“That’s right. You didn’t think it was going to bother him that the woman he loves doesn’t love him enough to marry him?”
Her eyes burned. She’d been crying for the last two days, didn’t think she had any tears left, but fresh drops rolled down her cheeks.
“I love him. I love him so much, I feel like I’m dying.”
Beau reached out and wiped away a drop of wetness. “Jesus.” He led her into the living room and sat down next to her on the burgundy leather sofa. “Christ, Carly, if you love him, why didn’t you say yes?”
She drew in a shaky breath. She wondered if she could make Beau understand. “I’ve had plenty of time to think about it. I suppose I was trying to protect myself.”
“Protect yourself? From Linc?”
She swallowed. “The thing is, Beau, I’m just a woman, same as the rest. Sooner or later, Linc will get tired of me and want to move on. That’s what all men do.”
“Linc isn’t like that. He’s the most loyal man I’ve ever known. You think he didn’t give the idea of marrying again a whole lot of thought before he asked? Linc didn’t become the wealthy, successful man he is today by making hasty decisions. He made a bad call once. I think he married Holly because he thought it was time, something he needed to do. This is different. No way he would ask you to marry him if he wasn’t completely sure it would work.”
She sniffed but made no reply. She had no idea what Linc thought about marriage. They had never discussed it.
“Linc loves you, Carly. I know him better than anyone. He loves you—and he needs you. You understand that, right?”
She shook her head. “Linc’s the most capable man I’ve ever known. He doesn’t need anyone.”
“You’re wrong. Sure, he can take care of himself and damned near everyone else, but that isn’t the same as having someone who cares about him, someone who loves him. He’s never had that. You didn’t have a family, but you had Joe. Linc’s never had anyone.”
Her heart squeezed. She’d never thought of that. That Linc might need her as much as she needed him. She pulled a tissue out of her pocket and dabbed at the tears on her cheeks. “You really believe a man can love a woman forever? You think it could really happen?”
Beau glanced away, stared off in the distance above her head, finally looked back at her. “I loved a woman that way once,” he said softly. “Her name was Sarah. We met in college and we were perfect together.”
“What happened?” she asked gently.
“In her senior year, Sarah got cancer. We fought it together. We thought we could beat it. Sarah had so much to live for.” He glanced away. “But the odds were against us from the start and finally she died.”
“Oh, Beau.”
“I loved her desperately, Carly, beyond all reason. There’s never been anyone else for me. There probably never will be.”
She reached over and covered his hand where it rested on the sofa. “Beau, I’m so sorry.”
“Linc loves you like that, Carly. The way I loved Sarah. If you love him, you have to go to him. You have to tell him.”
Her throat tightened. Was there still a chance for them? “I never should have let him leave. I tried to call him back, but it was too late.”
Beau smiled. “You’re both pretty hardheaded. That’s probably what makes you so good together.”
She stood up from the sofa, wiped away the rest of her tears. “I’ve got a bag mostly packed. I was planning to move home this afternoon. Let me change, wash my face, and comb my hair.”
Beau grinned. “Good idea. You look almost as bad as Linc.”
Carly laughed. God, it felt so good. She was going to Linc and she was going to marry him. If he’d changed his mind, she would just have to change it back.
She threw a few more items into her bag, washed her face, put on some makeup, and brushed out her hair. She looked passable, not great, but it was the best she could do. By the time she’d put on a flirty little blue print dress that came to just above her knees and a pair of high-heels, she was ready to marry Lincoln Cain.
Grabbing a navy blue knit sweater, her purse, and the handle of her rolling bag, she started for the door. A quick stop to grab the blue velvet box Linc had left on the dresser and she met Beau in the living room.
“The helicopter’s waiting,” he said. “But unfortunately there’s been a change of plans.”
Her heart seemed to stop. She was terrified to think what that might mean. “What’s happened?”
“Millie just called. Linc’s brother was wounded in action. They treated him at Bagram Airfield. From there, he’s being medevaced through Ramstein Air Base to Lanstuhl Medical Center in Germany. Linc plans to be there when he arrives.”
