He leaned down and captured her mouth in a kiss so achingly tender the tears spilled from her eyes and ran freely down her face. “I’m okay.”
“Why did you leave me?”
“We can talk inside.”
Donovan tried to put Yasmine down so he could carry the stroller up the steps, but she put up a fuss and wouldn’t let go of his shirt. “I’m just going to put the stroller on the porch. It’ll be one minute.” But she wasn’t having it.
“I got it,” Simona said. Once they were inside, she left the stroller near the door so she could take it back outside to clean out all the sand and not track it all over the floors. “Um, do you want something to eat or drink?”
“Nah, I’m fine. The only thing I want right now is to hold you in my arms. Can I hold you, Simona?”
His husky plea melted her insides, and she rushed into his free arm. He held her so tight she could barely breathe, but right now she didn’t care.
“I missed you so much, sweetheart. I was out of my mind, wondering where you were and if you were all right. Don’t leave me again.”
She backed out of his arms. “I ca...can’t go back.”
“Yes, you can. The tabloid printed a retraction, and we’re handling Travis and that Lorna woman. You don’t have to fight alone anymore, Simona. I promised to protect you, and I will if you let me.”
“Donovan, you can’t protect me from everyone.”
“Want to bet? Stop running, baby. Don’t let them win. Together we can beat this. Trust me. Trust us.”
She wanted so badly to trust him, but every negative word she had read in those articles flashed through her mind, the memories taunting her. “I can’t,” she whispered. “What if this messes up your career? The public’s perception of you is part of your job.”
Donovan closed the distance and wrapped his arm around her. “Sweetheart, I’m not worried about those lies, and you shouldn’t be either. The people I work with know me and don’t believe everything they read.”
“But what if it does? I’ll never be able to forgive myself.” She wouldn’t be able to bear seeing contempt in his eyes.
He narrowed his eyes. “You can’t be thinking I’ll blame you.” He reached up to pull Yasmine’s fingers out of his mouth.
Simona nodded. “You say you don’t now, but what if this shows up again later? I couldn’t take it if you—”
“Don’t even think it,” he said, cutting her off. “I will never resent or hate you. This is not your fault, Simona.” He sighed heavily. “Baby, don’t do this.”
“I have to. I have to think about Yasmine and how it’ll affect her.”
He shook his head. “More excuses. Be honest. All of these are cover-ups for the real problem. What are you afraid of?”
She opened her mouth to say she wasn’t afraid, but closed it. Simona was afraid—afraid of how her colleagues would perceive her and afraid that she would lose the job she had come to love. But mostly she was afraid he would—despite what he said—wake up one morning, say that this was all her fault and walk away. Yasmine started whining and rubbing her eyes. “I think she’s getting tired. It’s time for her nap.” Simona extended her arms.
Donovan moved the baby out of her reach. “She’s fine, and you didn’t answer my question. What are you afraid of?”
“Donovan...”
He shook his head. “Answer the question.”
“Fine. I’m afraid my coworkers are going to think I’m this gold-digging slut,” she blurted. “I’m afraid that I’m going to lose my job. And I’m afraid that one day, even though you said you wouldn’t, you’ll resent all the drama I’ve caused you and leave,” she finished on a broken sob.
“In other words, you don’t trust me,” he said resignedly. “I’ve done everything to show you that I’m a man of my word, that you can trust me. I love you, Simona, but I don’t know what else to do.”
“I need time.”
“Where’s Yasmine’s room?”
She pointed, and he turned and walked away.
He came back a few minutes later and said, “I’ll see you later.”
Simona stood in the middle of the room, her heart breaking into a million pieces. Why couldn’t she let go? She loved him so much it hurt.
Donovan came back later to see Yasmine and tuck her in for the night. He hardly said two words to Simona, and she grasped just how much she had hurt him. He left without kissing her goodbye and did the same thing the next day. Simona stood off to the side observing him playing with Yasmine and hearing her happy screams. When she came outside to the porch and found Donovan stretched out on the couch with Yasmine on his chest, both of them asleep, Simona nearly lost it. She couldn’t give this man up. But she feared it was too late.