“When the police found Victoria, she had Tanya’s identification on her.” David told them. He shook his head. “So it was Tanya who disappeared.”
Victoria eyes widened. “That’s why they thought I was Tanya. For the fun of it, we’d dyed our hair red and switched clothing.” She laughed bitterly. “Well, I learned a hard lesson. Mom told me she didn’t want me dressing like Tanya when we went to the concert. I should have listened to her.”
Exhausted, she lay her head back on the bed and fought back a yawn. David studied her, then met Imogene’s gaze across the bed. “Would you mind giving us a few minutes alone?”
“Of course,” Imogene replied softly. “We’ll be right outside if you need anything,” she told her sister.
David waited until the door closed behind them, then because he couldn’t stop himself, he leaned down and briefly kissed Victoria. Not wanting to unnerve her, he drew back and let his gaze drift over her face. She looked tired, but otherwise was as beautiful as always. “How are you really feeling?” he asked as he took her hand in his.
“Overwhelmed,” she admitted, and now that she’d heard about her family, even more so. Victoria drew in a deep breath, then let it out slowly, her heartbeat quickening. “I can’t believe all that’s happened,” she said, still tasting him on her lips, wishing his kiss meant more than just concern. “I remember everything now, but it’s hard trying to sort it all out.” Her throat felt swollen, and she took a cup of water from the table beside the bed. After taking a swallow, she put it down. “One minute I’m Tanya, and the next, I’m Victoria Danforth. I don’t know what to think.”
David stroked her forehead with the palm of his hand. “The doctor said you might be confused for a while, and for you to take it easy for the next few days. You’ve been through a lot, not just in the last few hours, but for the past five years. Don’t try to sort it all out right away.”
Pulling her hand away from his, she sat up again. “I can’t help it. It all seems so surreal. I want to know everything, but it gets jumbled in my mind. And I can’t help feeling that I’ve missed so much. I feel like there’s two people inside me.” She trembled. “It’s scary.”
David stroked her back. “Tori, I’m not going to let anything happen to you. I promise.”
Victoria’s gaze connected with his. Tori. Her name sounded strange on his lips. “Tori,” she repeated. It even sounded a little strange coming from her.
He gave her a resolute look. “I have to call you something other than Tanya. Victoria is a beautiful name, but it doesn’t feel, I don’t know, right to me.” For what they’d been through together, for what they’d shared, he wanted to say. But he didn’t. He let her digest his words, then asked, “Do you mind if I call you Tori?”
“Tori is…nice.”
“I mean it, you know,” he said, his tone serious. “I don’t want you to feel threatened in any way. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you.”
Victoria wanted to believe him, wanted to believe that he would take care of her forever. Because he wanted to, not because he’d promised his father. But she just wasn’t sure of anything anymore. Her two worlds had collided, and her life as she knew it had forever changed. Soon her family would be arriving, and surely they were expecting her to return to Savannah with them.
And she wanted to go. She wanted to see her brothers and their wives and children, wanted to catch up on every detail of their lives that she’d missed. Victoria had thought that she’d be happy living at Cottonwood for the rest of her life, but did she even belong there now?
Sadly, she had to face the truth. There was no permanent place for her in David’s life. He’d never intimated there would be anything permanent between them. No, as much as it hurt to admit it, she belonged in Savannah with her family. Before all this occurred, she had been planning on leaving because she couldn’t stay without his love.
Nothing had changed in their relationship.
Summoning all of her courage, she said, “I’m not your responsibility anymore, David.” Her words seemed peculiar to her own ears. David had made a deathbed promise to his father that he’d take care of her, one that he’d told her he would keep.
She remembered back when he’d first arrived home. He’d been ready to ship her off to college to get her out of his life. Maybe he was more comfortable with her now because they’d had a sexual relationship, but that didn’t mean he felt anything in his heart for her. Becoming lovers had only complicated things between them, because she’d fallen in love with him.
But David didn’t love her.
He had no plans to stay on the plantation any longer than he had to. She’d heard that straight from his own mouth when she’d overheard his conversation with Justin. His life was in Atlanta. She’d known that before her memory had returned. Her memory returning merely facilitated a decision she’d already made.
And had provided a place for her to go. Home to Savannah.
David grimaced at her choice of words. “We’ve gone way beyond that, haven’t we?”
“Because we were lovers?” she asked with surprising calm.
His gaze hardened. Were lovers. Not, because we are lovers. She was already thinking of the time they’d spent together in the past tense. He studied her, and suddenly an odd feeling of doom settled in his chest. He was losing her. He had found everything he’d ever wanted in this woman, but he hadn’t seen it in time. Now she didn’t need him.
The feeling of dread deepened. “I love you.” She looked away and desperation set in. “I do,” he said fiercely. He touched her face with the palm of his hand, turning her face to him and lifting her chin, willing her to look at him. “Tori, I—”
“Don’t,” she pleaded, and freed herself from him. “Don’t do this, David. Not now.” She pressed her lips together, wishing with all her heart that David’s words of love were coming from his heart. But she knew better. When she’d been Tanya, she hadn’t fit into his world. Now he thought because she was Victoria Danforth, an heiress, she did. All along she’d wished he was falling in love with her. Why hadn’t he admitted his feelings when he thought she was a poor girl from the streets? Why now?
