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  “You should have asked him to go with you.”

  She ran a hand across her forehead. “He doesn’t know.”

  Deborah frowned. “You still haven’t told him about the biopsy or anything?”

  “No. And I decided that if it’s cancer, not to see him again.” Although, she had no idea how she would manage that, especially after spending two nights in his arms. She had tossed and turned all last night, wanting to have him next to her.

  She let out an exasperated sigh. “Celeste, you have got to be kidding me.”

  “I can’t put him through what I went through with Gary. It was pure torture to watch him suffer that way. You’re right. I love Thad and after everything he’s had to deal with in the past, I don’t want to add to those burdens.”

  “Thad is a grown man and fully capable of making his own decisions. I can’t begin to imagine how hard it was for you those two years, but you can’t tell me you would have walked away.” Deborah grabbed Celeste’s hand. “I know you think you’re doing the right thing, but please don’t do this, sis. Let him be there for you. I know he’ll want to.”

  Celeste heard everything her sister said, but she remembered those long nights feeling helpless to do anything when Gary’s pain had gotten so bad that no amount of medication would work. Thad had lost his wife and daughter, and she wouldn’t be able to take it watching him find love, just to lose it again in the blink of an eye. She loved him enough to spare him from all that. Or at least, she hoped she could.

  Chapter 12

  Friday morning, Thad sat in the rocking chair with Zola cradled against his shoulder. She seemed to enjoy being snuggled right under his neck and fussed whenever he tried to shift her position.

  “You’ve got her spoiled already, Thad,” DeAnna said, coming into the room with Nolan trailing. She kissed the baby on the forehead and Thad on the cheek.

  “Hey, what can I say? She loves hanging with her grandpa. “You act like you haven’t spoiled Christian, Nyla and Little Omar.” Siobhan and her husband, Justin’s two-year-old daughter and five-year-old son had Dee wrapped around their fingers. Same with Omar.

  She laughed. “I love my grandbabies and I can’t wait for Khalil and Lexia’s to arrive.”

  “When is she due again?”

  “Mid July.” Dee took a seat on the sofa.

  “You only have a couple of weeks to wait.”

  “Unless that one gets impatient like little Miss Zola and comes early,” Nolan said.

  Dee shook her head. “I don’t think so. I talked to Lexia yesterday and she said she’s not having any contractions yet. Where’s Celeste? I thought she’d be here.”

  Pain settled in Thad’s chest. He hadn’t talked to Celeste since Monday and was at a loss as to why she appeared to backing away from their relationship. “I haven’t talked to her all week.”

  Nolan lifted a brow. “I thought you said everything went well last weekend.”

  “It did. I don’t have a clue what happened between then and now. I asked if something was bothering her a couple of times and she said no.” He stopped rocking. “I wish I knew what was going on.” Zola squirmed and began to fuss. Thad started rocking again and gently patted her back.

  Dee rose from her seat and came to take the baby. “Come on, sweet pea. Let’s go find your mommy. Zola and I will leave you two to talk.”

  Nolan followed Dee’s departure, then leaned forward in his chair. “What’s going on, Thad?”

  Thad let out a frustrated sigh and dragged a hand down his face. “I honestly don’t know. I’m in love with Celeste, and it’s killing me.”

  He smiled. “You deserve to have this and I’m glad you’ve found love again. You mentioned Celeste being a widow. Do you think she’s having some guilt?”

  “She said she wasn’t and that she was ready to move forward with her life. That was before I told her I loved her. Do you think that may have scared her? But she said she loved me, too.” The more he thought about it, the more he wondered if he’d moved too fast. Yes, she had reciprocated, but had she meant it or just said it so he wouldn’t feel bad. He opened his mouth to share his thoughts and his cell rang. Thad hoped to see Celeste’s name on the display, but frowned at the unfamiliar number. “Let me see who this is, Nolan. It could be someone from the mental health center needing to talk.” He hit the button. “Hello.”

  “Thad, it’s Deborah, Celeste’s sister.”

