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you okay?”
    The small chuckle she released held no humor. “What do you think?” She held the door only slightly ajar, as though trying to stop him from entering.
    Without hesitation, he pushed the door wide, forcing her to step aside so he could enter. “That I’ve betrayed you and hurt you so badly you don’t ever want to see me again.”
    “Then why are you here?” She sounded so lost. She pulled the robe around her like a shield.
    “Because I love you.” He resisted the urge to reach for her. “You may not believe me, but I dreamt of holding you every night. The last five years have been hell.”
    “Nathan, I don’t want to hear this. You have no idea what hell is.” She walked away from him to the sliding glass doors and gazed across the panorama. “What we had is over.”
    Please God, don’t let her believe that.
    He eased up behind her. He flexed his fingers before placing them on her arms. Carefully, he guided her around so that their eyes met. “No. It isn’t. You know it and I know it.” The anguish in her expression made it difficult for him to continue, but he did. “I’ve wronged you. But, baby, I never stopped loving you.” Every nerve in his body sizzled like they were ready to ignite. He had to make her understand. “Paige, I was torn with the news that I was going to be a father. I should have held my ground. I should have married you.” The tears in her eyes made his mist. “You’re right. We could have had a life together and worked something out with Sylvia, but I didn’t think.” He looked away briefly, ashamed that he hadn’t thought of all the options available. Why hadn’t he seen a way out? “I’ve paid every day for the choice I made. Please don’t make me continue to pay.”
    Pain like he had never witnessed hardened her features as she shook out of his hold. “You hurt me.” Her voice cracked. “I don’t know if I can ever trust you again.”
    The truth pierced his heart. The foundation of their relationship had been built on trust. Now it was gone. “Do you still love me?” he whispered.
    “It’s not that easy.”
    A sliver of hope burst through the gray clouds in his mind. She didn’t say no. There was a chance, maybe a thin one, but a chance if he could get her to lower her guard. Then he would love her with every ounce of his being and show her she could trust him.
    “It could be,” he said softly. He retrieved the naupaka flower from the table. Returning, he caressed her hand with the blossom. “We can give the legend a happy ending. Take the flower, Paige. Tell me you love me and that you’ll give me the opportunity to prove my love for you.”
    Licking her lips, she stared at the flower before turning away. “It doesn’t matter if I love you.”
    “Then you do love me?”
    She sniffled. Her fists clenched. “Don’t do this to me, Nathan.”
    “Paige, all I want is for us to be together. Do you love me?” he repeated firmly.
    She nibbled on her lower lip, silent tears racing down her cheeks. “I shouldn’t. God knows I shouldn’t, but I do.”
    Inside of Nathan a light of hope illuminated the darkness that he had lived with for five years. His chest tightened to the point it felt like he would burst. He tried to hide the joy that filled him, but it was useless. He opened his arms. “Come here, baby.”
    She stared at his arms as if he was inviting her into a trap. It stung to know he had pushed her to this extent, hurt her so badly she hadn’t been able to go on with her life. He was a selfish bastard. She had remained his all these years, while he had attempted to make a life for Cami.
    “Come here, baby,” he repeated.
    “I can’t.” Yet she took a step toward him.
    “I’m so sorry. Give me the opportunity to make things right. Let me make up for the time I have stolen from us. Let me love you, Paige.”
    When the breath she held audibly released, her resistance melted too. She nearly flew into his arms, clinging to his neck