Susan Mallery: Only Yours

He’d locked himself away because it was safe. He’d built his own prison and he held the key in his hands. Or perhaps in his heart.

He thought of Alistair—the pain his friend had faced—and knew Alistair would do it all again. Face it all, just for a minute in his wife’s presence. That was love.

“Montana,” he said, dragging her against him. “Montana, I’m sorry. I was wrong. What I said, how I treated you.” He drew back so he could see her face. “I love you. I have from the first. You’re the best part of me. You are the light to my dark and without you, I’m blind. I’ll give you anything, if only you’ll stay with me.”

Tears filled her eyes. “I’ve only ever wanted you. I love you.”

For the first time in his life, he allowed himself to believe the words, to feel them. They washed over him, healing wounds long forgotten.

“I love you,” she whispered again and kissed him. “I love you, Simon.”

“I love you, too.” He clutched her shoulders. “I’ll stay here in Fool’s Gold. Is that what you want? I’ll ask for a job on the hospital staff and set up a program. I’ll still need to travel every now and then, but I can do most of my work here. Is that okay?”

She laughed through her tears. “Yes. It’s wonderful. I’m hanging on to you and never letting go. That’s going to make it hard for you to work, but you’ll figure it out.” She hugged him again. “I’m never letting go,” she repeated.

He returned her embrace, knowing they belonged together. That he had been given a powerful and unique gift—Montana’s love. As her mother had told him, he was a lucky man.

He could see what their future would be like and he knew everything before had brought him to this moment. He’d been given the chance to make the most amazing woman in the world happy. He would spend the rest of his life making sure that happened.

“You want kids, right?” he asked.

“I want your kids.”

He kissed her then, putting all his heart into the moment, then picking her up and spinning her around. They both laughed, the sound echoing off the mountains and drifting across the valley.

In the hospital, down in Fool’s Gold, Kalinda smiled and held Cece close. Everything was going to be just fine.