‘I taught myself to block out emotion because it was the only way I could survive,’ Casper said roughly, leaning forwards and cupping her face in his hands. ‘And I’m still waiting for you to answer my question.’
‘I’m scared even to say the words,’ she admitted with a strangled laugh. ‘In case the whole bubble pops.’
‘Say you can still love me, Holly. I need to hear you say it.’
‘I never stopped loving you,’ she said softly. ‘I just stopped saying it because it upset you. That’s another thing that “I love you” means to me. It means for ever. True love isn’t something you can switch on and off, Casper. It’s always there, sometimes when you’d rather it wasn’t.’
Casper’s breathing fractured, and he hauled her into his arms and held her tightly. ‘Don’t say that, because it reminds me how much I hurt you, and you have no idea how guilty I feel. You must have felt so alone, but I swear to you that you will never feel alone again.’
‘I don’t want you to feel guilty. I love you so much.’
‘I don’t deserve you.’
‘You might well be saying that to yourself when I’m singing in the shower,’ Holly joked feebly, and his grip tightened.
‘After the way I behaved, most women would have walked away. I was so afraid you would do the same.’
‘I would never do that.’
‘No.’ He withdrew slightly and stroked her cheek gently. ‘You have an exceptionally lovely nature. You are kind, tolerant and forgiving. You have tremendous strength, and I truly admire your single-minded determination to do the very best for our baby. And our baby is so lucky to have you as a mother,’ he murmured, pulling her against him again with firm, possessive hands.
Holly buried her face in his shoulder. ‘I was terrified that you wouldn’t love the baby.’
‘And I was terrified to open up enough to love anything, because I saw love as a source of pain.’
‘I know.’ Holly touched his face. ‘You were so wounded. I always knew that, and when we got together I told myself that, as long as I was patient, you would heal. I was so sure that everything would turn out all right, but I couldn’t get through to you. I couldn’t find the answer.’
‘You were the answer.’ Casper lifted her chin and silenced her fears with a possessive kiss. ‘There will be no more problems between us. Ever.’
‘Are you kidding?’ Half laughing, half crying, Holly shook her head. ‘You are stubborn, arrogant and used to getting your own way. How can we not have problems?’
‘Because you are kind, tolerant and you adore me.’ Casper, looking too gorgeous for his own good with roughened dark hair and the beginnings of stubble grazing his jaw, snuggled her against him again. ‘And you have reminded me what true love really is.’ His hand rested protectively on her rounded abdomen and his voice was suddenly husky. ‘I never thought I believed in fairy tales, but this baby has changed my mind. I have great wealth and privilege, but the one thing I never thought I’d have is a family. You’ve given me that.’
Holly glanced up at him and then towards the fairy tale turrets of Santallia Palace in the distance. ‘A family.’ She savoured the word, and then smiled up at him, everything she felt shining in her eyes. ‘That sounds like a very happy ending to me.’