She smiled weakly. "If you didn't do it, he would have found something else to be mad at me about. He intended to kill me long before you took away the money he wanted. I can understand you wanting to rub his deceit back in his face. You're forgiven."
Parker nodded his concession and left just as Ethan began to stir awaking from his tired sleep. As soon as he saw she was awake, he leaned over and kissed her soundly, possessively.
"Will you always be at my bedside every time something happens to me?" she asked teasingly.
"I want to be there even if there's nothing wrong with you always, Nicole."
His confession seemed to shock both of them.
She looked away from him to gather her thoughts. "Are you sure you aren't trying to make up for the pain my mother caused you."
Ethan could admit his revenge was wrong. "I had every intentions of stealing your heart and body, Nicole. Using you mentally like your mother had done to me. I thought I could remain impassive to you, but I think somewhere between getting revenge I found myself becoming receptive to that inner beauty only you could have. Soon it wasn't about Lynne or revenge; it was just about making you happy. I've done some pretty horrible things, Nic, to you and myself. All were pretty stupid." He kissed her knuckles, then elevated to her mouth capturing her in a passionate kiss making her feel good all over.
When he pulled away she had the most beautiful smile on her face, but his looked regretful.
"What is it?" she asked reaching up to smooth the furred brow of his.
"I have some bad news to give you."
"Nanna died yesterday when I was with my mother?" she guessed.
His eyes widened big as saucers and if her head didn't hurt badly, she would have laughed at the terrified look on his face. "How did you know?"
"Nanna was speaking with my mother when Lynne died."
"Are you mad you weren't at her side instead of your mother's?"
Nicole shook her head. "I'm glad I was there with my mother. Nanna wouldn't have wanted her to die alone and I think in a way, she knew her time had come. She was trying to make peace with everything and everyone."
"Did she make peace with me?"
Nicole nodded giving him a quick kiss. "She gave us her approval by telling me to give you what she could never give."
One brow lifted in inquiry. "And what could she have given me when I could buy anything I wanted?"
"Love."
That intense look on his face made her whole body tremble. Suddenly, he buried his face in her neck murmuring, "I don't deserve you, Nicole."
"You'll have a lifetime to make it up to me, Ethan." She pulled him in her arms and pressed her lips against his. His response was immediate.
"I love you, Nicole."
"And I you, Ethan."
the end
* * *
Corresponding characters presented in this book are available in other books by this author including
His Substitute Wife, My Sister
To read more of this author’s work, go to her website:
www.SylviaHubbard.com
From the same author on Feedbooks
Silent Lynx (2004) Spoil, defiant Tanae would like nothing better than her father to leave her alone and let her do what she wants to do despite his warnings that her life could be in jeopardy. One night she sneaks away from home, but before long she's in the hands of a strong powerful kidnapper who would like nothing more than to ring her neck. (The first story from the Heart of Detroit Series.)
www.feedbooks.com
Food for the mind
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