Echoes of the Heart (53 page)

           
Cash
stepped out front to wait for Raeden, placed his hat cocking forward to shade
his eyes and lit a cigar.
 
As his hopes
of reconciliation diminished, he pulled the annulment papers from his pocket to
re-read them before he signed, giving her the freedom she so obviously craved.

           
Perhaps
he should just leave them in her office and return home.
 
He didn’t think he could trust himself not to
make an unpleasant scene.
 
In addition,
hadn’t he already angered and embarrassed Raeden enough by his reckless
behavior in spite of his good intentions otherwise?

***

Attired in a
yellow silk dressing gown, Raeden sat at the desk in her apartment unable to
concentrate on the business accounting journals.
 
She had mailed the letter to Cash the
previous day deciding to take the humiliation of rejection rather than not be
honest with herself and with Cash.

           
Regardless,
whether or not he still loved her, he would be aware of her true feelings, at
least.
 
In the event she truly had lost
him, her decision to move to Paris would remain fast.

           
Pleased
with the outfits she had made for herself in pastel spring colors of various
broadcloths, the shop had been hard at work assembling the samples of her
latest brainstorm.
 
At Jenkins’s
suggestion, this would be a small production line, not originals but assembled
in different hues and fabrics adding variety and priced for variable incomes to
cater to a large market base.

           
Her
enthusiasm curtailed for the moment, she forced herself to get dressed and drop
by the warehouse before calling on the textile manufacturers to purchase
additional supplies for the new line in progress.

           
Attired
in a white gown with miniature pale green and yellow rose buds embroidered in
the fabric, princessé neckline and elbow length lace sleeves, she made her way
to the workshop.

           
A
voluminous white hat with wide green silk tied in a bow under her chin blocked
the sun from her face.
 
The perfume of
blossoms carried to her nostrils bringing on spring fever.
 
She had the urge to take Arte out in the park
and the image of ducklings waddling close behind their mother at a small pond
along the roadside made Raeden smile.

           
On
approaching the warehouse, Raeden eyed a horse along the boardwalk and her
heart skipped a beat.
 
The unique
markings meant it had to be Little Rabbit.
 
It’s Cash.
 
He had come to see
her.
 
Cash could not have received the
letter.
 
He had come on his own.
 
He
still cares.
 
It’s not just duty or pity.

           
A
heavy pulse beat through her veins at the thought of a possible
reconciliation.
 

           
She
spotted the tall dark-haired man leaning casually against the building, one
knee bent with his foot flat on the wall and his hat tilted forward shading his
face.
 
She tossed off her hat and jumped
from the carriage to walk toward him, tears tumbling over her lids onto warm cheeks.

           
Glancing
her direction, he tilted his hat back, flicked the cigar in the dirt while he
stood to face her, a genuine smile curved across his face.
 
She must take the risk and destroy the
barrier between them or lose him forever.
 
Lifting her skirts, she ran to him aching to leap into his arms.

           
Jolted
by the flash of white paper clasped in his hand she stopped dead in her
tracks.
 
Oh God, he came with the annulment agreement
.
 
She spun around to wipe her cheeks.
 
She would never let him see her cry.

           
Turning
to face him, her knees nearly buckled.
 
With a false smile on quivering lips endeavoring for elusive control,
she crept forward while panic told her to retreat.

           
Cash
stood paralyzed observing the diminutive smiling figure dashing toward him,
skirts billowing to expose slim ankles.
 
He exhaled with relief, maybe a truce after all.

           
Puzzled
at first by the sudden variation in Raeden’s pace and the disparaging droop to
her shoulders, the notion dawned.
 
Viewing the documents held in his hand, he realized they must have raised
her defenses to guard from further injury he had caused in the past.

           
Raeden
halted stiffly, a good length between them, chin held up in defiance, standing
erect and hands shaking at her sides.
 
“I
see you received them.
 
Why didn’t you
send them by mail?”

           
The
sight of damp lashes fanning enormous green eyes rimmed in red from tears drove
him closer, flinging the papers to the pavement while removing the distance
between them.
 
He cupped her face in his
hands.
 
His thumbs gently swept away the
moisture.
 
“I brought them just in case
but hoped for a happy reunion.”

           
The
scowl Raeden wore turned into a bright smile when she rose on her toes to fold
her arms around his neck.
 
He bent down
seeking her mouth, she nearly swooned during the deep passionate kiss.
 
Ignoring glances from the on looking public,
they kissed again reveling in the forgotten taste of each other while he pulled
her close.

           
Molded
together Cash felt the swollen hardness of her abdomen against him.
 
He released his grip on her waist to hold her
at arms length and saw the unmistakable love reflected in her seductive
eyes.
 
“Well sweetheart, it appears an
annulment is out of the question.
 
Why
didn’t you tell me?
 
I could have at
least offered my support.”

           
He
could think of nothing more pleasing than sharing a child with this woman he
loved more than life.

Sobs racked her
body.
 
“I thought you might accuse me of
being with another man or attempt to force me into submission, so I decided to
raise it on my own.”

           
His
face lined with tension.
 
