Luke looked truly pained and that was the last thing I wanted. There’d been enough pain between us to last a lifetime, I didn’t want to make it last any longer.
“Forget it,” I brushed them off. While I knew I’d never forget what he’d said, the accusations he’d hurled at me and the look he’d given me, one filled with pure hatred, I needed to let it go. No good would come from hanging on to that sort of pain.
“No. Charlotte, I need to beg for your forgiveness. The things I said, I didn’t mean them. Had I known …”
“Hindsight is a pretty powerful leveler.”
“Can you forgive me?”
“I have to,” I confessed.
“You have to?”
“I have to. I love you, Luke. I know you probably don’t want to hear it and I’m not expecting anything from you, but if this is the last time I see you, if this is the last time I get to talk to you, then I need you to know. I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you. I was trying to protect you because I love you. You and Isla both.”
“And we love you.”
“You do?”
“We do. You’re it for me. I love you for what you did for Isla, but I love you more for who you are. You have tea parties and dress up like a princess just to make Isla smile. You’re kind, generous, funny, and sexy as hell. You made me fall in love with you when I thought I’d never go there again. You make me a better man, Charlotte.”
I’d heard enough words. My head was spinning, my heart was bursting, and the tears were streaming down my face. Throwing myself against Luke I clung to him, crushing my lips over his. Luke didn’t hesitate in taking over control of the kiss, deepening it as he pushed me against the wall.
Pulling back, I looked into the eyes of the man I loved. “You forgive me?”
“There’s nothing to forgive,” Luke confirmed with another kiss. “But I have a question.”
“Yes?”
“Are you okay?”
I couldn’t stop the smile as it tugged at my cheeks. “I am now. I am now.”
THE END!
EPILOGUE
LUKE
“Charlotte!Hurry up! We have to go!” Isla screeched as she tore around the house with more energy than any one person should possess at this hour of the morning.
“I’m coming! I’m just getting dressed,” Charlotte replied from where she was perched on the end of our bed wearing nothing but her underwear and a smile, looking as sexy as hell.
It’d been almost two years since everything had blown up in a huge shit storm that left everybody hurting but somehow, we’d managed to get through it and come out the other side bigger and better than ever. Charlotte moved in and Isla was doing better than expected. Today we were heading to the zoo and I had a surprise in mind.
“If you don’t stop looking at me like that we’re not going to make it out the door,” Charlotte told me as she pulled on her socks.
She wasn’t wrong. Even though the whole reason we were already running late was because I could barely keep my hands off her, all it took was one look and she had me ready to go again.
“You’re no fun,” I told her as I buttoned up my shorts.
“I’m plenty fun. And if you play your cards right, I’ll remind you just how fun I am later tonight.”
“I’m going to hold you to that,” I challenged her. “Now, I’m going to go make sure Isla’s ready while you finish getting dressed. Don’t take too long. You know how she gets when you keep her waiting.”
“Well get out of here and let me be.” She huffed, trying to look annoyed but the pink in her cheeks traveled down her neck and across her chest, making the top of her tits look incredible. Reaching down, I adjusted myself in my shorts and walked away.
“Isla?” I called out.
