Part 26 (2/2)
For a minute, Emerson couldn't speak, couldn't move, could barely breathe. Then she realized the truth with clarity she'd never forget.
This wasn't what if. This was what was.
Standing right in front of her, telling her he loved her, Hunter was everything.
”You didn't hurt me,” she said, and the look of sheer disbelief on his face had her amending her words with a soft laugh. ”Okay, you did. But you weren't wrong, Hunter. I did need help. I needed a lot of things. But none of them more than I need you.”
”You . . . need me?”
She nodded, and of all the things in the world she'd ever said, she meant this the most. ”I do.”
”But what about your parents? I didn't tell anyone about your MS, but-”
”No, but I did,” Emerson said, and for the first time, the truth of it didn't frighten her. ”My parents, Doc Sanders, Daisy. I told all of them. Not because I had to. But because I needed to. You're right-I'm not broken. I have MS. The disease is part of my life. I can't keep hiding that.”
”And you're okay?” Hunter asked, his eyes sliding over her.
She let him look, bruises and swelling and all. ”I've had better days,” she admitted, because her legs still felt like Goodyear rejects. ”But I'm going to meet with the head of neurology at Camden Valley this week to talk to him about better long-term treatment options, and Doc Sanders and I will work out a schedule to accommodate my relapses when they occur.”
”And you did all of this because I told your father you were in the ED?”
Emerson smiled, taking a step toward him. ”I did all of this because you showed me that honesty was what I needed. I was just too scared of not being good enough to see that you were right.”
He met her step with one of his own, bringing him within arms' reach. ”You are so much more than good enough. I never should have betrayed you. I'm so sorry, Em.”
”As crazy as it sounds, I'm glad you did. You did the wrong thing for the right reason, Hunter. You knew what I needed, even when I didn't.” She paused, her heartbeat growing faster in her chest. ”Speaking of which, my MS is going to be a lifelong fight. I'm going to do my best to manage it, but sometimes I'm going to have bad days, or even weeks.”
For a second, Hunter stood in confusion, until realization widened his gray-blue eyes. ”Are you asking if I can handle that?”
Emerson's breath caught, but she needed to know. ”Yes. I don't ever want to be a burden, and this disease . . .”
”Is part of you,” he finished. ”When I told you I had you, I meant it no matter what. Taking care of you is what makes me happy. It's what I want more than anything. You'll never be a burden to me because I love you just as you are, Emerson.
”I know you love me.” She closed the rest of the distance between them, circling her arms around his shoulders and letting him hold her steady. ”Just like I love you.”
Hunter gathered her close, scooping her up just as he had in her dream. ”Well, that's a relief, because you, Miss Montgomery, are stuck with me.”
”That sounds perfect to me, Mr. Cross.”
And as he kissed her face and held her close, Emerson knew deep in her heart that no matter what life sent in her direction, she would always be more than good enough in his arms.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.
This book has been a truly exciting ride, but Crossing Hearts would never be in y'alls hot little hands if it weren't for the following people.
Huge thanks to my fantastic agent and fellow Supernatural fan, Nalini Akolekar, for not even blinking when I said, ”Okay, so I want to write about farmers, but bear with me for a second . . .” I am so glad to be on this journey with you. Chris Werner and Melody Guy at Montlake Publis.h.i.+ng, thank you for believing in this series, and also for validating my penchant for gourmet ice cream. I'm so grateful for your unending support.
It's not easy for a city girl to write about life on a 750-acre farm, so on the research side, I have to thank Jennifer McQuiston for inviting me to her hometown of Elkton, Virginia, to show me the ropes (and the co-op!). Many thanks to Matt Lohr and his parents, Gary and Ellen, who were incredibly patient with my questions about family farming. Also, a big thank-you goes out to Dean and Kay Smith, who graciously allowed me to feed their sheep, raid their henhouse, and ”borrow” their dog Lucy for a cameo in this book. Any mistakes made or liberties taken with the facts of farm life are all my own.
Giant hugs and bottomless martinis go out to Alyssa Alexander and Tracy Brogan, who have been with me on this crazy writer trip ever since that very first RWA conference in 2010. I am so, so proud of all we've learned and done, and am humbly grateful for your friends.h.i.+p.
To Robin Covington and Avery Flynn, I'm not sure if there are words for this, but you know I've got to give it a go. Your support and love borders on the astronomical, and without it, I wouldn't be able to write a single word. Thank you for all your encouragement to reinvent the wheel.
My three daughters, Reader Girl, Smarty Pants, and Tiny Dancer, thank you for putting up with Your Crazy Mommy when it's deadline time, and also for bragging to your teachers that I am a ”famous author who writes about kissing.” And Mr. K, thank you for putting up with Your Crazy Wife when it's deadline time, and also for bragging to your coworkers that I am a ”famous author who writes about kissing.” I love the four of you more than any words can say.
And lastly, to every one of you reading this book, thank you. Being an author is my dream job, but I could not do it without you. I'm so very grateful to share Hunter and Emerson's story with you, and I hope that you love it as much as I loved writing it. Happy reading, everyone!.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR.
Photo 2013 Robin Gansle.
Kimberly Kincaid writes contemporary romance that splits the difference between s.e.xy and sweet. When she's not sitting cross-legged in an ancient desk chair that she calls ”the Pleather Bomber,” she can be found practicing crazy amounts of yoga, whipping up everything from enchiladas to eclairs in her kitchen, or curled up with her nose in a book. Kimberly is a USA Today bestselling author and a 2016 and 2015 RWA RITA finalist who lives (and writes!) by the mantra ”Food is love.” She resides in Virginia with her wildly patient husband and their three daughters. Visit her ator on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.
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