Hometown Star - By Joleen James Page 0,55
reasons for holding him and the kids at arm’s length. She’d physically withdrawn from him at the hospital.
When she’d taken off, he’d assumed the worst. It wasn’t until he’d driven back to Seward, to Patsy’s place, that he’d begun to breathe again. Star’s things had still been in the double–wide. He’d waited around for a while, but when she hadn’t come home, he’d headed here, to Eagle Ridge.
He’d been right to think she’d hide from him here. And she was hiding, running away from a past she couldn’t seem to shake. How did he convince her she’d make a good mother? He had no clue, but he knew he had to try. He’d die inside if she wanted to terminate her pregnancy, if indeed she was pregnant.
Cade exited the truck and started up the path that would take him to the Ridge. Thirty minutes later he found Star, sitting at the edge of the Ridge, her eyes on the canyon and the bay below.
Star turned as he approached. If she was surprised to see him, he couldn’t tell. She got to her feet, dusting the dirt from her seat with her hands.
“Hi,” he said, searching her face for a clue to her mood but her features remained calm, giving no hint to her mental state.
“You found me.” The wind blew a stray hair across her cheek and she brushed it away.
“I thought you might come here.”
She cast her eyes toward the canyon. “I feel calm here. The peace clears my head.”
“Let’s talk about today.” He reached for her hand, tugging her around to face him. “About what happened with Finn.”
She shook her head. “I’m over it.”
“Are you?” He studied her. “Tell me what you’re really thinking, Star.”
“I’m thinking it’s time for me to go home.” She reached up, her fingers touching his cheek. “You have to let me go, Cade.”
Her words crushed his heart, the ache deep in his chest. “What if I don’t want to?”
“I’m not the woman for you. You need a caregiver for the kids, a nurturer. I’m neither of those things.”
He stared into her eyes, seeing pain, regret, and love. She loved him, his gut told him that much. His gut also told him he couldn’t fix her. She had to fix herself.
“You’re wrong,” Cade said. “You are both of those things and more, but I’m not going to argue with you. Let’s just make the most of the time we have left together, okay?”
Her eyes brightened. “Really? No pressure?”
He drew her to him, his arms sliding around her. “I’m yours for as long as you’ll have me. We’ll worry about the rest later.” He didn’t bring up the potential pregnancy, didn’t want to rock the boat. Their relationship was a fragile as a spider’s web, easily broken.
“Okay,” she agreed.
He smiled. “Let’s go home. I want to be with you, Star. Nothing else matters.”
“In that case,” Star said, “I’m all yours.”
Cade smiled. Having her with him was enough. For now.
* * *
Star burrowed closer to Cade. They were seated together on the couch in the family room. Around them, the house had grown still. Time was running out for them. They both knew it. Desperation sat with them in the room, wild and reckless.
Star had one night left in Seward, and she wanted to make as many memories as possible to take with her back to Seattle, but privacy was an issue for them.
Cade’s hand toyed with her hair. “You’ve been quiet all night. What are you thinking about?”
“I’m trying not to think at all.” She’d helped out at the O’Briens tonight, for the last time. Together, she and Cade had put the twins to bed. Now, the guests had turned in. Ron had arrived home from the hospital, and he’d agreed to keep an eye on the kids so she and Cade could be alone for the last time.
“Let’s go to your place,” Cade whispered in her ear. “I know you don’t like going there, but we need privacy.”
The brush of his lips against her skin sent a shiver of desire through Star. More than anything she wanted this last night with him. “I agree.”
Cade pulled her up off the couch. Hand in hand, they struck out for Patsy’s.
She was sad to leave Alaska; she was excited to go home. And it was her last night with Cade. She didn’t want to talk about kids, or parenting, or a possible pregnancy. She only wanted him, had the compelling need to memorize everything about him.
They broke