  “Hi, Deborah. Is everything okay with TJ?” The young man had called Thad once since that first day at the center and they talked briefly.

  “Maybe not fully okay, but he’s slowly progressing. But that’s not why I called.”

  “What is it?” he asked with mounting alarm. “Did something happen to Celeste?”

  “Not exactly. Lord, she is going to kill me and Emery. But we felt you needed to know that she’s having surgery at one o’clock today.”

  “Surgery?” Thad didn’t realize he’d gotten to his feet until he was halfway across the room.

  “She’s having a breast biopsy.”

  Thad glanced over at Nolan’s concerned gaze and mouthed, “I have to leave. Let Faith and Brandon know and I’ll call you when I know something.” A minute later, he jumped into his car armed with the hospital information and sped out of the driveway. The surgery wouldn’t start for another two hours and he prayed he’d be able to talk to her before then. It took him forty-five minutes to get across town and the drive had tested every inch of his control. He called Deborah as he strode through the parking lot. She told him Emery would meet him in the lobby. He spotted Emery almost immediately after entering the hospital.

  “Thank you for coming,” Emery said, reaching out to shake Thad’s hand. “This way.”

  “I appreciate the call. How is she?” The two men rounded the corner and took the elevator up to the second floor.

  “She’s really nervous that they might find cancer.”

  “How are you holding up? I know this can’t be easy for you.”

  Emery sighed deeply. “I wish I could say I’m okay, but I’m scared to death this is going to be a repeat of what we went through with my father.”

  Thad placed a hand on Emery’s shoulder. “Just know that I’m here if you want to talk.”

  He stopped and scrutinized Thad. “Do you love my mother?”

  “More than my own life,” he answered without hesitation.

  Seemingly satisfied, Emery continued toward the nurse’s station. “This is Thad Whitcomb, my mother’s fiancé.” He nodded Thad’s way. “Mom’s probably going to have a fit knowing we called, but she needs you. Even if she doesn’t want to admit it.” Emery gestured behind them. “She’s back there.”

  Thad kept his surprise hidden at the young man’s reference. “And I need her.” Thad entered the area and found Celeste talking to Deborah.

  Celeste’s eyes widened when she noticed him. “Thad! What are you doing here?”

  “Emery and I decided he needed to be here. Now that he is, I’ll be in the waiting room,” Deborah said. She gave Thad a grateful smile as she passed and pulled the curtain closed behind her.

  Thad moved to Celeste’s side, took her hand and kissed her. “Baby, why didn’t you tell me? You knew I would’ve never let you go through this alone. I’d’ve been right by your side.”

  Celeste closed her eyes briefly as if trying to gather her thoughts. “I know that. I didn’t want you to worry and…if it is cancer—”

  “We’ll deal with it. Together,” he finished.

  “I can’t ask you to do that. You’ve been through so much hurt and loss. It nearly killed me to watch Gary suffer and I don’t want the same for you.”

  His heart broke hearing the pain in her voice. The fact that she would sacrifice herself to spare him the same pain made him love her even more. “Sweetheart, I can only imagine how difficult it must have been to see your husband in all that pain and not be able to help. We don’t know what the results are going to be, but ju
st like you were there for Gary, I’m going to be here for you. I love you, and this is what love does. We fight side-by-side and survive by any means necessary.”

  Tears spilled down her face. “I love you so much.”

  Thad leaned over and grabbed a couple of tissues. He sat on the edge of the bed and gently wiped them away. “This is just like the first day we met.”

  They shared a smile and Celeste said, “Your words then and now were exactly what I needed.”

  “From now on, the only tears I want to wipe away are tears of joy. Deal?”

  “Deal.”

  He kissed her to seal the agreement and felt the pressure in his chest ease for the first time since receiving the call. “Deborah and Emery are worried that you’re going to be angry with them, but I told them you’d be fine.”

  Celeste chuckled. “I know they meant well. And they were right this time. I need you in my life, Thad.”

