Part 22 (1/2)

”Where is she?”

Sterling frantically asked himself that question as he tried calling his home in North Carolina again. He was in his jet on his way back to the States.

The photograph of him and Diamond that appeared everywhere in the newspapers was damaging enough, but the article deliberately raised doubts of his faithfulness to Colby. It was just the type of thing they didn't need to deal with right now.

He released a deep sigh then tried calling James's house. There wasn't an answer there, either. And he couldn't locate Mac. Where was everyone?

No sooner had he hung up the phone, than it rang.

He s.n.a.t.c.hed it up immediately. ”Colby?”

His face showed disappointment that the caller wasn't Colby. ”Yes, Diamond, I'm fine. No, I haven't been able to reach Colby, and no, it's not your fault.” He nodded. ”Everything will be fine once I talk to her and explain things.”

He shook his head. ”No. That won't be necessary. Just let me handle this. Colby has to trust me. Otherwise, our marriage will never stand a chance against this sort of garbage. Just sit tight and don't worry about me and Colby. We'll be fine.”

He took a deep breath. ”Okay, I'll keep in touch.”

Sterling hung up the phone, hoping what he'd just told Diamond was true and that he and Colby would be fine. He looked down at his hands. They were trembling. He didn't want to think about the possibility that he could lose Colby over this.

He stood and began pacing the length of his cabin. He knew she'd probably seen the article by now and he had a lot of explaining to do. He just hoped that wherever she was, she believed he loved her more than anything. He couldn't imagine living his life without her.

He sat back down in his seat and gazed outside the window at the clouds, believing there had to be suns.h.i.+ne out there somewhere. The kind of suns.h.i.+ne to brighten the earth like Colby had brightened his life.

He refused to be another Hamilton who lost the woman he loved, and he simply refused to live his remaining years in heartache and pain.

He was determined to keep the woman he loved with him always.

It was late afternoon when Mac and Colby arrived back in North Carolina.

”I'm going to stay at my own place tonight,” Mac said after opening the door to let Colby in. ”You and Sterling will need plenty of privacy.”

Colby nodded. Mac's place was on the other end of Sterling's property. He stayed there whenever Sterling was in town, and only stayed with her in Sterling's home whenever he was away for protection against possible trespa.s.sing reporters.

After checking out the place he came back to her and let her know everything was okay. Then he teasingly told her there weren't any reporters hiding out under the beds.

”And you really think Sterling's on his way home?”

”Yes, I'm almost certain of it,” Mac replied. ”I've been trying to reach him in the air but keep running into some sort of interference. There must be bad weather somewhere.”

Colby nodded. ”I'm going to get settled in. Good night, Mac, and thanks for everything.”

”Don't mention it. I promised Chandler a long time ago that I'd look after that boy. And I'm meaning to keep my word. You're good for him, Colby. You're just what he needs.”

No sooner had Sterling's plane landed at the airport in Raleigh, than a helicopter was standing by to fly him the rest of the way to Hamilton. Bad weather conditions in New York had forced his flight out of the city to be delayed. It hadn't helped matters that he was still unable to get in touch with Colby.

He gave a sigh of relief when the copter landed in the clearing on his property. It was night, and he could barely make his way through the darkness, but he didn't intend to stop until he held Colby in his arms.

A showered Colby had just slipped into her nightgown when she heard the sound of a door opening downstairs. She grabbed her robe, wondering if it was Mac returning. He usually knocked before entering.

”Colby!”

The sound of Sterling calling her name thundered loudly throughout the house. Excitement p.r.i.c.ked her every nerve. He was actually home!

Tossing her robe aside she raced out of the room. She stopped at the landing and stared down at Sterling who was standing at the bottom of the stairs looking up at her with dark, intense eyes. She loved him so much and no matter what, she believed he loved her.

”Hi,” she said quietly, watching him watch her. She had seen the relief on his face when he had seen her. Mac had been right. Sterling had actually thought there was a possibility she wouldn't be there.

”Hi, yourself,” he said huskily. ”We need to talk don't we?”

She nodded, knowing he was referring to the article that had appeared in the newspaper that morning. ”Yes.”

Sterling said nothing else for a moment but continued to look at her. He then said, ”I know we need to talk, but I have some questions I need answered right now.”

”What are they?”

”At anytime after seeing that picture and reading that article did you think it was true? At anytime did you doubt my love for you? And do you doubt my love for you now?”

Colby knew she had to be completely honest with both him and herself. A part of her, the part that knew and accepted she was not as beautiful and glamorous as the women he was used to dating, especially someone like Diamond Swain, had tried considering the possibility that it had been true. But she had crushed the idea before it had gotten a chance to fully take root in her mind.

”At first when I saw it, and saw you holding Diamond Swain in your arms, I really didn't know what to think, and I didn't want to believe those accusations. But then after I thought about it, I knew I couldn't believe it, and that I wouldn't believe it. I believe in my heart that you love me and there's a good reason for that picture.”

Her smile was bittersweet when she continued. ”At least there better be a good reason, Sterling Hamilton.”

He smiled. ”There is.”

”Good. Now can I come down to get the hug I so badly need?” Colby asked softly.

Sterling didn't think he could possibly love her more than he did at that very moment. He needed her more than he needed his next breath. Kyle had been right when he had said Colby was a precious gem.

He held out his arms to her and she flew down the stairs toward him. He caught her, staggering a little at the force of their combined weight. No sooner was she in his arms than he captured her mouth with his, kissing her with a pa.s.sion that conveyed his love and appreciation of her trust. A part of him had been so afraid she wouldn't trust him and that she wouldn't be here when he arrived.

When he lifted his head she asked him why he had stopped. ”Because if I don't stop, I'm going to end up carrying you back up those stairs and making love to you. But first we need to talk.”

He picked her up in his arms and instead of carrying her up the stairs like he really wanted to do, he carried her into his study.

Colby looked up at Sterling with widened eyes. ”Let me make sure I have this straight. Diamond Swain is married to your friend Jake Madaris?”

Sterling nodded, smiling. ”Yes, they've been married a little over a year now. But because of Diamond's need for privacy, she and Jake are keeping their marriage a secret. There are members of Jake's family that don't even know yet.”