Page 49 of Back in the Texan's Bed
“I never cared about your money,” she said, meeting his bright gaze. “I was in love with the man—still am in love with him. If you come to us penniless, it’s okay. You and Ben... If I have you two, I have everything.”
“Baby,” he breathed, then lunged forward, cupping her face, tipping it back and taking her mouth in a blistering kiss that leveled her. Pulling back, he pressed his forehead to hers, swiping his thumbs over her cheeks. “There’s so much I have to tell you. Will you sit with me? Have dinner with me?”
“I wish I could—”
He chuckled, brushing another kiss over her lips. “On the hope that you would give me another chance, I cleared it with Jeremy for you to take a break from the kitchen and have a romantic dinner with me.”
“Well, didn’t you think of everything?” She grinned, and stepping back, encircled his wrist and led him back to the table. “I would love to.”
Once they were seated, Carlie appeared with a wide grin and set down two plates of her signature dish before Charlotte and Ross.
“You’ll never believe what happened...”
Over dinner, Ross told her about the confrontation with his father and the surprise visit from his mother. She held his hand as he relayed how they tentatively started the process of healing their relationship, which had culminated in Sarabeth urging Ross to go after Charlotte.
“Wow. I owe your mother a debt of gratitude for her advice,” she said, caressing the back of his hand. “I’m sorry I didn’t have the opportunity to meet her.”
“She’s actually planning to move back to Royal so she can get to know her new grandson.” He smiled, and joy for him burned like the sun in her heart.
“That’s amazing, Ross.” She straightened in her chair and exhaled a breath, keeping a hold of his hand. If they were going to start their relationship anew, then he deserved the whole truth. It was time for it. “I don’t want to begin our foundation on secrets, so I have something to tell you. I haven’t been completely honest about why I left three years ago.” God, she didn’t want to hurt him. “Rusty had started hitting on me.”
Anger darkened Ross’s face, his narrowed eyes flaring bright.
“Did he touch you?” he growled.
“No,” she assured him, even as she almost sagged in her chair. Because he believed her. That had been one of her fears back then. But he accepted her word as truth. If possible, she loved him more. “He didn’t get physical, but he was insistent, and I grew uncomfortable. Especially with us being involved and knowing the power Rusty wielded. I didn’t tell you earlier because you love your father, and a relationship with him was important to you. And I didn’t want to taint that in any way. But if we’re starting over, we need a clean slate. No secrets. And also—” she briefly closed her eyes before meeting his unwavering gaze “—I want to apologize for putting all the blame on you for leaving back then. I had a part in it. And not just because of Rusty and his connections. I was afraid that if we went public, you would see how others looked at us together and not want me anymore. That had nothing to do with you and everything to do with my own sense of self-esteem.”
“Baby, you have nothing to apologize for. Nothing at all.” He stood, rounded the table and gently pulled her from her seat. Cradling her cheek, he smiled, his love for her so brilliant she would never doubt it again. “Right here, right now, is where we begin. The past is over with and you are my future. I need you, Charlotte Jarrett-soon-to-be-Edmond. I love you.”
She turned into his palm, placing a tender kiss to the center. “I love you, too, Ross. You’ve always been my forever. You always will be.”