“So why the rush to go?” He rose to his feet again, stalking across the planks toward her, not stopping until he was close enough to touch her.
And he did.
His hands cupped her elbows, and his fingers gently stroked the backs of her upper arms through the heavy knit of the long sweater she wore over leggings.
“I know you think there’s nothing left between you and Cynthia. But you share Aiden, and he’s the most important thing in your life. You told me yourself that no one can take a mother’s place.” He’d always said how important family was to him as a foster child. “The two of you will share thatbond for a lifetime. And I won’t ruin your chance of having the family you always wanted.”
His hands stilled, but he didn’t move away.
“You weren’t going to ask me about the family I always wanted? You just decided who belonged in it and who didn’t?” His eyes searched hers.
“She’s the mother of your son.” She stepped back, unable to think when he touched her and looked at her like that. “That gives her a pretty strong claim. You said you didn’t want Aiden to go through the pain that you did, losing a mother.”
“She will always be his mother, Amy. But I still get to choose who I want in my family. You should know that blood doesn’t dictate that for me.” He didn’t move to follow her, allowing her to pace the small porch, dodging a roll of leftover insulation from the roofing project earlier in the week. “Lorelei is the only woman I’ll ever call my mother. That’s a bond we chose, not one biology pinned on us.”
“I understand. But I know how it feels to be shut out of your world.” She’d been so hurt when Sam had left town ten years ago. She’d been adrift for years, and it had owed as much to his defection as any rift with her family or even that awful night in the woods. “I remember how awful it was to be on the outside looking in, powerless to have a relationship with you. I don’t want to do that with her when she loves Aiden and maybe she could love you, too.”
She wrapped her arms around her midsection, suddenly unbearably chilled. A breeze ruffled her hair, sending strands across her cheek and neck to tickle her skin.
“But I’m in love with you.”
Even without his hands on her, the words cracked through her defenses to touch the softest, most vulnerable part of her.
Because Sam Reyes was not the kind of man who said things lightly.
She forgot all about the cold.
“Sam.” She couldn’t breathe. “I never thought— That is, I didn’t—” Stopping herself, she wasn’t even sure what to say. She hadn’t counted on this.
“You can’t deny that being back together... It’s as if we were never apart. That day we went to the bridge and you came back to my house, those hours made me happier than I’ve been in a long time.” He stepped close so he was toe to toe with her again, bringing all that strength and raw male appeal with him. “And that was all while I was wrapped up in a huge case. Can you imagine what our days might be like when the only crime I’m stopping is public nudity from teenage skinny-dippers?”
A surprise laugh escaped her even as her heart urged her to accept what he was suggesting. “We might have been the only kids crazy enough to try that.”
“Let’s find a little of that crazy again and take a chance on each other. On a future. I want you in my life, Amy, however I can have you. You leaving isn’t going to change that.” He did touch her then, his hand sifting through her hair to curl a strand around one finger.
“I do love you, Sam.” She had kept enough secrets to last a lifetime. This was one truth she needed to share. “So much. I want you in my life, too. But while I’m getting closer to being ready to testify, I’m not sure I’m quite there yet. Can you ever understand that?”
His arm snaked around her waist, his lips brushing hers as his breath warmed her mouth. “Yesterday made a lot of things clear to me, Amy. And one of those was that things aren’t always black-and-white. I’ll support you whatever decision you make.”
He drew her body to his, fitting her curves to his hard planes in a way that made her light-headed.
Almost as much as his words did.
“I want all the things you talked about. A life here. With you and Aiden.” She confessed the deepest needs of her heart, knowing they would be safe with him.
She didn’t have to give him up so he could have a family. He wanted her for his family.
“I believe I can make you happy here. But if you want to move?—”
“I’m excited to be a real Finley again. Family first.”
“Except I’m going to work on making you a Reyes.” He kissed her so softly her toes curled inside her boots, her whole body responding.
“Remember when we first met?” Opening her eyes, she looked into the ones she wanted to see for the rest of her life.
“The teacher asked us to carry the archery boards.” His lips found a vulnerable spot on her neck, and she had to wrap her arms around him to keep from melting at his feet.
“And I told you not to bother helping me because I could manage on my own?” She’d tell that story to Aiden one day when he was old enough to have his first girlfriend.
