”
“I gave them the car yesterday and she was hurt in the crash.” She pressed her lips together. “We were worried. For a few hours last night the doctors weren’t sure she’d make it. She lost a lot of blood. But she came out of surgery this morning and the doctors say she’ll be fine. She just needs a lot of rest.”
“Thank God.” He hugged her close and whispered, “So she’s engaged to Brandon. I always knew I liked her.”
She pressed her cheek against his shirt, and her tears made the fabric wet as she sniffled. “Ever since it happened, all I could think about was that I wished you were here. So you could hold me and tell me that everything would be all right.”
“Oh, querida.” For a long moment, he held her tightly then he looked down at her. “I know I’m selfish and ruthless and occasionally a jerk. There will be times in the future you’ll want to punch me. But give me one more chance to love you. Just say the word,” he vowed, “and I will never again leave your side.”#p#分页标题#e#
She started to speak, but he put his finger to her lips. “Before you give your answer,” he whispered, “let me finish my argument….”
Lowering his mouth to hers, he kissed her in an embrace so pure and breathless and true that it left her in no doubt of his love for her, and so passionate it left her dizzy and swaying in his arms.
She looked up at him.
“Stay with me, Eduardo,” she breathed, blinking back tears. “Don’t ever go.”
His dark eyes lit up with joy. “Callie—”
“I love you,” she whispered, and he kissed her again, so long and hard that several members of the hospital staff cleared their throats and made loud comments suggesting they get a room before Eduardo finally pulled away.
“I wish I’d done things differently from the start,” he said against her hair. “That I’d given you a real wedding, and asked your father for your hand …” He snorted, his eyes twinkling as he confessed, “Do you know I actually tried to write you a poem on the flight here?”
“You did?”
“A love poem.”
“A love poem from the great Eduardo Cruz.” Giggling, Callie shook her head. “Now that is something I really, really want to read.”
“Not in this lifetime. You’d laugh yourself silly.”
“I could do with a laugh.” Callie put her hand on his hard, rough cheek, then slowly traced down his throat, to linger against his chest. “And we both know you’ll give it to me sooner or later.”
She felt him shiver beneath his touch. “Yes,” he said huskily. “I will.” He took a deep breath as he cupped her face. “I will give you everything. Everything I have. Everything I am. Both the good and bad.”