“Yes,” she said. “Because, looking back, my father has been hands off most of our lives, but when he had to step in and put his foot down, everyone fell in line. He meant business and Sandy knows it.”
Rowan pulled her into his arms. “I’m glad they stood behind you this time.”
“Me too. I never expected it, but it’s a nice feeling.”
“I’ll always have your back, Saylor. I hope you know that.”
She laughed. “I do. I knew it when you got me my supplies at the airport. And when you filled this house with treatments for me. When you carried me out of the water when I stumbled. Then when you heard what I said weeks ago about not shying away from controversy and called me today. Like I told Sandy, words have consequences, but actions say more.”
He kissed her forehead. “And you’ve put me in my place to not back down. Life is messy and has to be dealt with. I can’t put my head in the sand anymore, even though there is plenty of it surrounding me.”
“Look at the two of us growing. I always wanted to run and this time I planted my feet and it feels so good.”
He picked her up in his arms. “But you said you were drained. I need to be the hero and carry you to bed.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “You’ve been my hero since the first day I met you. Can I confess something to you?”
“Please do,” he said, moving to the couch and sitting her on his lap rather than bringing her upstairs. She didn’t think he really would.
“I knew I was in love with you the minute you talked about Damon and how you understood what I was going through, but I was terrified of letting myself go.”
“Because you were afraid of being hurt. You’ve been hurt so much in life. Never worry about that with me.”
“You’ll hurt me, Rowan, because people in love do that without meaning to. But I’m not worried because I know you’ll make it better.”
“We’ll make it better together because we’re a communicating team!”
“Now you’re being silly,” she said.
“And you like me that way.”
“I love you that way!”
EPILOGUE
Three Months Later
Saylor openedthe door after work on Wednesday three months later, stunned to see the living room transformed into a Christmas motif.
“What is going on here?” she asked, laughing.
There was an artificial tree in the corner fully lit up and covered with ornaments. A red and green plaid throw blanket on the couch replacing the one she’d bought six months ago when she moved in. The fireplace that was only for decoration in the living room had two stockings hanging from it with their names on it. And Rowan was holding plastic mistletoe over his head and pointing to his lips.
“Ever heard of Christmas in July?” he asked.
She rolled her eyes. Sometimes she didn’t know where his brain was at or what silly things he’d do next.
She strutted toward him and laid her lips to his.
“I have but don’t know where this is coming from.”
“We met over Christmas,” he said. “And spent that fabulous week together and yet neither of us had a gift to open.”
“We were strangers unprepared for what was handed to us,” she said. “Gifts weren’t on my radar.”
“But were we really strangers?” he asked, wrapping his arm around her and lifting her sideways, then putting her on the couch.
“It never felt that way to me.”