  “Then that’s where I’ll be.” The nurses and doctor came in to explain more about the procedure and to take her to the operating room. “I’ll be here when you open your eyes.” The same place he planned to be for the rest of their lives.

  Celeste opened the front door to let Thad in. She gave him a quick kiss. “I’m almost ready. Be right back.”

  Thad wrapped an arm around her waist and drew her into his embrace. “What kind of kiss was that? I need a real kiss, not some little peck on the cheek like we’re just friends.”

  Smiling, she pulled his head down, nibbled his bottom lip, teased the corner of his mouth with her tongue, then slid it inside. She slowly and provocatively twirled her tongue around his, eliciting a deep groan from his throat. He quickly took over the kiss, delving deeper into her mouth with a finesse that sent sparks of desire from her head to her toes. At length, she eased back. “How was that?”

  “Good, but I want another, you know, just to be sure.”

  “Later. We’re going to be late.” She had her post-surgery appointment with the doctor.

  Thad swatted her playfully on the butt. “You can’t just tease me and leave me hanging.”

  “It’ll give you something to look forward to,” Celeste said with a wink as she went to get her shoes and purse. The past two weeks since the surgery had been something out of a dream. Not only had Thad been there when she awakened, but he had also insisted that she stay at his house for the first three days so he could take care of her. During that time, he had treated her like a queen. She never wanted for anything. Even when she’d come back home, he had visited every day after spending time with his granddaughter, cooked for her and continued to care for her every need. He’d even spoken to Celeste’s mother. It usually took a lot to impress Rose Blake, but Thad had done it in one five-minute chat. Celeste hadn’t been this happy in a long time. She paused in putting on her shoes. She and Gary had a wonderful marriage and now she had been blessed to find even more happiness with Thad. Celeste sent up a quick prayer of thanks, picked up her purse and went back to where Thad sat waiting in the living room. “Okay, thanks for letting me know,” she heard him say.

  Thad came to his feet and pocketed the phone. “That was Nolan calling to let me know that their fifth grandchild had been born. Khalil and Lexia had a boy.”

  “That’s wonderful news. Emery changes women like he changes his shirt, so I don’t think I’ll ever get any grandchildren from him.”

  He chuckled and held her in the circle of his arms. “Then we’ll just spoil Zola until he settles down. Ready?”

  “Yep. Thanks for going with me.”

  “Baby, there’s no place I’d rather be. I’m so glad everything turned out okay.”

  “So am I.” The surgeon had called a few days ago to let her know that they had removed all the cells and none were malignant. Celeste had been given a new lease on life and she planned to take full advantage.

  They drove to the doctor’s office and Thad elected to stay in the waiting room when they called her back. The doctor was pleased with the healing process and told her to call if she had any problems.

  “What did he say?” Thad asked, rising to his feet when Celeste came back.

  She waited until they were in the hallway before answering. “He’s happy with how I’m healing and I don’t have to come back to see him. I can just get back to my regularly scheduled exams.” They exited the building and walked over to his car.

  “That’s what I like to hear. What are you doing later this evening?” he asked as he started the engine.

  “Nothing. Why?”

  “I thought we could go out to dinner to celebrate.”

  “What time?”

  “I’ll be back to pick you up around six.”

  “Works for me. All I need to know is if I should be casual or dressy.”

  “Dressy. We’ve got to do this celebration right.”

  Celeste started singing Kool and the Gang’s song, “Celebration.” Thad joined in and they laughed and sang all the way back to her house. Once there, she took a few minutes to call Deborah and Emery and filled them in on the doctor’s report, then she took a long and leisurely bubble bath.

  A smile curved her lips when she thought about her and Thad singing in the car. His sense of humor and a playful nature always had a way of making her feel the same freedom she had experienced as a teenager.

