She gasped. ‘That’s why you were so nasty to me when we met? Why you would look at me sometimes with that judgemental look in your eyes?’
He sighed and nodded. ‘I saw him touch you, thought you were agreeable to what he’d proposed, but I know now I must have misheard.’
‘I didn’t understand what he was asking me at first. When I did, I told him to go to hell.’
‘I guessed as much. But much later. I’m sorry, Goldie.’
Her lips pursed. ‘You were saying about your past clouding your judgement...?’
He nodded. ‘When you wouldn’t share my bed I thought it was because I wasn’t good enough for you, so I lashed out at you. I’m sorry, mi amor. I didn’t buy you. I threw money at you so I could make myself feel better, tell mysel
f that yearning for you the way I did was okay because I had controlled your entry into my life. It was wrong, Goldie, and I’d give anything to turn back time and unsay what I said about you to my father.’
He watched, cursed as tears slowly filled her eyes.
‘Dios mio, please don’t cry.’
‘I won’t lie to you, Gael. You hurt me.’
Pain sliced his insides. ‘I’ll fix it, Goldie. I swear with everything I am I’ll spend the rest of my life undoing this hurt.’
Her mouth trembled. ‘How?’ she croaked.
‘Let me love you. Let me earn the right to worship you. You and our child. I’ll do whatever you want.’
She licked her lips. ‘What if what I want...what I need...is you?’
A tremble seized him that had nothing to do with the chilled wet shirt clinging to his back. ‘Then take me. I’m yours.’
‘Not until I know...until I’m sure how you feel.’
‘How I...? I love you. I adore you.’
Her breath caught. ‘Please say that again, Gael.’
He closed his eyes, dared to take her hands, bring them to his lips in a reverent kiss. ‘I love you, Goldie Aguilar. It may be a new love, but I promise you it’s strong, it’s yours, and it will stand the test of time.’
She freed her hands to cup his face. ‘Oh, Gael. I love you too.’
His eyes sprang open. ‘You love me?’
‘Yes. And my love is just as new as yours. I love you, and I’m willing to take a chance on us nurturing each other’s love, if you want.’
‘Sí! I most definitely want.’
She smiled. His heart threatened to burst out of his chest.
She threw her arms around him and stood on tiptoe. ‘Kiss me, Gael.’
It was his turn to smile. ‘Dios, you don’t need to ask twice. If I remember correctly, you owe me ten kisses.’
‘And I would’ve delivered if you hadn’t thrown a spanner in the works.’
His face sobered. ‘Lo siento, mi amor. Forgive me.’
‘All is forgiven.’
She fell into his arms again. When they finally parted their eyes were misted with tears.