Gwen drove to her house. There were so many good memories from childhood, before the single horrible one. She hadn’t gone home in years, but it seemed fitting for Mike to find her here—if he did.
Mom had given her the house after she begged her not to sell it. She understood why Mom couldn’t go back. It broke her heart when Dad left them, and shut out his magic. They’d been together for a century, everything wonderful, until one day Dad couldn’t do it anymore, and decided all magic was evil. He’d begged and pleaded for Mom to do the same. She couldn’t shut off what she was though. Honestly, neither could Gwen.
“Why are you going back there?” Mom asked from speaker phone.
“I told you. I fell in love. But he has a past, and I’m not sure he can walk away from it. Even if he can, he may not want to be what he is. And I didn’t save him when he was in trouble. He saved himself, but what if he can’t handle the guilt of having killed a man?”
“Did you even give him a chance to talk, Gwen? Or did you start doubting everything and run?”
Gwen sighed. “I told him to go back to his ex, to find out why she really left. He didn’t know the whole story.”
“And how did you find this out? Why would he care if it’s been that long?”
“Remember Robert? He couldn’t let go of his past.”
“That was different. Robert was in love with Liz from the time he was sixteen. They were together for decades. How long was this guy with this girl?”
“A few years.”
“Exactly. And he said what he felt for you was different than what came before, right?”
“Yes, but what if knowing the whole picture changes his mind?”
“What if it doesn’t? What if he goes, finds out, and doesn’t want her. What if, after all that, he thinks you must not love him because you sent him back to another woman?”
A sob erupted from Gwen. “I’m the biggest fool. You’re right. But I’m scared to death he won’t pick me.”
“You said he begged you to stay?”
“Yes, but now he won’t answer his phone. He probably hates me.”
“Well, on the plus side, it’s still early in your relationship. If he really doesn’t love you, then I guess you’ll find out.”
“That’s not helping,” Gwen cried.
Her mom sighed. “Don’t give up hope yet. If he loves you, he’ll come and you’ll know for sure. Then, for my sake, don’t pull this stupid move again. If after all this mess, he comes for you, hold on tight and never let him go. I want you to be happy, Gwen.”
“I’d die before I let him go again. This was stupid. I kept thinking about the reason she ran from him. It could change everything.”
“Yeah, you’re my girl all right.” Mom laughed sadly. “I’m sorry, baby. Sometimes our biggest problem is our curiosity.”
“I’m here. I’m going to go. Need to get settled in. It’s not like he’ll be here anytime soon. I didn’t even tell him where I was going.”
“You said he was smart. Did you give him any hints?”
“Probably not enough to go on. If he calls me, I’ll go to him. I’ll beg Robert to zap me to him.”
She laughed. “Good luck, baby. Call me if you need me.”
“Love you, Mom.” She hung up as she parked the car. Staring up at the door, she prayed she hadn’t made a huge mistake.
How long before he comes? Will he come? What if he doesn’t?
Shaking her head, she climbed out. She didn’t even bother with her bags, because she was going to fall into bed and cry herself back to sleep, then stay there until her tiger pounded on her damned door.
Making the trek from the driveway to the front door seemed to take an eternity that led to a giant heartache. With a heavy sigh, she slid the key into the lock and turned.
Sniffling, she wiped at her face before pushing the door open. She stepped inside to find Mike setting his paintbrush down. He turned with a smile that quickly fell away when he saw her face.
She ran to him. He caught her halfway, sweeping her into his arms. “I told you,” he murmured, “you’re all I want. I talked to Amanda like you insisted. She and I are completely done.” He kissed her eyelids. “Now stop crying,” he said more forcefully. “I love you. Don’t make me chase you again. This time, I’ll consider payback for being a fucking moron when I first met you, but I’m not running again so you can’t either.”
She sniffled. “Never again. I wasn’t sure I’d make it. It broke me open to walk away.”
“No one else but you. No regrets. I’m not ever letting you go, Gwen.”
She closed her mouth over his and got lost in their kiss. When she pulled back to catch her breath, she whispered, “I couldn’t do it again. I’m so sorry.”
“I get it. I hope this proves you’re my only choice.”
“It does.” Her smile finally brightened. “Why are you streaked with paint?”
He nodded behind him as he shifted out of the way.
Her breath caught.
She was curled in his armchair looking at something with happiness on her face and in her body language. Colors flowed around her in the background, drawing attention to her warm brown eyes and rapturous smile. “I don’t have words.”
He beamed. “You were telling me about this place, about the memories. I fell for you in that moment. Hard. You were so alive, and open, sharing a piece of you I wanted to be a part of.”
