His lips curved. “No, my queen.”
“Oh, God.” Her fingers trembled against her lips at the memory his words had evoked. “Remy...I—” She broke off, her voice strangling on another sob.
He gently stroked her hair, his eyes tracing her features. “I had to come, Zandra. Being apart from you was killing me.”
I know the feeling, she thought.
“How have you been?” he asked quietly.
“Um. I’ve been better.” She looked him over, shaking her head slowly. “You’re wearing your old uniform... How did you know?”
His expression softened. “Your mother told me.”
She stared up at him, stunned. “My...mother?”
“Yeah.” A shadow of a smile touched his lips. “It was on your prom night, after you left the house. She pulled me aside and told me about your bonding ritual, how you two would watch An Officer and a Gentleman together and cry afterward. She joked that any man who wanted your hand would have to show up wearing a navy uniform.”
“She told you that?” Zandra whispered brokenly.
“Yeah.” His voice was husky with emotion. “She must have known...long before we did.”
As tears welled in Zandra’s eyes, Remy pulled her into his arms, tucked her head beneath his chin and held her tight as she wept into his chest.
She almost imagined she could feel her mother standing beside her, whispering the words from her letter. Never be afraid to open your heart. The right man will know how to take care of it.
Remy was that man. And her mother had realized it years ago.
Long moments afterward, Zandra lifted her damp face to his. “I missed you,” she whispered.
“God, I missed you, too,” Remy groaned, kissing her forehead and her closed eyelids. “I couldn’t get here fast enough.”
She smiled. “I’m glad you came.”
“Are you?”
She nodded as he lovingly brushed the tears from her cheeks. “I really am.”
He shook his head at her. “I’m so sorry I hurt you, Zandra,” he said thickly, stroking her windswept hair off her face. “I tried like hell to convince myself I was doing the right thing, but instead I betrayed your trust.”
She swallowed. “I never expected that from you. I felt blindsided.”
“I know, baby. Not a day goes by that I don’t regret what I did. Do you think...do you think you can ever forgive me?”
She stared into his eyes, saw his anguish and remorse, and knew there was nothing she could ever refuse him.
She reached up and touched his cheek. “I think I already have.”
He turned his face and pressed a kiss to her palm, his eyes closed in an expression of infinite gratitude that clutched at her heart.
“I’m staying here for two more weeks,” she murmured.
As he opened his eyes and looked at her, she added almost shyly, “You’re more than welcome to stay, too. If you’d like.”
His gaze softened. “Oh, I’d like. I’d like very much.”
She smiled.
He leaned his forehead against hers, and they looked into each other’s moist eyes.
“I love you so much,” Remy said fervently.
“I love you, too.”
“I need you.”
“I need you, too.”
Cupping her face between his hands, Remy said in an achingly raw voice, “I can’t live without you, Z. Please don’t make me have to.”
Her throat tightened. “I won’t.”
“Then marry me.”
Even as rapture burst inside her, she couldn’t resist arching a brow at him. “Are you asking or telling me?”
“Both.” His eyes glittered. “Because I’m not taking no for an answer. In fact—”
She watched as he reached inside his pocket and removed a small black velvet pouch that she recognized, having purchased jewelry from Tiffany’s.
He said, “I’ll give you the box later. It wouldn’t fit in my pocket.”
“Oh, my God,” Zandra breathed as he removed an exquisite princess-cut engagement ring. “Remy...”
As he held up the ring, the five-carat diamond caught and reflected the sunlight.
Zandra beamed.