Did he truly love her?
Maybe he was telling himself that he did, but she wasn’t going to be foolish enough to believe him. As much as it caused her pain to do so, she said, “I’m sorry, David. Everything has changed now. All this,” she said, waving her arms around, then dropping them to her sides, “learning who I am, finding out what happened, it’s all just too much. I think it would be best if you took me back to the plantation so that I can pack my things. I’d like to be ready to leave with my parents when they arrive.”
David stepped back from her, stunned by her request. “You can’t mean that. You belong at the plantation.” Frustration built up inside him. He couldn’t believe she was telling him she wanted to leave.
“The plantation,” she whispered, and sighed at the realization. “That’s what you wanted all along, isn’t it? Cottonwood?”
David couldn’t deny it, but he wanted so much more now. He wanted Victoria. He swallowed hard. “Yes, I did, but—”
“It’s yours,” she told him, her voice void of emotion. “The terms of the will stated that I could stay for as long as I wanted. If I leave, the plantation is yours, free and clear.” She took a breath. “So now you’ll have what you always wanted. Your family’s plantation and me out of your life.”
His lips twisted wryly. “You think that’s what I want? The damn plantation?”
Instead of answering, she said quietly, “I’d like to get dressed now, please. Would you mind asking Genie to come back inside to help me?”
“Tori—”
“Please.” Staring at him, she willed him to let her go. She’d already lost her heart to him. She wanted to leave with at least her self-respect. “I can’t stay, David.”
Not with doubt in her heart.
Because she’d never really know if he loved her for herself.
Twelve
David sat at the desk in his father’s study, his heart aching. He couldn’t believe that Victoria could just walk away from the plantation.
From him.
He’d told her he loved her, but it hadn’t mattered. She had her old life back now. She was from a wealthy family, a family who loved her and wanted her home with them.
Everything had changed once she became aware of her true identity.
He leaned over, his head braced against his hands, wracking his brain for what he could do to change her mind. Until today, the only sure thing in her life had been Cottonwood. David would have bet his life that nothing could get her to leave.
But he had never planned on this. Victoria was an heiress. She could do anything she wanted, live anywhere she wanted.
She didn’t need the plantation.
She didn’t need him.
David had only himself to blame. Like a fool, he’d chosen the worst possible moment to bare his soul to her. She’d had the biggest shock of her life, and because he was afraid of losing her, he’d confessed that he loved her.
No wonder she hadn’t believed him. It sounded contrived to his own ears.
She thought that he only wanted the plantation, and if he were honest with himself, he did. Coming home had been cathartic for him. He’d learned that he cared about Cottonwood, and he wanted it to continue to be successful—for his father.
At that realization, something shifted in his heart. The bitter feelings he’d held against his father for so long had vanished. Victoria was responsible for that. After his breakup with Melanie, David had thought that he’d never trust another woman again. But Victoria had scaled the barriers of his heart. Through her, he’d seen another side of his cold-hearted father. She’d taught him that in order to get on with his life, he had to let his harsh feelings for his father go.
Standing, David paced to the window. From the first, Edward had known there was something special about Victoria. David wasn’t sure why. He would never know. But that’s why his father had taken her in, why he had encouraged her. Trusted her with the operation of the plantation in his son’s absence.
It was why he’d asked David to take care of her.
Somehow, his father had known that Victoria would need him. He suspected, also, that Edward knew that he needed Victoria just as much.
But Victoria didn’t know that, because David, trying to protect his heart, hadn’t told her how he truly felt about her. Well, he wasn’t going to let her go without a fight.
He loved her. With all his heart. God, she had to believe him.
He’d tried to talk to her again when they’d arrived back at Cottonwood, but Imogene had snatched her sister away to reminisce and bring her up-to-date on family matters. David hadn’t wanted to get in the way, so he’d gone into his office. But he couldn’t let Victoria leave without talking to her one more time.
He couldn’t live without her.
Victoria stared out the window of her bedroom at the plantation. In only moments, her parents would arrive. As much as she wanted to see them, she dreaded every minute that ticked by. Each one inched her closer and closer to the moment when she’d have to leave David.
After her release papers had been signed by the doctor, she’d dressed and they’d left the hospital. By the time she checked out, the news media had staked out the entire area. The hospital staff had ushered her out through a private exit in order to avoid the horde of reporters who had set up camp just outside the front doors of the building. She knew that eventually she’d have to talk to the media, but she just couldn’t do it now. Not while all of her emotions were on edge. She needed time to adjust to all that had happened to her.
Time to get over leaving David.
She fought back the tears that threatened. Imogene had reached their parents on their cell phone, giving them directions to the plantation and again assuring them that Victoria was all right.
All right.
Shivering, Victoria faced the truth. She was never going to feel all right again because she was leaving her heart here.
With David.
“Nothing will be the same when you go back.”