She gasped. “That was so soon. I wasn’t sure you’d even give me a chance at that point.”
He caressed her face. “You’ve changed everything for me. I was locking away a part of me, a big part, because of fear. You took that fear, made me see that it isn’t having power that’s bad, but what you do with it.”
“What you did yesterday doesn’t…” she shook her head, afraid to say it.
“They meant me harm. Cole would have taken a part of me I’ve come to accept, and even enjoy. All thanks to you. You made me realize I wouldn’t turn into my father. That my power was a part of me I should embrace. I don’t want to go back to how it was. I wasn’t happy.”
“You’ve convinced me. I won’t ever leave again. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have. It tore me apart.” She blinked and more tears streamed down her face.
Mike thumbed them away and pressed a light kiss to her lips. “I’d show up to catch you again.”
“Won’t have to.”
He grinned. “Want to give me the tour? I stuck to this room, and the kitchen, which thankfully had some canned food, because I got hungry. I can’t cook, but I can heat up a can of soup like a pro. Don’t even really know where I am. Preston had to dig for the address.”
Her brow arched. “You asked the guys for help?”
“You gave me instructions before bailing. I figured I would follow them before showing up here. You didn’t tell me anything more than you lived in a house on this lake. So, I called Tremaine because I had his number, and begged him to send Robert to me. Robert showed up and I asked him to find out where this place was. Based on the minimal info I had, Preston found it. Then I had Robert take me to Amanda to get the truth. It changes nothing, for either of us.” He gave her a stern look and she smiled slightly. “Preston texted him the address, and here I am. I spent all night painting the woman I’m hopelessly in love with. The one who sent me on a crazy chase and showed up crying.”
“I figured it would take you a while to decide what you wanted.” She sighed. “I’m a fool.”
“No. I asked Robert what happened between the two of you. It might not have been the right fit, but it did hurt you when he didn’t choose you.”
She chewed her lip and nodded. “I don’t want him though.”
“I know.”
“Even then, I wasn’t in love with him.”
“No, but you wanted to be the one he would choose, because you were with him at the time. Sort of like how I wanted Isa to choose me, because I wanted her. I didn’t love her, not really, but she made me feel something better than nothing.”
“You really do get me.” She grinned.
“Like you get me. Now show me your extravagant home.” He took a look around. “I’ll admit, I wasn’t expecting this.” He waved a hand through the room. “It’s bigger than I imagined.”
“Can we stay the night and go back tomorrow?”
“There’s nothing I’d rather do, besides make love to you, but we have all night.”
“Maybe we’ll start with the bedroom then.”
* * * *
The house was ridiculous. A fucking mansion. She took his hand, dragged him up two flights of stairs, and into the far room at the back of the hall.
He stopped to take in the master bedroom suite, at least he assumed it was, because it was bigger than his entire condo. “Holy shit, Gwen. I take it money was never an issue?”
She laughed and looked over at him. “No. I know, it’s too much, but it was my family’s. Mom gave it to me, the memories hurt her too much, but there were a lot of good ones for me I don’t want to forget. Mom and Dad were together over a hundred years before everything changed.” She looked up at him and shrugged.
“Gwen, I need you to stop being sad. I need to know that right now, I’m all you’re thinking about. Forget I dredged up the past, because right now is about you and me and nothing else.”
“Fuck, I love you, Mike. I’m never walking away again.”
He wrapped his hands around her waist and backed her toward the bed. “I need to make love to you. I need to be a part of you.”
“Already are. I’m sorry I doubted.”
“No more apologies. Just be mine.”
“Always.”
They made it to the bed and he pulled off her shirt, then immediately unhooked her bra. Her hands landed on her waistband to shove the pants down her legs while he rid himself of his shirt. She opened his belt as she stared up at him through her lashes.
Her hands wrapped around his shaft, and he dropped his pants, kicking them away. Then he curled one hand around the curve of her ass. Her legs locked around his hips and he gently brought her to the bed, sliding deep into her in one push.
“Heaven,” he groaned.
Lifting her head, she locked her mouth on his and wrapped her hand around his neck. He pushed the pace, and broke the kiss to stare into her eyes.
Their connection deepened.
“Can’t get enough of you, Sweetheart. Never going to have enough of you.”
“Same. Don’t stop, I need you so damned bad, Mike.”
“You’ve got me.”
Gwen’s body shuddered as release washed over her, pulling him with her. He collapsed beside her, and she wound around him, laying her head over his heart.
His fingers combed through her hair as he held her close. He smiled sleepily. “You’re forgiven this one time, but no more leaving me. I don’t want the past. I want a future with you in it.”
She looked into his eyes. “You are my future, Mike. You’re all I want.”