A Romantic Scene From...

To Protect and Cherish
Karen Rose Smith
Silhouette Romance 0373198108

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The following morning, Tate Pardell showered and dressed.  When he picked up his cellphone on the dresser, he saw there was a text message from Anita.  Damn.  When had it come in?

                Clicking on the message function, he saw  Warren is stable.  Will call when I know more.  Anita.

                Obviously, she didn't want to talk to him.

                Hooking his phone on his belt, he was about to pick up his wallet when he spotted the money clip lying there, holding his bills.  The inscription was easy to read. 

                All My Love, Donna. 

                He'd kept the damn thing as a reminder that he'd been a fool, as a reminder to be cautious, as a reminder to let his head do the choosing, not another part of his body.

                All of a sudden, he realized that the part of his body that had chosen Anita had been his heart.  Had she seen this money clip on the dresser?  What had she thought?

                They had started out all wrong...and all right.  He realized now that he had deep, abiding feelings for this woman who had become his wife.  He had feelings that wrapped around him so tight he'd been afraid they'd strangle him.  But they wouldn't.  Those feelings were precious because they came from the best part of him, and he'd lacked the courage to share them with her.  No wonder she had doubts.  No wonder she'd let Kip Fargo get under her skin.

                He remembered the night he'd told Anita how Jeremy had died.  He'd felt naked.  He'd thought it was enough.  She'd understood everything he'd said.  She'd helped him understand he had to let go of the guilt. 

                Now, he understood it wasn't enough to share a bit or a piece here or there.  He had to share everything in his heart and soul with her.  Then maybe she'd understand how deeply he felt about her, how deeply he loved her.  He missed her and the kids desperately, and he wasn't going to miss them another day.  He wasn't going to let another day go by without making his marriage to Anita what it should be.  If it wasn't too late.  If he hadn't ruined everything by being an arrogant, stubborn, prideful male.

                His foot hard on the accelerator, he made the drive to Houston in record time.  With his SUV in the hospital's parking garage, he set out to find Warren Sutton and his wife.  Anita might not be here.  She might be somewhere with the kids.  But he had to start someplace.  If he'd had any brains, he would have gotten her a cellphone when she'd moved in.  Then he could have called her.

                Still, what he had to say, he had to say in person.

                The information desk directed him to the ICU unit on the fourth floor.  The woman had explained there was a lounge up there where visitors waited until they could have their short visits with members of their family.  To Tate's surprise, Ruth and Anita were sitting in the lounge, talking.  Marie was on Ruth's lap while the boys sat coloring on the floor near Anita.

                As soon as Anita saw him, her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open.  Recovering, she asked, "What are you doing here?"

                So this wasn't going to be as easy as he'd thought.  "We belong together, not apart."  He looked at the children.  "I didn't think they'd allow kids in here."

                "I just stopped here to see Ruth before--"

                Ruth cut in.  "Hello, Tate.  Good to see you."

                "How's Warren?"

                "On the mend, we hope.  He's going to have to change his diet drastically and get a membership at a health club.  If he does those things, I might have him around another twenty years."

                As her eyes filled with tears, she transferred Marie from her lap to her shoulder.  "Boys, why don't you come with me?  Let's take a walk.  We'll go throw some pennies in the fountain in the courtyard."

                Avoiding Tate's gaze, Anita fished pennies out of her wallet, handed a few to each boy and gave a weak smile to Ruth as she led the twins down the corridor.

                When he turned to his wife, Tate took Anita's hands and tugged her up.  "I don't want to do this here," he admitted, "but I don't want to wait another minute, either, so here goes.  It's true Donna and I were engaged.  But she didn't want me, she wanted my money.  A week before we were supposed to be married, she used my credit cards to go on a spending spree like you've never seen.  Not many people knew about that because I felt foolish that I hadn't seen through her.  But I hadn't.  So when you and I hooked up, I tried to be careful.  The thing was, I never counted on falling for you so hard...or loving you so much.  I've never loved any woman the way I love you, Anita."

                As her lips parted in surprise, he rushed on.  "I know your husband did you wrong.  I know it might take time for you to see I'm not like him.  But we've got time.  The vows I made to you mean everything to me.  Not only because we made a deal but because I'm head over heart in love with you.  Can you believe that?"

                While Anita gazed into his eyes, hers filled with tears.  "I can't believe you're saying these things.  I can't believe you love me.  I've dreamed about you loving me.  Because I love you.  I'm not sure how or when it happened, but it sure happened fast.  And it scared me so badly, I've kept it to myself."

                "Because you didn't know what I felt," he murmured, understanding completely.

                She nodded.  "When we made love, it was wonderful.  But afterward, you turned away."

                Pulling her closer so his breath touched her lips, he said in a low voice, "I turned away because I didn't have the courage to face what was happening between us.  I didn't have the courage to hand you my heart and soul.  But now I do.  Can you believe I'll be faithful to you?"

                Tenderly, she stroked her hand down his jaw and he knew everything was going to be all right. 

                "I know you're an honest man and will keep your vows," she returned with certainty.  "I'm head over heart in love with you, too, Tate Pardell.  I was on my way home to tell you that.  I just stopped here to say goodbye to Ruth.  I was going to come home and ask you if we couldn't come back down here together."

                His arms went around her then, pulling her close, bringing their hearts together.  His mouth on hers, he put everything he was feeling into his kiss.  When she responded with the same wholehearted fervor, he knew he'd found his soul mate, and nothing on God's green earth could ever keep them apart again.

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