Together Again(86)

                He stopped. Without turning around, he said, “Why do you have to take everything apart and try to reassemble it so it fits your idea of how it should be?”

                Her hand slowly sagged to her side and she sniffled as if she was about to cry again.

                He must have heard because he faced her and said in a gentler tone, “I stayed because I thought it would make you feel better. Why’s that suspicious?”

                “It’s not. But I don’t deserve it. I’ve been scared and stupid and stubborn … ”

                His mouth skewed into a wry expression. “Yeah, you have been.”

                “I seem to say everything wrong when I try to talk to you. Please. Don’t go. Give me another chance to say it right.”

                He came across the room and stood in front of her. “That’s not a bad start. Go on.”

                “Yesterday, all I wanted was to hold on to you when you got me out of that damned car. But I couldn’t.”

                “Well, you were duct-taped.” The smile was now approaching normal.

                “That’s not it. I didn’t think you’d want me to. I was afraid you’d push me away.” She stopped and looked up at him. “I thought maybe you’d given up on me, on us. I never answered the question you asked before you left; I couldn’t figure out how to talk to you when you got back. I thought I’d lost my chance to make it right.”

                “Do you want to make it right?” He circled her waist with his arms and she sighed as she sank into his embrace.

                “God, yes. More than anything.” She pulled back and looked into his eyes. “If it’s not too late, I’d like to answer the question you asked. Yes, I want us to be together. I can’t imagine my life anymore without you. It’s just that … just that … ” She shook her head as if the words were stuck and she was trying to get them loose enough to come out.

                “Just that what, Margo?” He smoothed the worry lines in her forehead.

                “It’s just that, I need to know you forgive me. I need you to say you aren’t mad at me. I need … ”

                “You need to stop talking so I can kiss you.”

                “Oh, yes, you need to kiss me.” She bracketed his face with her hands, the smile on his face reached his candy-bar eyes and she let herself get lost in them.

                His lips were soft and tasted wonderful, like the sweetest dessert, the best wine she’d ever had. She dropped her head back and he released her enough to kiss the pulse in her throat before kissing her forehead, the tip of her nose and each cheek. He ran his thumbs along her cheekbones, and then he kissed her again, slanting the angle of his mouth to capture hers completely, his intensity making her breathless. When he released her, she clung to him as if the house had slipped its moorings and he was the only stability.

                “Sugar, there is one thing about last night. I wasn’t kidding when I said what you have on made it easier to behave myself. That pajama top … ”

                She glanced at her arm and laughed. “It’s another long story.”

                “I have a lot of time for this one, Margo.”

                Trying hard to suppress a laugh, she said, “Actually, I’m not sure why I’m wearing it. I don’t remember putting it on. I guess I just grabbed the first thing I could find.”