Club Princess - Nicole James Page 0,57
you. I was scared to death I would be too late. Sweet Lola. My baby.”
She wraps her arms around my middle, and buries her face in my chest. “I was so afraid I’d never see you again.”
I stroke her hair. “I’m here. I’ve got you, sweetheart.”
She sobs against me.
“It’s over now, Lola. It’s all over. You’re safe.”
Finally she gathers herself, and pulls back, staring up at me strangely. “You’re really going to give up being a Nomad?”
I nod once. “I’m done with the road, Lola. I love you. If you’ll have me, I want to stick around, give puttin’ down roots a try, and give us a chance.”
“You’re really serious?”
“Yes. From the moment we met, it’s been you, Lola.”
She throws her arms around me. “I love you, Memphis.”
“I love you, too, baby. More than you’ll ever know.”
I kiss her then, and there’s no hesitation on either side, no testing of the ground to see if it can support what’s being built on it. We both just know. It’s a coming together of two equally strong forces; a union that we both know instinctively will last a lifetime.
“I love when you hold me, honey,” she murmurs.
“Lola, these arms will be here to hold you through any pain life throws at us.”
We come apart slowly, each seeking a reaction in the eyes of the other. But no words are necessary, because we both know to the depths of our beings that this is right, this is strong, and this is forever.
I grin at her, and she gives me back that radiant smile that will light my life until the day I die. And I’m good with that.
EPILOGUE
Lola—
A fire crackles in the stone hearth, radiating heat. Outside the hunting cabin, an autumn wind blows. Rock let us use the place for our honeymoon. I always loved coming here as a child.
I sit cross-legged on a braided rug in front of the fireplace, twirling the wedding ring on my finger mindlessly. Its grown dark outside, but I haven’t bothered to turn on any lights, my thoughts absorbed by the news Memphis just related.
His long body is relaxed back in the overstuffed armchair next to me, his face within the fringes of the dancing firelight. He absently rubs a forefinger across his mouth, and the gold band two fingers over glints. But it’s the troubled darkness within those hooded eyes that shows my husband is not as peaceful as he appears.
“Have you decided?” I ask quietly.
He shakes his head. “She just called this afternoon.”
“Why did you wait until now to tell me?”
“Kayla called when you were napping. Then—I don’t know—I guess I needed time to absorb it.”
“Where did she find your mother?”
“She didn’t. The detective she hired tracked her to Tupelo.”
“Are you going to meet her?”
He shrugs. “I don’t know.”
“Surely, after all these years, you can give the woman a chance,” I murmur, trying to keep my voice in a level tone. He glances at the clock.
“My sister’s probably meeting with her now.” Memphis reaches into the kindling box near the hearth and takes out a twig, absently snapping off pieces and tossing them, one by one, into the fire.
There’s a long run of silence, and I study him. I understand the steely reserve that covers his face, hiding the tension and fear beneath its surface. He’s afraid to hope, afraid to open up to the possibility of pain again.
On impulse I reach out to clasp his hand, wishing I could take some of that anxiety from him.
Finally, he whispers, “She wants to video chat with me.”
“Are you going to take the call?”
“I don’t know.”
“Honey, you need to.”
“I’d better put another log on,” he says, ignoring my comment as he rolls to his feet, stretching slightly to ease the tautness of his muscles.
“I’ll make some coffee,” I say, also rising.
The fire blazes cheerfully, lightening the room and the atmosphere when I return with two steaming mugs. Memphis stands by the hearth, his shoulder to the mantle. I pass him one of the cups and stay, standing in front of the blaze, watching the yellow flames crawl over the bark of a new log.
“There’s nothing like a fire with the first snap of fall in the air, is there?” Memphis remarks idly, and sips the rich brew.
“Nothing.” When a low chuckle comes from him, I glance over curiously.
“I was just remembering how right before the wedding, your brother threatened to kill me if I ever hurt you. Said he’d string me up and coat me in