Chapter 22
Daniel comes back to bed, laying down beside me and tugging me close, cradling me in his arms. He laces our hands together on my stomach and kisses my shoulder softly. I relax into his embrace, and he murmurs, "Are you okay, Baby?"
I smile. "I'm so much better than okay, Daniel." I feel his chuckle against my skin as he huffs out a breath.
"Good." We're both quiet, enjoying just being together, something I didn't think would ever happen again. I realize just how much I missed this, and it was so much more than I remembered. Being in his embrace makes me feel safe, which is something I need after tonight’s event. I feel like I'm where I'm supposed to be.
"Daniel?" I ask timidly, afraid to disrupt the happiness I'm feeling, but needing to know. I need to know why he kept us apart when he didn't need to. If he'd only given me a chance, I could have ended all the pain we were both feeling.
"Hmm?" He sounds completely content, and maybe even halfway to sleep, but when I turn in his arms to face him, his eyes fly open and he stares down at me, his eyes full of concern.
Biting my lip, I study his sleepy face. "Why didn't you let me explain? You kept pushing me away, but I don't understand." My voice is small, and trembles slightly. I'm terrified of what his answer might be, and I instantly wish I'd left it alone.
Daniel sighs deeply, his eyes filling with regret. "I was afraid, Genevieve, and hurt.” He's not looking at me anymore, instead he's playing with my fingers, and it's so endearing. "You already know that I grew up with my dad, and that my mom left when I was little. My dad wasn't really the touchy-feely kind of dad when he was in a good mood, and I already told you what he did when I caught the tail end of his bad mood. He didn't tell me when I did something good, he only focused on what I did wrong, telling me constantly what I needed to do in order to be better.” As I listen to him talk, tears are tracking down my cheeks and into my hair.
“When your husband hired me, I was just a stupid kid. I was taking care of my sister all the time, and resentful of my father. I wanted to get away from him as fast as possible. Cade recognized that in me and spent a lot of time talking to me." He takes a deep breath, closing his eyes as he confesses, "The first time I met you, I couldn't take my eyes off you. You were so beautiful. When Cade introduced us, you smiled at me and shook my hand like I was a man instead of a kid, and after that day, you always brought me a drink or a snack when I was working. I fell in love with you a little more each time you spoke."
“Being around you and Cade was so different from what I was used to. I think in some ways, I loved you just because of how obvious it was that you loved Cade. You never hesitated to tell him. There were times when you would come outside to talk to us and you would just lay a hand on his arm, or wrap your arm around his waist. It was something completely natural for you, and when I saw how he was with you, I wanted to have that too. And, I wanted to have it with you."
He offers a deprecating smile, "Cade knew how I felt about you." This is a side of Cade that I didn't even know about. I can't speak, the knot in my throat is entirely too big.
Daniel keeps talking, telling me things I’d never noticed. "One day, Cade was showing me how to do something, I don't remember what it was, but you came out in another pair of tiny shorts and a tight t-shirt to bring us cold drinks. My tongue practically fell out of my mouth. Cade started laughing, and I was sure he was going to kick my ass. He didn't though, he just said, 'She's beautiful isn't she? I've been in love with that girl my whole life and I'm going to love her forever.' I envied him so much right then, not just for being so sure about his future, but because he was going to get to have you in it."
Raising his eyes to mine, he reaches a hand up to wipe the tears from my cheeks. "Now, I understand completely how it feels to be loved like that. I never thought I would ever have this—I never thought I’d have it with you, Genevieve. I'll never take you for granted. If you'll let me, I'll spend the rest of my life showing you how much I love you and CJ. Not seeing him for the past few weeks has been hell. I adore him every bit as much as I adore you. I can’t stand being away from him…or you."
His voice and gaze are full of sincerity, and I throw my arms around his neck, burying my head in his throat. "I love you too Daniel, so, so much!" I can't stop the sobs now. I thought CJ and I would be alone forever. I never thought there would be someone to comfort us and share our lives with. And now that it’s happened, it feels unreal.
"I love you, Genevieve," he says tenderly. Then he pulls back, searching my eyes intensely. "But, are you sure about this, about me? You don’t feel like I’m trying to take Cade’s place, do you? Because I wouldn’t want that. I can’t imagine how hard this has been for you, I just want to be with you—however you’ll have me.”
He looks so worried. Placing a hand on his cheek, I stroke his jaw. "I'm absolutely sure, Daniel. And you're right, I did love Cade, and I will always love Cade—he was my first love and the father of my child—but he's not here anymore.
“I don't love you because you knew my husband. I love you because of you, because of who you are. You're a good man and you've been there for me when I felt like I had no one. You never pushed me for anything, you never pressured me. You’ve always helped, and when I realized I had feelings for you, I was terrified. You’re so much younger than I am. I was worried you wouldn’t think I was good enough, but you make me feel beautiful everyday, every time I see you. You and Cade are completely different people, and I know that. I love you... for you."
Daniel's eyes mist over before he closes them. He leans in quickly and touches his lips to mine. Just like every other time we've kissed, it escalates quickly and soon he's rolled me over again, settling his body on top of mine.