One Special Moment - Brenda Jackson [88]
He stood and began pacing the length of his cabin. He knew she’d probably seen the article by now and he had a lot of explaining to do. He just hoped that wherever she was, she believed he loved her more than anything. He couldn’t imagine living his life without her.
He sat back down in his seat and gazed outside the window at the clouds, believing there had to be sunshine out there somewhere. The kind of sunshine to brighten the earth like Colby had brightened his life.
He refused to be another Hamilton who lost the woman he loved, and he simply refused to live his remaining years in heartache and pain.
He was determined to keep the woman he loved with him always.
It was late afternoon when Mac and Colby arrived back in North Carolina.
“I’m going to stay at my own place tonight,” Mac said after opening the door to let Colby in. “You and Sterling will need plenty of privacy.”
Colby nodded. Mac’s place was on the other end of Sterling’s property. He stayed there whenever Sterling was in town, and only stayed with her in Sterling’s home whenever he was away for protection against possible trespassing reporters.
After checking out the place he came back to her and let her know everything was okay. Then he teasingly told her there weren’t any reporters hiding out under the beds.
“And you really think Sterling’s on his way home?”
“Yes, I’m almost certain of it,” Mac replied. “I’ve been trying to reach him in the air but keep running into some sort of interference. There must be bad weather somewhere.”
Colby nodded. “I’m going to get settled in. Good night, Mac, and thanks for everything.”
“Don’t mention it. I promised Chandler a long time ago that I’d look after that boy. And I’m meaning to keep my word. You’re good for him, Colby. You’re just what he needs.”
No sooner had Sterling’s plane landed at the airport in Raleigh, than a helicopter was standing by to fly him the rest of the way to Hamilton. Bad weather conditions in New York had forced his flight out of the city to be delayed. It hadn’t helped matters that he was still unable to get in touch with Colby.
He gave a sigh of relief when the copter landed in the clearing on his property. It was night, and he could barely make his way through the darkness, but he didn’t intend to stop until he held Colby in his arms.
A showered Colby had just slipped into her nightgown when she heard the sound of a door opening downstairs. She grabbed her robe, wondering if it was Mac returning. He usually knocked before entering.
“Colby!”
The sound of Sterling calling her name thundered loudly throughout the house. Excitement pricked her every nerve. He was actually home!
Tossing her robe aside she raced out of the room. She stopped at the landing and stared down at Sterling who was standing at the bottom of the stairs looking up at her with dark, intense eyes. She loved him so much and no matter what, she believed he loved her.
“Hi,” she said quietly, watching him watch her. She had seen the relief on his face when he had seen her. Mac had been right. Sterling had actually thought there was a possibility she wouldn’t be there.
“Hi, yourself,” he said huskily. “We need to talk don’t we?”
She nodded, knowing he was referring to the article that had appeared in the newspaper that morning. “Yes.”
Sterling said nothing else for a moment but continued to look at her. He then said, “I know we need to talk, but I have some questions I need answered right now.”
“What are they?”
“At anytime after seeing that picture and reading that article did you think it was true? At anytime did you doubt my love for you? And do you doubt my love for you now?”
Colby knew she had to be completely honest with both him and herself. A part of her, the part that knew and accepted she was not as beautiful and glamorous as the women he was used to dating, especially someone like Diamond Swain, had tried considering the possibility that it had been true. But