my life. You didn’t even give me a reason, you just ran. Do you have any idea the fear I faced thinking about asking you? I knew when we first met that you were going to be in my life. The first night we had sex I knew I was going to ask you to marry me.”
“I can still be in your life. I want you, Kane. I didn’t realize how much I’m in love with you until you weren’t there. I was scared, and you and I felt so right, I didn’t know what I was doing. I felt so guilty wanting and loving you.”
“I shut down for a month. Kane, the strong Congressman brought to his knees. I couldn’t eat, sleep, or even go to work. You broke everything inside me you fixed,” he said, without much emotion.
“Kane, listen to me. Please, listen to me. I wanted to marry you. I still want to marry you. I got scared. I ran like a stupid girl. I ran like I did the night you kissed me. The feelings with you were too intense. I didn’t mean to hurt you like this.
He stood there looking at her. Without thinking anymore or caring what the outcome would be, she ran into his arms. She wanted him and nothing else mattered. She had to hold him, fix him, and love him.
His arms stayed to his sides. He didn’t budge. Jeannie pulled him into her body tighter. Nothing.
“Kane.”
“I can’t, Jeannie. I just can’t. You need to go home. It’s too soon. I’ve been hurt too bad.”
Reluctantly and completely heartbroken she let go of him. He had the last word. He wasn’t looking at her. His face was turned away and she noticed he brushed a tear away. She wasn’t going to humiliate herself and beg him. This was all her fault. She had no one to blame but herself. She started to run to her car. Once again she tried to get out of there as quick as she could. Crying and running she couldn’t catch her breath. She just wanted to go home.
Chapter 25
Jeannie rushed as fast as she could. It was becoming darker out and the glow of the fireflies danced in the air. She stopped before she opened her car door to catch her breath. Her heart was once again ripped apart. She was defeated and lost. Pain tore through her body. Her face was flushed with humiliation.
She opened her door and slid into her car. As she was backing up, she looked out to see Kane running toward her. She continued to back out. Maybe he was so mad at her he wanted to yell more. Without slowing down, she continued to back her car into the turn around to head out. She heard him yelling through the closed window.
“Wait. Jeannie wait.” She didn’t know what to do. Should she stop and let him yell? Without thinking she slammed on the brakes as he approached the car. He grabbed on to the door and pulled it open.
Jeannie looked at him with fear and torment. Her gaze went to his red rimmed eyes.
“Don’t go. Please don’t go.”
“I’m not begging you to love me, Kane. I won’t beg any man to love me. I told you I was sorry. That’s all I have.”
“I will beg you. I don’t know why I said what I did. I’m not myself.”
Jeannie put the car in park. Kane reached inside, and pulled her out. His grip tight and demanding. He wasn’t letting her go this time. She held him back, gripping onto the sleeves of his shirt. Her face was smeared with mascara, her cheeks red with embarrassment, she was afraid to look at him.
“Look at me.”
Her eyes lifted to meet Kane’s gaze. His face was overcome with emotion.
“I fell in love with you the moment I saw you. I knew then. You knew too. I love you Jeannie. I need you in my life. You make me whole again and make me get out of bed in the morning. I can’t lose you. I can’t go through the torment of another loss.”
She looked up into his broken blue eyes. “Take me inside the house. I want to feed you and make you better again. I’m here and I’ll never leave you.” A tear fell down his cheek.
They walked back to his house, neither of them speaking. Kane started a fire as Jeannie attempted to fix him something to eat. There wasn’t much food in