In Too Deep_ Husband Material & the Sheikh's Bargained Bride - Brenda Jackson [32]
Matthew swept her off her feet and carried her over to the settee. He sat down with her cradled in his lap. He bent his head, and felt his wet cheek against hers.
“It wasn’t your fault, Matthew. It wasn’t my fault. It was just something that happened. We have to believe that so we can move beyond it. There will be other babies.”
He lifted his head to meet her gaze. “But will there be other babies…for us, Carmen? For you and me?”
Carmen knew what he was asking. He’d once told her that he didn’t want any other woman to have his child but her. And from the look in his eyes he still wanted that. He wanted to know if their relationship would ever get back to the way it was, when he was her whole world and she was his.
She shifted slightly in his embrace to wrap her arms around his neck. She wanted to make sure he heard what she was about to say. “I never stopped loving you, Matthew. The reason I wanted that baby so much was because it was a part of you, and a part of me. And the reason I hurt so much afterward was because I thought I had lost that connection. I thought the baby would bring us back together.” She paused a second and then said, “But I’ve discovered that all it takes to bring us back together is us. Being with you here this past week has shown me there is still an us, and I want that back so badly. I was never involved with Bruno. It was all a publicity stunt. The only man I ever wanted to belong to was you. Can you forgive me for shutting you out of my life when I needed you most? Can you forgive me for running away? I will never leave you again.”
“Oh, Carmen. I need you to forgive me, as well. I love you so much. I was so driven to give you the things you were used to having that I lost focus, I forgot about those things that truly mattered. You, and truly making you happy. I’ve been so lonely without you. And Candy, too, was just a publicity stunt. Hell, I was looking forward to spending time without her here. But when I arrived and discovered you, I wanted you to stay. At first I wanted revenge, to hurt you the way I was hurting, but I soon discovered it couldn’t be that way with us.”
She nodded. “I was going to make you want me and then leave again. Instead I ended up wanting you so badly I didn’t know what to do.”
“We’re going to handle our business differently from here on out,” he declared. “I’ve learned this week that I can balance my work and the rest of my life. Will you give me another chance to prove it?”
Carmen smiled up at him as he pushed back a strand of hair from her face. “I want that, too, Matthew.”
“And will you marry me, Carmen?”
She felt more tears come to her eyes. “Yes, yes, I will marry you, and this time will be forever.”
“Forever,” he said, bending down to kiss her. And the kiss they shared was full of promise for a brighter and happier future. Together, knowing what they now knew about each other, they would be able to do anything.
Moments later he broke off the kiss and stood with her in his arms. She recognized the look he was giving her. “What about the polo match?” she asked.
He chuckled as he crossed the room to the bed. “There will be others.”
Carmen knew he was right. Being in his arms and making love to him was what she needed. They were being given another chance at happiness and were taking it.
“It will be me and you together, Carmen, for the rest of our lives.”
She reached up and caressed the side of his face. “Yes, Matthew, for the rest of our lives.”
Epilogue
Ardella rushed over to them the moment Matthew and Carmen entered the tent, and from the anxious look on her face it was evident she was looking for a scoop. This time Matthew and Carmen didn’t mind giving her one.
“So you two, what are you smiling about?”
Matthew pulled Carmen closer to his side. “It’s a beautiful day and we believe it will be a good polo match.”
The woman gave them a sly look. “I think there’s something else.”
Carmen decided to take Ardella