“He’s not moving right now, but you’re welcome to feel.” She pressed his hand to her stomach, keeping it pinned there with hers.
Robert had never been so in awe. The child she carried wasn’t his, but he was ready to stake his claim as the baby’s father. He cleared his throat to rid it of the lump that formed there.
“I thought your mom would be here.”
“She was, but I told her to go get some dinner. Knowing her, she’ll be back in about thirty minutes and will probably end up spending the night here.”
Good.That gave Robert a little time alone with Jessie. He wanted to insist he be the one to spend the night with her, but he was so exhausted he could barely stand up straight.
After nearly losing Jessie and the baby today, he didn’t want to leave her side, but if he didn’t, he feared she’d see him break down. He needed a little time alone to process and compartmentalize what had happened today before he could let it go and move on. Not only had he almost lost Jessie today, he’d nearly shot a man.
He didn’t want Jessie to witness his weakness. He needed to be strong for her.
Her brow creased. “Please tell me he won’t get out of jail again.”
“With two counts of attempted murder on top of his aggravated assault, and the arson charges, he’ll be behind bars for a good twenty years or more.”
Relief filled her face.
He cupped her cheek with his hand. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”
“I’m glad you’re okay, too.” Jessie leaned into his hand. “When I saw you go down after that second shot...” Her voice wavered.
“Sh... I’m fine and you’re fine. That’s all that matters.”
“No, it’s not. What matters is that I love you, Robert. And I’m so sorry for everything I put us both through—recently and five years ago.”
Robert pressed a finger to her lips. “I’m sorry, too. I never should have let you leave. I should have worked harder to give you a reason to stay. Because I’ve loved you since our first date.” He leaned in and pressed a kiss to the hollow below her ear, smiling when she shivered. “I promise I’ll never let you go again. No matter what.” He gently kissed her temple. “And if you want to leave Providence someday, I’ll go with you. I don’t care where you go, I will follow you.”
He pressed his lips to her forehead, then replaced his lips with his forehead. “I want to kiss you again like I did at the motel, but I don’t dare.”
“Why?” The single word came out breathy.
“Because it’s not appropriate for me to kiss you the way I want when you’re technically still married.” He played with a lock of her hair, trying to distract himself from the desire coursing through him.
“Patrick broke our wedding vows a long time ago. And as far as I’m concerned, he ceased being my husband the minute he tried to kill me.”
She slipped a hand behind his head and pulled him in until his lips touched hers. The kiss was hesitant. He stopped resisting and pressed his lips more firmly against hers. The kiss was suddenly no longer gentle. It held all the pain and sorrow of years filled with regret and disappointment mixed with the passion of their youth.
Robert reveled in the feel of her mouth on his. So familiar, yet new and different. Jessie was the one he was meant to be with forever. He’d never tire of kissing her.
“I’m not going anywhere,” she whispered when the kiss finally broke. “I should have realized a long time ago Providence has everything I want and the only thing I really need. You.”
He resisted the urge to pull her back into his arms and kiss her again.
“I love you, Robert, but I don’t want to jump into a relationship too quickly.” She chewed on a fingernail, and Robert’s heart sank at her words. “Please don’t be mad. I just need a little time to make sure I know who I am without Patrick’s threats hanging over me. You deserve a whole woman when we get married.”
Robert couldn’t help the grin that took over his face.
“Why are you smiling? I thought you’d be mad.”
“I’m smiling because I don’t recall asking you to marry me, yet,” he teased.
“I’m pretty sure I remember you saying something about putting a ring on my finger and springing for tickets to Vegas last weekend?” She laughed and smacked his bad shoulder.
He winced and flinched away.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to hit you there.” She put her hand on his chest and though she didn’t press hard, the flesh below the scrub shirt was tender enough that he captured her hand and held it in his.
