Read Online Light This Candle (Harlequin More Than Words) by Cindy Dees - Free Book Online Page A

could seriously use another few thousand
kisses from her.
    She declared without warning, “I’m a bad person for wanting
that child in Columbus to die, but I can’t help it. I want my son to live.”
    “You’re not bad. You’re normal. Every parent wants their child
to thrive.”
    She sighed. “I suppose you’re right.”
    He ached to move beside her and hold her, but he doubted she
would stand for it. Instead, they sat there in uncomfortable silence for some
time. The big clock on the wall seemed to be ticking at half speed tonight.
Realistically, it could be days before the child in Columbus was finally taken
off life support. But still, every few minutes he caught himself checking the
time.
    Out of the blue, Cassidy asked him, “Where are we headed,
Mitch?”
    He looked over at her. “What do you mean?”
    “You and me. Where do you see this going? I wouldn’t normally
ask outright like this, but I have Cody to think about.”
    Aloud, he answered, “I understand.” But in his head, a steady
stream of swearing erupted. He had no idea where they were going, or if they
were going anywhere at all. He’d really like to believe he cared about her for
her sake, but he couldn’t be sure. He had to get his head straight and figure it
out, but in a hospital, waiting for a heart for Cody, wasn’t the time or
place.
    She spoke reflectively. “It’s been such a whirlwind since you
came into our lives. Less than a month. That’s not even close to long enough to
know when someone’s right for you. I do know you make me feel safe, though.”
    He winced. “Safe” wasn’t much of a foundation to build a
long-term relationship on...if, in fact, that was where they were headed.
    As if she’d read his mind, she added hastily, “Not just safe.
You make me feel alive, too.” She added shyly, “Like maybe you need me a
little.”
    And there it was. The crux of the matter. As much as he hated
to admit it, he was starting to think he did need
her. But why? How was it possible to become so
attached to someone so fast unless his motives were completely screwed up?
    He surged to his feet, pacing the confines of the room. She
was looking at him expectantly, but he didn’t have the faintest idea what to
say. His military training would insist that the best defense was a good
offense. For lack of any other ideas and beginning to panic, he turned the
tables on her. “Why would you even consider me?”
    She frowned up at him in confusion. “I just told you.”
    “Yes. But why me? Why not some
other reasonably decent guy who can make you feel safe by getting your car
serviced and fixing the house and paying the rent?”
    Whoops.
    “Paying the rent?” she repeated ominously. “Patches of Light
paid my rent.”
    “Yes, they did,” he agreed a shade too hastily. He never had
been any good at lying. And now her mommy radar for fibs was on full alert. He
didn’t try to sustain the lie. “I wrote them a check and asked to have it
earmarked for you.”
    She leaped to her feet, eyes snapping. “Why?” she demanded.
    “Because you wouldn’t let me help you. I walked down that hall
the first night we met, and you took one look at my uniform and hated my
guts.”
    “The military took away everything from me. My husband and best
friend, my life. And they left me with mountains of paperwork and forced me to
spend months fighting for the most basic health care for my son. Why shouldn’t I
hate the military?”
    “I am the military,” he declared.
“Don’t you get it?”
    “Are you saying you did everything...even kiss me...on behalf
of Uncle Sam?” she challenged incredulously.
    “Of course not. But the same system that took away Jimmy and
made your life hell brought me to you. It can’t be all bad.”
    “It is.” Her words were final. Implacable.
    His throat tightened up terribly. “But if you reject it, you
reject me. It’s my career. It’s who I am.”
    “I’m not changing my mind.”
    Honestly, he couldn’t