He's the One, Jane Beckenham [best new books to read TXT] 📗

be the one to call the shots and say goodbye."

"Except it didn't work this time."

"No. But that's okay. A dose of my own medicine you could say. You've also taught me to care about me, Taylor. A very valuable lesson. I have to trust myself first of all. And if others make different decisions, then there's nothing I can do about it. I'm sorry I hurt you, Taylor. Insinuating you were only good enough for part time was hurtful, but you leaving made me think about what I was losing. And, Ms. Sullivan, I'm not prepared to lose you. Commitment means being together. I want us to be together, Taylor."

Taylor's fingers brushed over Cade's lips. “Shush, I understand now,” she whispered.

"We're the same, really. Two people who hurt. I didn't want to care, so used and dropped women at will. I always made it clear I wasn't into commitment."

"Mm, I remember that."

"Can you forgive me for being a jerk? I should have known, recognized it from the get go, but well ... I was blind."

"Should have known what?"

"That you were different. That you were special. You were the one."

Taylor snuggled into him, delighting in the feel of his arms as they tightened around her.

Warm and safe. That's what he was. A safe haven. The man she loved, so very much.

"My childhood,” Cade continued as if he needed to expunge the past, “made me only care about those I thought of as safe."

"Like Katie and Zane?"

"They were my responsibility, relied on me, so that was okay. I want you in my life. Taylor."

"Oh, Cade."

Cade looked down at her, a quizzical expression on his serious face. “Just oh? How about yes. Okay. Whatever you say, darling? You have me wrapped around your finger."

"Sounds good to me."

"Me, too. I love you, Taylor. Love you to bits. I love you so much it hurts. I cared that you chose me for such an important part of your life."

"Taking my virginity?” Taylor blushed even saying the words.

"Sure loved that role."

"I remember,” she giggled, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek.

"But once it was over, I realized I didn't want it to be. You'd got to me. And that made me scared as hell. So scared, I ran."

"I remember that, too. But, then, I was no better,” Taylor added. “I thought once would be enough. But you sure do get under a girl's skin."

"Glad to hear it."

"Trust. It always comes down to trust. If it doesn't exist we really have nothing, and sometimes not even ourselves. We've both had to learn to trust others."

"You doing that analyzing thing again, sweetheart?” he teased as he pulled her into the darkened recesses of the church.

"Why is it the people we either love the most or thought we did desert us? I thought I loved Rob. After all the hoopla of announcing our engagement, I realized I'd made a huge mistake. But how do you then turn round and tell a guy who's been diagnosed with a terminal illness—sorry I can't marry you?"

"Tough choice."

"No choice,” Taylor returned. “I couldn't leave him. Rob was so sick. Too sick to work, to read, to do anything except lie in bed."

"With you as his nursemaid."

Taylor nodded, fighting back the tears. Tears of sadness, of loss for a friend, for the joy of finding Cade. “I can accept now that the love I felt for Rob was friendship, but when I realized Rob knew I didn't love him, it made it all the worse. Then just as he died, he said he loved me. I was beside myself. What sort of person doesn't love their fiancé when they're dying? I was so ashamed of myself, Cade."

"And I bet your parents didn't make it any easier, if your mother's exhibition about ‘Saint Rob’ is anything to go by."

"No. Rob's family and ours had grown up next to each other; it was sort of expected. Rob ruined it by dying, and I ruined it when I told them two weeks before the wedding that I didn't think I could go ahead with it. My parents are professional brain boxes. I'm the late arrival, the surprise packet so to speak. And when I wanted to play with Barbie instead of Rubik's cube, they didn't know what they'd got. The other night, when you came to dinner, I finally understood what was happening. I was keeping the pretense of an engagement alive—to someone who was dead, Cade. Dead. It's sad that he was cut down so early in life. But Rob is gone, and I have to live—with or without my parents’ approval. I have to do what's right for me."

"You told them?"

"Yes. No more anniversary dinners."

"So, not only do I have a beautiful and sexy woman in my arms, but a brave lady to boot."

"Scared witless in reality."

"Yeah, but you did it."

"I did,” she agreed smiling up at him. “I've learned to trust my judgment, and I've done it by giving my trust to someone."

"Me?” Cade asked sounding hopeful

"Yes.” She nodded, but looked away as a sudden bout of shyness enveloped her, the “what ifs” attacking her newly found confidence.

"Don't, Taylor. Don't turn from me. I was the lucky one. You gave me such a beautiful gift."

"And I gained one back, actually two."

"Two? I reckon I should ask for a recall,” he teased.

"Be serious,” she said tapping his bare forearm. He caught her hand in his, threading his fingers through hers.

"We're linked, Taylor. That's it—forever."

"I love you, Cade. I never thought I could find someone to love."

"But hey, presto, here I am."

"And you'd better stay."

"Oh, sweetheart. I sure intend to."

Just then, a commotion echoed from outside the church, and Cade slapped his head. “My surprise. You, madam, made me forget."

"As if I could."

"Oh, baby, you do, believe me."

"What surprise, Cade? Spill the beans."

"Ah ... wait ... there's more."

"Cade?” Taylor planted her hands on her hips.

"Don't move, don't go ... nope, on second thoughts come with me."

"Where?"

"Not telling."

"Spoil sport.” Taylor's voice turned into laughter as he