At the sound of David’s voice, Victoria’s heart stilled. She turned, and her gaze found his. He stood in the frame of the doorway, a looming presence, his expression serious and intense, and oh, God, he could melt her with just a look. How was she ever going to get over him?
“Savannah?” A wistful look flashed through her eyes. “No, I suppose not. I’m sure it’s changed.”
“I’m not talking about Savannah.” Shoving away from the door, David ambled across the room, stopping only inches from her. “You’ve changed. You’re not the same girl you were when you left.”
That was true, she thought. Now she was a woman, and she knew how it felt to be loved by him. “I suppose I have. But Savannah is my home.”
“You’re wrong, Tori. This is your home.”
“No.” Tears brimmed in her eyes as she shook her head. “Cottonwood is yours, not mine, David. It always has been.”
He touched her face with the palm of his hand. “At one time I thought that was true,” he admitted, shrugging his shoulders. “When I came back, I was ready to run you off.”
“I know,” she said quietly. “I was never after Cottonwood, or your father’s money.”
David let out a breath. “I didn’t really think you were.”
“You didn’t?” Her eyebrows lifted.
“I was trying get rid of you because I was so damned attracted to you and I didn’t want to be.”
Caught off-guard by his confession, Tori stared at him, disbelief written on her features.
“Does that surprise you, Tori? That I wanted you?”
He moved closer and she felt engulfed by his male scent. It wrapped around her like a warm blanket, pulling her to him. “Yes,” she whispered, wanting to believe him. But David had the power to destroy her.
“I’ve wanted you ever since I walked back into this house. Actually, I’ve wanted you for years. While I was living in Atlanta, I thought about coming back for you, but I couldn’t risk the wrath of my father so I stayed away.”
Victoria searched his face. His eyes were steady, his expression solemn. He was telling the truth. “I had no idea.” At least, she’d had no idea when he’d left five years ago that he’d wanted her. Now, though, she did. But desire wasn’t the same as love. As much as it hurt, she still couldn’t stay here—not without his love.
“I didn’t want you to know how I felt about you. To be honest, I’d been hurt, first by my father and then by Melanie. I didn’t think I could ever trust someone again.”
“But you can now?”
“You’re unlike any woman I’ve ever met, Tori. You showed me how to let my bitterness for my father go. You taught me to forgive him.”
Licking her lips, Victoria stared at him. “He loved you in his own way.”
“I know that now,” he said. “Just like I know that I can trust you with my heart.”
“Really, David?”
“You taught me something else. You taught me how to love again.”
Hope filled Victoria. She wanted so much to believe him. “I want to believe you,” she whispered.
“I love you, Tori. Please don’t leave me.”
The heat of his body drew her toward him. Her heart hammering, she lifted her hands to his face. “You love me?” she asked, a shiver going through her.
Looking into her eyes, David slipped his arms around her. He leaned his head down and touched his lips to hers. Then he straightened, keeping her within the circle of his arms. “I do, sweetheart. And I want to spend the rest of my life showing you how much you mean to me.”
Victoria’s eyes teared. “Oh, David, I love you, too. I have for so long.” She slipped her arms around his waist.
He groaned. “I’ve waited a long time for you.” David felt the tension leave his body as she held him. His lips to
ok hers in a heated kiss, his tongue briefly exploring her mouth before he raised his head. “I thought I was too late. I thought you were going to leave me,” he admitted.
She smiled up at him. “I was. I didn’t think you meant it when you told me at the hospital that you loved me.”
He kissed her again. “I picked a heck of a time to admit how I felt about you, waiting until you’d gotten your memory back. But when Imogene confronted you at the Thanksgiving celebration, and it became clear that you were really her sister, I realized I could lose you. I’ve been such a fool. I should have told you a long time ago that I was in love with you. When you got your memory back, I could see you slipping away from my life. I began to panic.”
She leaned up and kissed his mouth. “It was quite a shock learning my identity.”
“For both of us.” David tightened his arms around her. “I know that you want to be with your family now. Though I want to keep Cottonwood, I’m willing to move to Savannah so that I can be with you.”
Her eyes widened as she leaned away to get a better look at his face. “You’d move to Savannah? What about your plans to return to Atlanta?”
“I’m not going back to Atlanta,” he told her.
“But I heard you. Yesterday. You were on the phone with Justin, and I heard you tell him that your plans hadn’t changed. I assumed you meant that you were planning on returning to Atlanta when the term of the will was up.”
Understanding dawned on David. “That’s why you suddenly become so quiet and distant, why you wanted to return to Cottonwood so quickly?”
She licked her lips. “Well, yes.”
“Sweetheart, that conversation had nothing to do with you, with us. It was about business.”
“Really?”
“Believe me, honey, the only plan I have is to live with you wherever you want.”
“Oh, David, I love you so much.” Victoria smiled. In all of her dreams, she’d never thought that her life would turn out like this. She’d arrived at Cottonwood alone and confused, her memory wiped from her mind.
Terms 0f Surrender (Dynasties: The Danforths Book 11) Page 14