“Knowing my dad, yes. Not for any malicious reason, though. They’ll ask about everything. That’s what families do.”
He exhales. “I just don’t want them to think I’m taking advantage of you.”
“Aidan Reid, listen to me. My family knows me. Theyknow I don’t do anything I don’t want to do.” I smile softly. “The only thing they’ll care about is how you treat me, how you are as a father, and who you are as a person.”
Aidan’s mouth quirks up at one corner, not quite a smile but close.
“Daddy!” Isla calls from down the hall, breaking the moment. “I can’t find my sparkly shoes!”
Aidan clears his throat. “Coming.”
Before he turns to go, the worry melts from his eyes. His hands cup my face, then his mouth is on mine. His kiss isn’t careful like our usual ones with Isla nearby. This is raw and claiming. I gasp against his mouth, surprised by the sudden intensity, and he takes advantage, his tongue sliding against mine.
My back hits the wall as he presses closer. His fingers thread through my hair, cradling the back of my head as he angles me exactly how he wants me. A soft sound escapes my throat when he nips at my bottom lip, and I feel him smile against my mouth.
When he finally pulls back, we’re both breathing hard.
“What was that for?” I whisper.
“Just getting it out of my system before I have to be on my best behavior,” Aidan murmurs, his voice a low rumble.
“Daddy!” Isla calls again, more insistent this time.
Aidan pulls away with a sigh. “Duty calls.”
The drive over to my parents’house is filled with Isla’s chatter from the backseat, asking a hundred questions about who she’ll meet and if my parents’ house is big and whetherthey might have a cat like mine. Her excitement helps diffuse the nervous tension radiating from Aidan beside me. He keeps both hands firmly on the steering wheel, his jaw set in that way it gets when he’s trying to hold himself together.
I place my hand on his thigh. “They’re going to love you both.”
He gives me a quick glance, the corner of his mouth lifting in what might be a smile if he weren’t so tense. “I’ll take your word for it.”
When we pull up to my parents’ home, Isla gasps from the backseat. “It looks like a castle!”
I laugh, and we get out of the car. The old stone house isn’t quite a castle, but with its weathered walls and the way it sits nestled against the rolling hills, I can see how it might look that way to a child.
The front door swings open before I can even knock, and there’s my mother, her face lighting up at the sight of us. Her gaze immediately drops to Isla.
“Well, hello there!” she says, her voice warm as honey. “You must be Isla.”
Isla beams up at her. “Are you Lucy’s mum?”
“I am, indeed. You can call me Sam.” She bends down slightly, extending her hand to Isla, who takes it with surprising formality and gives it a little shake.
Mum straightens and turns her attention to Aidan. “And you must be Aidan. It’s lovely to finally meet you.”
“The pleasure’s mine.”
Mum doesn’t hesitate, wrapping Aidan in a hug. I catch the momentary stiffness in his shoulders before he relaxes, returning her embrace with careful politeness.
“Come in, come in,” she says, ushering us through the door. “Everyone’s in the living room.”
I lace my fingers through Aidan’s, feeling the tensionin his fingers. He’s trying so hard to appear calm, but I know better. His eyes dart around, taking in the family photos lining the hallway, the worn comfort of our family home.
“This is beautiful,” he admires, and I can tell he means it.
We follow Mum into the living room. Dad’s standing by the fireplace, a glass of whisky in hand, and he turns as we enter. His eyes crinkle when he sees me, but I can feel his appraising gaze as it shifts to Aidan and Isla.
“There she is,” Dad says, setting down his glass and opening his arms to me.