  Celeste got out of the tub, dried off and dressed. She figured she couldn’t go wrong with a little black dress. After fastening the strap of her three-inch heeled sandals, she walked over to the mirror, turning one way, then the other. Her stomach wasn’t as flat as she liked and gravity played by its own rules, but she couldn’t complain. Thad had told her she’d earned every dip, wrinkle and curve, and he loved them all. Celeste applied her makeup and smoothed down the layered strands of her hair. She briefly speculated on what it might be like to have him with her every night. She missed lying against his chest with his arms wrapped protectively around her as she slept. This wasn’t the first time the thought had popped into her head, but they had grown closer over the past couple of weeks and she could see them considering marriage in the future. At least, that’s where she hoped they would end up.

  She had just spritzed on some of her favorite perfume when she heard the doorbell. She took one last look in the mirror, then headed to the door. “Wow!” That was the only word that came to mind when she saw Thad standing there in a charcoal gray suit that she knew had been tailored expressly for him. “I sure hope I don't have to act up tonight if some woman starts staring at you too long,” she teased.

  Thad laughed. “I don’t think you have to worry about that. Besides, the only woman I want is standing in front of me. I can’t even see another woman. Hi, sweetheart.” He kissed her lightly, being careful not to smudge her lipstick and escorted her out.

  If Celeste didn’t already love him, that would have pushed her over the edge. She settled in for the ride. He pulled into his driveway less than half an hour later and she turned her questioning gaze his way.

  He got out and came around to her side. “I wanted you all to myself tonight.”

  She noticed the lit candles first thing when she walked in the door. She sniffed. The fragrant smell of food wafted into her nose. “You cooked?”

  “Nope.” Amusement danced in his eyes, but he didn’t comment further. He led her out to his deck.

  Celeste stopped in her tracks. He had transformed the area to resemble a private restaurant. Dim lights had been strung to create a romantic atmosphere and an elegantly set table with long tapers and rose petals had been placed off to one side. “This is… How did you do all this?”

  “I had a little help from Dee, Siobhan and Morgan.”

  The PR director and the sports agent, right?” She remembered the Gray’s two daughters from the hospital.

  He nodded.

  She surveyed her surroundings once more. “I don’t know what to say. It’s simply beautiful.”

  Thad pulled out her chair. “Have a seat and I’ll
be right back.”

  He came back a minute later with a young woman wearing a chef’s jacket and introduced her as Dominique Taylor, a personal chef who owned Dinner by Dominique. She handed them printed menus for the four-course meal she would be serving and teasingly said that she’d leave the dessert course for them to have at their leisure. Celeste scanned the sheet—baby mixed greens with a lemon herb dressing, beef tenderloin crostinis, carmelized salmon with wild rice and sautéed spinach. Her gaze flew to his when she read that they would have chocolate-dipped strawberries. Thad had selected some of her favorite foods. A warm sensation settled between her thighs when she recalled how he’d fed them to her that night at his house and how the evening had ended.

  He poured them glasses of wine handed her one and lifted his toward her. “To an evening of love.”

  She touched her glass to his. “To love.” He pressed a few buttons on his phone and music flowed through concealed speakers. As they dined, the heat level rose steadily. Every time she glanced up, she found his eyes waiting. The food had been excellently prepared, but the desire blazing in his eyes, coupled with the sensual jazz and R&B playlist he had created, had her wanting to skip right to dessert. Or after.

  “I do believe this is our song.” Thad set his napkin aside, came around the table and extended his hand.

  Celeste recognized it as the same Brian Culbertson song they had danced to in her kitchen. She placed her hand in his. “I believe you’re right.” She melted into his arms as they danced. She rested her head on his shoulder and sighed contentedly. She wanted to be with him just this way for the rest of their lives. “I love you, Thad.”

  “I love you, too. I love you so much, I wish you could see into my soul so you’d know just how deep it goes.” He tilted her chin and stared into her eyes. “My everything needs your everything. Your smile, your touch, the feel of your body next to mine—your everything.”

  She could barely breathe.

  “I hope you can hear in my voice and feel in my touch that my heart is all in when it comes to you. I not only want to be your friend, but also your partner in life, to have and to hold always and forever. Celeste Williams, will you marry me?” Thad released her and retrieved a small velvet box from his pocket.