She burst out laughing, and he wiped the tears running down her cheeks.
“Stop it. I … forgive you.”
“No, don’t forgive me.”
“But isn’t that why you came?”
He groaned. “Yes, I want you to forgive me, but more than anything, I want you to come home. I … messed up. I don’t want to lose you.” He tilted her head back. “I love you, Raine. I’m so sorry.”
She covered his hand with hers and turned her head toward his palm, dropping a kiss on the inside. “I love you too,” she said.
Max didn’t expect her to say that, and he didn’t have a choice as he pulled her into his arms, pressing his face against hers and simply breathing her in. He loved her so damn much and he never wanted to let her go. From this day forward, he never would.
****
Raine’s hands shook as she waited for Dylan to return home. Max was putting Lake to bed. She clenched her hands into fists, looking at the dinner table. Soft Christmas music played in the background, and she felt a little sick.
Max had already called the department store and told them Raine wouldn’t be in anymore, that she was going to be getting married and having a baby. She had a feeling that man was never going to fail to surprise her.
When he’d come to her apartment, she’d been surprised. For Max to find her, it meant only one thing, he’d paid someone to locate her. From that point on, she had listened to what he had to say, and even though she’d been pissed about his explanation and a little jealous, she’d just known this was Max begging her to come back.
She didn’t need him to beg.
The moment he said he was in love with her, she’d forgiven him. He’d hurt her, but she hadn’t realized how much she loved him until he’d told her he loved her. Life was too precious to waste it in fighting.
Now all she needed to do was wait for Dylan to come home.
Max had warned her that he and Dylan were not exactly on speaking terms. His best friend had cut him out of his life, or at least given him the cold shoulder.
She hated that.
They were best of friends.
Raine moved back into the kitchen and checked to make sure the pasta casserole she’d prepared wouldn’t burn. She’d already turned the oven down to keep warm.
The dishes were all clean.
She tapped her fingers on the counter, and with her other hand, she cupped her stomach and waited.
“He’ll be back, little guy.” She didn’t know if she was having a boy or girl. She hadn’t made an appointment yet.
She’d spent the last few days, crying. Working, crying, and feeling sorry for herself, while also wishing she hadn’t just walked out of this house. She had come to see this as home.
The sound of the front door opening and closing had her tensing up.
This was it.
She heard the unmistakable sound of his footsteps. Smiling, she opened the oven door, used some protective gloves to grab the casserole dish, and moved toward the dining room. She had just entered as Dylan stepped across the threshold.
“You’re back in time for dinner,” she said.
Dylan came to a stop, and Raine smiled at him as he looked at her.
“Good evening,” she said.
“Raine?”
“Yep, that’s me, unless, you’re telling me it is raining outside. Last time I checked, it was snowing.” She leaned over the table and put the pot on the protective mats she’d already made for the table.
As she turned back toward Dylan, she was pulled into his arms. At first, his grip was a little too tight, but she wrapped her arms around him, holding him close.
“I’m here,” she said.
“Don’t go.”
Pressing her face against his neck, she breathed him in and closed her eyes.
“Fuck, I’ve missed you, Raine. I’ve missed you so much.”
“I’ve missed you too.”
He ran his hands down her back, then to her face, cupping her and holding her. “It is you.”
She giggled. “Who do you think it would be?”
“How? When? Why?”
“Max,” she said.
Dylan’s face went hard. “Where is he?”
“He’s putting Lake to bed, and you’ve got to stop being angry at him.”
“No, he called you that name. Damn it, Raine, I had to watch you leave because of him.”
“And I’m back because of him,” Raine said. “I never wanted to come between the two of you, and I’m not going to start now.” She grabbed his hand and placed it on her stomach. She had a roundness, but she didn’t know for certain if she was truly starting to show. “We’re all going to have a baby together. We know that Max is different. He … he has his reasons.”
Max had already told her that he intended to tell Dylan the truth about what happened all those years ago. “I love you and I love him, and I’m not going to come between the two of you. I forgive him. I’m the one he said those horrible things to. Not you. You don’t have to hate him, Dylan. I don’t want you to hate him because I love both of you.” She cupped his face and smiled at him.