“You’re not a romantic. You’re a realist. You tell me you want to be in a relationship with me but you can’t promise me the future. I’m not asking you to promise me the future—it’s impossible. But I want you to feel like I’m your future. And you obviously don’t.”
Craig gave a harsh bark of laughter, his expression incredulous. “You have no fucking clue, do you?”
Confused, I scowled at him. “What are you talking about?”
“The night we had sex in your hall . . . The morning after, actually. I realized I was in love with you. I watched you sleep for a couple of hours and I knew that you were it. My mum called that morning and the exact words I said were, ‘I’ve found her, Mum.’ So don’t stand there and tell me what I feel. Because, yes, I can’t promise you that this is forever but I can tell you that I hope to God it’s forever.” His eyes gleamed with emotion and I felt the answering burn of tears in my throat. I felt like my heart was going to smash out of my chest and my hands were shaking so hard. “I can’t imagine ever loving another woman the way that I love you.”
My tears escaped and I bit my lip to hold in a sob.
Craig closed the gap between us in less than a second and I found myself wrapped in his arms, holding on tight. I sucked in a breath, trying to collect myself, but I was overwhelmed with relief and a happiness I couldn’t remember ever feeling before. “I love you too,” I choked out, burying my nose against his neck. “I love you so much.”
“Thank God,” he whispered back, his hold on me tightening. “I don’t want to be without you ever. These last three days have been hell.”
“I know.” I pushed back a little so I could look into his handsome face. I clasped his cheeks in my hands and pressed my mouth to his. It started off as a gentle, loving kiss and then it turned desperate as he tasted the tears on my lips.
He broke away, voice hoarse as he said, “I’m going to try my hardest to never hurt you again.”
I nodded. “Me too.”
He ran his hands over my hair, then down my body, his touch just as desperate as his kiss had been. “I want to know everything about you. I want to love every little bit of you.”
My chest squeezed in a delicious ache at his romantic words. “Just get a couple of glasses of wine in me and I won’t shut up.”
He laughed at my teasing and suddenly swung me up into his arms. I gave a little squeal as I wrapped my arms around his neck, clinging onto him. “First I’m going to make love to you, then I’m going to fuck you, and then you can tell me everything there is to know about you.”
I grinned, feeling the familiar tingle of excited arousal between my legs. “Well the first two things will tell you a little something about me.”
“Oh darlin’, the first two things are going to last long enough to tell me a lot of something about you.”
I laughed happily, the moment feeling so surreal. This morning I’d felt heavy with despair and now I’d never felt lighter in life.
But then, I thought as Craig kissed me long and deep, the opposite extremes of emotion did make sense.
After all . . . I was in love.
Rain
“You look fantastic,” I said to my sister.
We were on an early morning Skype call for the first time since Darcy had gone out to Australia. Well, early morning for me, evening for her. We’d stayed in contact via phone calls and emails, but they’d been brief because when Darcy was depressed she went into herself. I’d noticed our last few phone calls had been better, however, and I began to hope that she was coming out of the dark place Angus’s betrayal had sent her into.
When she suggested we Skype call because she missed my face, I knew for certain she was coming back to herself. I was excited that my little sister was going to be okay. I was excited to see her because I missed her face, too, and I was excited because I finally felt like I could tell her about Craig.
It had been six weeks since we’d told each other we loved each other, and for those six weeks we’d been practically inseparable. I’d met his mother, Karen, and fallen in love with her, too, and thankfully she seemed to like me a lot.
The only person of importance between us who didn’t know we were together and in love was Darcy. I’d felt she was in too fragile a place to start waxing lyrical about my love affair.
But now . . . now I could see for myself that she was getting back to herself again, and I couldn’t wait to tell her about Craig.
My beautiful sister beamed at me. “You always look fantastic. It’s so good to see you.”
“You too. I’ve missed you so much.”
“I’ve missed you too. A hell of a lot.” Darcy leaned in toward the screen. “I need to tell you something and then I need to ask you something.”
There was a glitter of excitement and apprehension in her eyes. “Is everything alright?”
“I’m not coming back to Edinburgh.”
I stared stupidly at the screen, trying to make her abrupt declaration make sense.
“Rain, I don’t want to come back. It holds bad memories now. And I love it here in Sydney.”
I felt a sharp pain in my chest. “But what about us?”
“I don’t want to lose you again. I can’t lose you again. You’re my other half. That’s why I’m asking you to move out here. We can run Darraign from anywhere, you know we can.”
My heart was pounding. “Move to Australia?”
She misinterpreted my reluctant tone. “I know it seems like a huge move but, Rain, you’ll love it here. The sun, the people, the lifestyle. You’ll fit in great. Please, please think about it.”
“But whether or not I say yes, you’re staying out there?” I said, needing to clarify.
When she nodded that pain in my chest turned into a burning ache. “I’ve thought about this long and hard. I’ve been over and over it. There’s no changing my mind, Rain. I’m so happy here. But I’d be happier if you were here with me. You know how much I need you.”
Darcy. I felt like crying at her words because . . .
Craig.
Craig would never leave his family behind in Scotland. He’d never make that move.
So it was either Craig or Darcy.
Oh God.
I thought I might be sick.
“You look a bit peaky. Are you okay?”
I looked away, trying to think. Think! THINK! “I had dodgy takeout last night.”
Darcy chuckled. “Oh, babe, another reason you should move out here. The food is so good and I know all the best takeout places.”
I gave her a weak smile. “Another point for the plus column.”
“I’m assuming I’m worth ten points for the plus column?” Darcy winked.
I looked at her, my heart filled with love and a terrible sadness. “Babe, you are the plus column.”
She grinned at me. “Is that a yes, then? Please say yes.”
I thought about leaving Craig and the pressure I felt on my chest was unbearable.
As though Darcy saw my hesitation, she leaned closer in to the screen. “Please, Rain. I’ve . . . Well.” She smiled unsurely. “I’ve met someone. He makes me happy. I’d really like you to meet him.”
Fear knifed through me.
I’d heard Darcy say those words once before. The result was her fleeing to Australia.
And just like that I knew I couldn’t fail her again.
If I signed off, telling her I’d think about it, I knew what conclusion all my to-ing and fro-ing would eventually bring me to: I’d once left Darcy behind, I’d put her last, and it had taken me a long time to regain my sister, the only family I had. She needed me and I couldn’t let her down again. I had to make sure this new guy was actually a decent one. I had to protect her, even if it was from her own choices.