“Of course it
is mine.
 
What are you thinking?” His
voice deepened.
 
“Look, Rae, I made that
mistake once and I have no intention of repeating it.
 
I trust you and have no doubts you are
carrying my child.
 
In addition, as to
forcing you, it’s over.
 
I know I can’t
make you do anything without causing you to hate me and I could not bear
it.
 
How could you think so little of
me?
 
I love you so much it hurts.
 
The only way it stops is when I’m with you.”

           
“I
love you too, Cash, and I want us to be happy when we are together, no more of
the useless bickering driving us apart.
 
I just wanted you to know I have always been faithful.”

           
While
he held her in his arms stroking her long silky hair, he knew they must have
complete honesty between them.
 
“I have
to admit, I had a couple of close calls, honey, but I swear to you from now on
as long as we are married, it won’t happen again.”

           
He
lowered his mouth over hers.
 
The kiss
deep, seeking, wet and energy sparked, ignited while he grew hard against
her.
 
He gave her rump a quick gentle
squeeze.
 
“I haven’t found a room
yet.
 
Do you live nearby?
 
If we stay here much longer we might get
arrested for indecency.”

           
Chest
still rising rapidly she laid her arms to her sides.
 
“My apartment is not far.
 
The hansom is still waiting.”

           
They
walked toward the cab one arm around each other and Cash lifted her petite
frame into the seat then secured his filly before resting beside her.
 
He enfolded her in his arms, taking in the
scent of roses lingering in the thick curling tresses fanning across his
chest.
 
Her breasts pressed against him
when she moved in closer tucking her head under his chin.

           
The
aching throb in his loins became excruciating by the time they reached their
destination and the fast rhythm of her breathing let him know her excitement,
making him fight for restraint.

           
She
ran to unlock the door while Cash paid the driver and lead his cowpony to the
post outside.
 
He flung the bag over his
shoulder, paced the few steps to the entrance, tossing it inside as she stood
trembling inside the door.
 
He slammed
the door shut and whirled her against the wall to the left, pressing against
it.
 
He covered her mouth with an urgent
kiss, hungry and probing and began shedding his clothes, hoping he could hold
back long enough to get her to the bed.
 

           
Fumbling
fingers worked the buttons on her dress while he stood naked staring with
fierce feral eyes.
 
His hand swept up to
her bodice and ripped the dress off tossing the shredded garment off to the
side.

           
He
dropped to one knee and his hands covered her breasts, kneading while drawing
the pink pearls into his mouth and his breath came in quick gasps.

           
She
twined her fingers through his hair drawing him in while her skin burned with
fever. Then he stood to sweep her into his arms and with long strides carried
her to the bed dropping beside her, both panting when their lips welded and
hands roamed free.

           
When
his fingers pressed into her, she opened her knees inviting him in.
 
“Cash, please, I can’t stand it.
 
I need you.”

           
He
moved in placing his weight on his elbows and slowly slid inside her moistness,
biting his lip and holding his breath.
 
She came to the crest almost immediately and when he filled her, she
fell over the edge plunging into the magic dream of fulfillment, crying out his
name.
 

He groaned and
flexed with his head thrown back and spasms came one after another until he
dropped to his side pulling her into his arms to hold her close while they both
caught their breath.

           
They
lay silent in rapture engulfed in a daze as their bodies cooled.
 
Cash gently rolled over, lifting his head in
his hand, propped on one elbow.
 
“It
appears we both needed that.”

           
Raeden
lay molded against him with her eyes closed.
 
“I have dreamt about you every night.”

           
His
hand glided down her torso resting on the bulge under her naval and lowered to
kiss her belly then laid his head on her chest and feathered his finger tips
over the roundness where the life they created grew.

He relished the
thought of having a child with this woman, beautiful inside and out.
 
The way she returned his love gave him more
pleasure than he had ever imagined.
 
The
picture of her in his mind cradling his child in her arms almost brought tears
to his eyes.

           
They
rested in the afterglow of their lovemaking folded in each other’s arms.
 
“I’m so happy about the baby, Rae.
 
I never thought it possible, but you’re even
more beautiful.”

           
She
exhaled a laugh.
 
“Hah, you should have
seen us last month.
 
I still haven’t
gained back the weight I lost.”

“I am sorry I
wasn’t around to see you through the rough times but I’m here now.”
 
Cash eased from her, stood and walked to the
kitchen and poured a glass of water for Rae and laid back beside her.
 

“This place suits
you.
 
It looks very appealing.”
 

           
“Thank
you.
 
You are the first person to see
it.”

           
When
she had her fill, he finished the water in a few gulps and placed the glass on
the table by her bed.
 
He noticed the
picture from the newspaper with Estelle neatly carved out.
 
It felt good to know she had been thinking
about him all this time.
 
They would need
to get real photographs taken.

           
He
draped a sheet over their cool damp bodies, placed a leg over hers and played
with her rumpled curls.
 
“I can hardly
believe what you have accomplished.
 
Your
venture is thriving.
 
I knew you had
talent, but this is amazing.”
 
She beamed
as a smile crossed her lips.