“I regret marrying you in the way we did.Remember what you said that day we first talked about this?You’d want to date, then get engaged, then plan a wedding—”
“Then marry and go on a honeymoon.I can’t believe I forgot that one the first time.Yes, I remember.What about it?”
He pulled her into him.It was like coming home.
“I want to do all of that with you, Aurelie, and I think based on what you just said, you might be game for it, too?”
“It’s not that simple, Jace.I…” How could she end that sentence?I’m having your baby and don’t want a half-relationship with you as you muddle through your feelings about pregnancy?This was the literal worst.
Her hand rested on her belly briefly enough that his gaze dipped to the gesture.
“You’re—”
She nodded.“Pregnant.Yes.See?We can’t date and get to know one another because we did this whole thing backward, and now it’s all messed up.You don’t want a relationship or kids, and this is very much—”
He squeezed her against him; she could feel his heart beating against her cheek.
“Shhhh.I’m here.And this isn’t the bad thing you think it is.Breathe with me, and then we’ll talk.How are you, Aurelie?I’ve missed the shit out of you.Let’s start there.”
“Jace.”He always knew just what to say.The relief of being held by the man she’d tried to forget—and couldn’t—turned to heat.Desire, love, and passion wrapped up in one intense longing she’d never known was possible.The safety of that allowed her grief to surface.She sobbed into his chest.“She’s gone.”
“I know.I’m so sorry.”
She scrunched her nose.“Is that why you’re here?”
“Partly, yes.And partly because I’ve spent too much time not by my wife’s side.I miss her.”
She collapsed into his arms.It was wonderful to have him there, in this moment of loss, but it didn’t fix anything.He still was who he was and wanted what he wanted.
“You don’t have to do this anymore,” she said.“I’m safe now.”She put a hand on her belly.“We all are.Puckman is put away for life, thanks to you—which you have to tell me more about—and my paperwork came through.I’ll be here legally again and can apply for citizenship, thanks to you.”The reality of it still hadn’t truly sunk in.Her shoulders still carried the weight of years of looking over them for the other shoe to drop.Her heart still beat erratically, a warning bell of sorts.Would it ever calm?
“I know that, too,” Jace said.“But I’m not going anywhere.Not because you have a piece of paper keeping you here or hearing about the baby, which is the best news ever, by the way.”His hand rested on her abdomen, and damn if a smile didn’t blossom on his beautiful cheeks.“I’m here because I want you.Us.All of us.”
“What do you mean?”she asked.He smiled, and her heart did it.It actually calmed down.She shouldn’t get used to that, though.He’d been clear about what he wanted, and he’d kept his distance the past couple months.
“I mean you can push all you want, Aury.”He pulled back but kept his hands on her waist.Every ounce of her body’s awareness flooded to those touchpoints.“But I’m not going anywhere.Part of me marrying you to save you from your dad was over-the-top white-knighting.”
He squeezed her tighter to his chest.
“But it came from an authentic place.With real feelings.I just don’t think I knew it at the time.”
“You don’t want a relationship, though, and this will be one; I have a baby to raise.”
He cupped her chin in his hands.Gazing up at Jace, into his sea-green eyes, undid something inside her.
“Wehave a baby to raise.Even without that, I love you and would want to try for one—or four—anyway.”He kissed her, then.Soft at first, then with an urgency she matched.She opened her mouth to him until the words he’d said resonated.
“Wait.You really do love me?”
Jace laughed, and the remnants of her worries fluttered away on the sound.Even though the wind bit at her neck and cheeks, she was warmed by Jace’s presence.
“Yeah, I thought that was pretty obvious.”
“When?”she asked.
“I don’t know.Somewhere along the way, I fell in love with you.If I was pressed to answer, I’d say it was watching your dedication to your friends, or when you dropped everything to watch Maddie.I could pin it on seeing you at work with patients, or being present with every person you talk to.And let’s not forget how you gave up your sanctuary to keep me comfortable.Which I think means you love me, too.”
Her cheeks flashed with heat.She bit her bottom lip.
