Page 81 of Stolen Salvation

“Nurse?”

“Well, more of a skivvy, so whatever you need I’m your man.”

“I need a shower.”

Charlie saw the heat flicker in his eyes as they raked over her body and felt the twinge of desire swirl through her body.

“I can help, or I can call one of the girls if you don’t feel comfortable with me.”

Charlie snorted. “Come on, Noah, you’ve seen and touched every inch of me. If I don’t feel comfortable with you then I won’t with anyone.”

He nodded and approached slowly as if she were a skittish animal about to bolt. He looked unsure of himself, and she hated that.

When he was within touching distance she reached for him, and he opened his arms as she stepped into them. A feeling of coming home wrapped around her and she let him hold her. Noah would always be home for her. He was the man who’d seen her at her worst, who’d loved her when she didn’t deserve it, and she needed him to know how much he meant to her and apologise. “I’m so sorry, Noah.”

He pulled away and frowned as he looked at her intently. “Don’t apologise. I should’ve stayed and I didn’t.” He led her toward the couch and sank down with her still in his arms. “I ran when you pushed me because I still feel like I failed you.”

“No.”

He put a finger over her lips, and she noticed a mark on his wedding finger. Grasping his wrist, she held his hand still so she could look at it. In a band around the base of his finger was a new tattoo. Hope bloomed in her chest, and she wondered if she was silly to read something into this, but when she lifted her eyes to see him grinning his swoon-worthy smile at her, she let that fledgling hope soar.

“What does it say?” She knew it was a word but not the language it was written in and couldn’t read it.

“It says Charlie.”

She blinked fast, tears hitting her eyes as fast as she could clear them. “What?”

“I know I ran, but since the day we met, I have been yours, heart and soul. It doesn’t matter if you don’t want me, because in my heart I’m married to you, Charlie, and always will be. I’m not going anywhere, ever. I love you and no matter what you decide, that won’t change.”

“You love me?”

“I have always, and will always love you, Charlie.”

“But I sent you away and I said…. Oh, God, I suggested I wouldn’t have our baby.”

“I won’t say that wasn’t hard to hear, because it was, but whatever you decide won’t affect how much I love you.”

“I was never going to do anything but keep this baby. I was just pushing you away.”

“And I should’ve seen that.”

“No, Noah.” She cupped his cheek. “I should have. It’s not your job to second guess my crazy.”

“It is because that’s what we do for those we love. We see when they can’t.”

“I see a man who loves hard, who carries too much weight on his sexy shoulders, and who I never want to be apart from ever again.”

“This mean you’re gonna marry me again?”

A tear slid down her cheek, followed by another until she couldn’t breathe, and he held her while she cried and let the pain of the past go. “Yes, yes I want to marry you again, although in my heart I was never divorced.”

“I’m glad you feel that way because when Watchdog checked, he found out that you never filed the paperwork for our divorce, so we’re actually still married.”

“No!”

“Yes, you’re still Mrs Bishop.”

“I wouldn’t want to be anything else.”