Page 71 of Her Guarded Hero

“I needed to make sure she and her little boy and girl were safe, but all the time I couldn’t help thinking of you. How you would be just as strong and fierce. I had been longing for you, and then God put a sign in front of me, that even I couldn’t ignore. I was coming back for you. There was no way I was staying away I second longer. I love you, Aurora. You’re my life.”

Aurora’s smile was bleak.

“What? Don’t you believe me?”

Her hand stroked upwards and circled the back of his neck, massaging his nape. “But it’s not just me anymore.” Her eyes were wet with tears. Then she shivered, and he realized the door was still open.

Dalton pulled her hand away and kissed her palm. He eased her up, and then sat her back down on the chair and went to shut the door. When he got back he saw her sitting there, hunched over, holding her tummy. He knelt down in front of her and pulled her cold hands into his. He blew on them, then gently put them back down to rest on her swollen stomach.

“Can you look at me?” he asked.

She looked up. “I love you, Dalton. I was falling hard for you when we walked up that hill that first day, but when I saw you with Taylor and Mark, you were it for me. I wanted you in my life forever. But that wasn’t what you wanted.” Her voice quaked. “So, I took what happiness I could, and hopefully I gave some back.”

“How could you doubt that?”

He watched as a lone tear dripped down her face. “At first, I wanted to break through those walls of yours, but then I realized they were your protection from pain. I never wanted you to hurt.”

“Fuck that,” he said vehemently. “I needed to feel that pain, walk through it, and find the courage to embrace the beauty of you.” She opened her mouth to say more, but he gently touched her lips with his fingers. “And don’t think I didn’t hear you, Love. I did.” His fingers lightly traced down until they rested on top of her tummy.

His. His boy.

His large hand spanned over both of hers, she moved them, covering his with hers. He felt the warmth emanating from her womb. He trembled.

Dalton had so many emotions roiling around inside of him. Despite everything there was still some resentment that she hadn’t told him, that he’d had to find out this way. But he knew that she also felt abandoned by him. But, this was his woman, Aurora would be able to handle each one of them. They would be able to work through everything, because there was love. But right now, he needed to tell her what she most needed to hear.

“Never doubt that I love our son. The only regret I have is that I haven’t been here for the last five months while you nurtured him under your heart.”

“Really?” Her voice was nothing more than a puff of air.

He leaned forward and kissed her raspberry red lips.

“Really.”

She hesitated, then asked, “What about Reagan Elizabeth?”

Feeling the pulse of life under his palm there wasn’t a doubt in his mind that his beloved daughter wasn’t beside him, wanting this child for him. He closed his eyes and swore he could hear chimes. Yes, his daughter would adore having a baby brother.

“I want our son to know about his big sister,” Dalton said.

Aurora let out a huge sob and grabbed him around his neck. “I wanted that too. I wanted that too.”

As he held her, he whispered in her ear. “I’m scared Sunshine.”

“I know. I know, Honey. But it’s going to be okay. I promise.”

She couldn’t make that promise, but maybe between the two of them they could keep their son safe. And for damn sure, he knew their son would always feel loved.

* * *

“Seriously, I don’t want tea.”

“Crackers?” Dalton said holding up a package of saltines he found in the cupboard.

Aurora shook her head and fought back a smile. She watched as he went to the fridge. She followed him and put her hand over his. “Seriously, I’m fine now. Are you stalling?”

He looked down at her. “I have five months of caretaking to make up for.”

She heard the disquiet in his voice. “And that upsets you, doesn’t it?”