“There’s no maybe about it, Till. Everyone will love you.” He wrapped his arms around her waist. “This is your home.”
She nibbled her bottom lip, something clearly rolling around her mind. He didn’t push her to speak, just waited for what was coming.
“This is probably the wrong place to mention this.” She laughed. “Outside Sugar and Spice and in the middle of the street, but…that night, when my father was in the kitchen, you said…well…you said you loved me. Is that true?”
His heart jumped in his chest. Hehadsaid that. And he’d meant it. Neither of them had brought it up again since that night because they’d had so much going on. “It wasn’t the way I wanted to tell you. I wanted there to be candles and music and pasta.”
“Pasta?”
He lifted a shoulder. “That’s just what people eat when they make declarations of love, isn’t it?” She laughed, and he tugged her closer. “But maybe that’s where I’m wrong. Because I don’t need that stuff. All I need is you. I love you, Tilly. I’ve loved you for a while, and I hate that it took me so long to tell you.”
Tears filled her eyes, but they didn’t fall. “You’re right. We don’t need that stuff. We just need each other.” She cupped his cheek. “I love you too, Kayden Walker. You slipped into my life and made apersonfeel like home for me, rather than a place.”
There it was. The final weight lifted off his chest. Gone. Because of her.
He lowered his head and kissed her, let everything she was slip inside him and become a part of him.
Tilly completed him, and he’d remind her of how important she was to him every damn day.
CHAPTER 33
“Can we get ice cream?”
Eastern’s lips twitched at his daughter’s question. They were in the grocery store, and he’d been waiting for it since they stepped foot inside. He was surprised she’d held off until the basket was half-full. “Ice cream, huh?”
“Please, Daddy? And we can put sprinkles on top while we have a movie night.”
The sneaky kid. She knew he couldn’t say no to a movie night. Every opportunity he got to spend with his daughter was a gift, and he didn’t take them for granted for a second.
“Okay. Peppermint flavor.”
She scrunched up her nose. “But chocolate chip is so much better.”
“How about we compromise on mint chocolate chip?”
She seemed to take a moment to consider it before giving one decisive nod. “Deal.”
When had his baby girl turned into a little adult who was negotiating deals with him? He needed time to slow the hell down.
They stopped at the freezer section, and Avery opened the door to pull out a tub of mint chocolate chip. “You know, Amber told me her dad doesn’t like ice cream.”
“There’s obviously something wrong with him.”
Avery giggled, and the sound was music to his ears. God, he loved his kid. Being away from her for long stretches during his time as a SEAL had been hard, but he’d done it because he loved to serve his country and had assumed she was well looked after by her mother.
Not the case.
Fuck, he wanted to kick his own ass for not realizing his ex, her mother, had a drinking problem. That she’d barely been caring for their daughter in the end, had let go of their nanny, Sadie, and was passing out in the middle of the day. And then to just run off?
The only thing that helped him get through all that was the knowledge that Avery was safe and with him now, and that was the way it would stay. He’d applied for full custody and the hearing had been brief—because Jamie had never bothered to show up. Avery was officially his.
“He also doesn’t let her have any sprinkles,” Avery added.
Eastern feigned a gasp. “No sprinkles?”
“I know. I told her I’d sneak her some.”
He bit back the laugh. His daughter, the sprinkle smuggler. “Maybe that’s not a good idea, Ave. If her dad says no…”
