“The look in your eyes when you introduced her to me… And then Sunday morning when the love for you came pouring out of hers…
“I could see both of you in the story, wanting each other, yet denying each other because Logan Townsend had a fiancée, and he was an honorable man.
“The only difference between that story and our lives is that I came to my senses first, and could release you from a commitment I should never have let you make. I know why you did it. The sin is on my head for lying to myself that it would all work out in the end.”
“Diane—”
“Before you say anything, you need to know I’ve called my parents and told them the wedding is off. I shouldn’t have been surprised to hear mother say she was relieved. They’re going to fly to Paris tomorrow and take me to that clinic in Zurich.
“This book has made me realize that whether I ever walk again or not, I want a man to fall in love with me the way you fell in love with Rainey. The way Logan Townsend fell in love with the doctor who saved his life.
“If I hadn’t tried to force something from you that wasn’t there, I would never have been shot.
“My obsession over you was sick and wrong. In the end it cost us both unnecessary grief. It’s humiliating to have to admit it, but you deserve to know that I recognize what I’ve done.
“Rainey knew a hero when she saw one in that group photo. She said the judge called it destiny. I know that’s what it was.
“What if she hadn’t painted you, Payne? It started a sequence of events that has freed you and me to live the lives we’re supposed to live. Tell her I’m so glad she did it!”
For the first time since the shooting, Payne wrapped his arms around her because he wanted to. “I know you’re going to walk again, Diane.”
“I have to believe that too. I won’t believe anything else.” She hugged him hard, then pushed him away.
“What are you standing there for?” She smiled. “Pack your bags. I’m kicking you out of your own apartment because I happen to know there’s a woman in Colorado who’s dying with love for you. Go to her quickly. And please, please be happy.”
CHAPTER TEN
“RAINEY?”
“Yes?”
She heard the zip open on her two man tent. “Are you asleep?”
“Not now,” she muttered as Craig crawled inside.
“Liar. I heard you crying.”
“Then I guess everybody else did too,” she lamented.
“Don’t worry about it.”
He closed the zip, then sat down cross-legged on the floor in the semidarkness next to her sleeping bag. Now that the sun had gone down, it was cooling off fast. With the screened windows left open, it would be cold inside by morning.
“People are still being flown in. The ones already here are too excited for tomorrow’s run to go to bed yet. Besides, I purposely placed your tent away from the others to give you some privacy. Are you ready to talk about Mr. Megabucks yet?”
“Please don’t call him that.”
“It was a term of endearment,” he teased.
“He’s anything but that kind of person.”
“Tell me about him.”
“Right now he’s in Paris with his fiancée. They’re getting married August first. H-he admitted he isn’t in love with her.” Suddenly it all came out in a torrent of words. Everything.
Craig let out a low whistle.
He put a hand on her arm. “That’s tough.”