THE BENNETTS' CHRISTMAS (The Bennett Family and the Masters Family #6) - Brenda Jackson Page 0,117
know what love is, Monica. If you did, you would have realized that when two people love each other, they can work out any issues that might come up between them. I never told you to give up your dreams for me, nor do I recall demanding that you have my baby before you were thirty-five. You told me more than once that you didn’t give a damn about any biological clock ticking and I got that. Yet, I fell in love with you anyway.”
“And I fell in love with you, too! I was just confused that last night on the cruise, Landon. I honestly didn’t believe you could love me, not really. But I’ve had some time to think this past week and you know what I’ve come to realize?”
He threw his head back and looked up at the ceiling a moment before looking back at her. “No, what?”
“I realized that getting my PhD means nothing if you’re not there cheering me on, telling me how proud you are of me for achieving it. And you are wrong about the cruise. It meant much more to me than getting my next orgasm. You made the cruise special. You will never know how much I looked forward to spending every day—and night—with you.”
Monica swallowed hard, feeling tears gather in her eyes. “I do love you, Landon, but I was scared. I saw how my biological father treated my mother and I didn’t want that. So I was very cautious about who I gave my love to. I wanted to make sure I was prepared to look after myself just in case the man I chose wasn’t who I thought he was, leaving me high and dry. I wanted to be an educated woman who had it together. A woman who didn’t need a man, even if she might want one.”
She swiped at her tears. “What I didn’t realize at the time was that I’d never have to worry about those things with you. To you, forever actually means forever. I don’t want to lose that, Landon. I don’t want to lose you. I love you so much. Please believe that.”
A part of Landon wanted to turn around and continue walking out the door, but something was happening to him. Love was thawing out his heart. She’d been right when she said he still loved her. He hadn’t been able to deny it. Another thing he couldn’t deny was the fact that he had missed her. He had missed being with her—sharing time, sharing thoughts and ideas. And during those times when they’d made love, he had shared himself as well as sharing passion.
“Landon, please give me another chance. The only way I can be happy is if I have you in my life.”
He stared into her eyes, needing to see if her words were sincere. In her dark eyes, he saw it—love. She had meant every single thing she’d said. The tears streaming down her cheeks, unheeded, sealed the deal for him. She loved him. Now what was he going to do about it?
Landon took a couple steps toward her, then stopped. Because she was suddenly moving toward him, racing across the room to throw herself in his arms. And he caught her, held her. Then he whispered, “I love you.”
His words made her cry harder and he pulled her in tight to his body. When moments passed, and her crying hadn’t yet let up, he leaned back and bracketed her face in his hands. “Why all the tears, sweetheart?”
“Because I thought I had lost you. I wanted to believe that you still loved me, but I didn’t know for sure. I was afraid you wouldn’t forgive me.”
“I’m sorry, too, Monica. I am sorry for expecting too much from you. Just because I fell in love with you on the cruise, that didn’t mean you’d feel the same way.”
“But I did feel the same way, Landon. I just didn’t know how much you meant to me until I returned home. I couldn’t sleep at night, and I could barely eat. All I could think about were the times we had spent together, how you’d made each and every day I spent with you special. Then I knew for certain that I loved you.”
She swiped at her tears. “I figured something out, too. Loving you doesn’t mean I have to give up my dreams. I still plan on resigning from the Tribune and moving back to Atlanta. Because you’ll be there.