“You okay?” he asks softly as his lips press against my hair.
I nod against his chest, letting out a breathy laugh. “More than okay. I just… I can’t believe it.”
His arms tighten around me. “I was going crazy out there, Lucy. It was time.”
Isla’s voice rings out from the living room. “Daddy, Lucy, are you coming inside or what?”
“Come on,” he says with a gentle smile as he takes my hand and guides me toward the door. “I’ll tell you all about it.”
I follow him inside, still trying to wrap my head around it. My heart can’t quite catch up to my thoughts.
Isla bounces around us as we step into the living room. “Daddy, can we have pizza for dinner? Please?” She tugs on his sleeve with wide, pleading eyes.
Aidan chuckles, a sound that always seems to calm something inside me. He reaches down to ruffle her hair. “Aye, we can have pizza. Why don’t you go wash up while I order?”
She darts off, disappearing down the hall. Aidan turns back to me, and without a word, he takes my hand again, leading me toward the couch. He sits, pulling me down onto his lap.
“I know this was quick,” he admits. “But being away, missing so much of Isla’s life, missing you… It wasn’t working anymore.”
My heart thuds as I wait for him to say more, his thumb tracing slow circles on the back of my hand.
“The life I want isn’t on some rig in the middle of the sea. It’s here, with Isla…and with you.”
Something breaks inside me at his words. It’s like a dam bursting, sudden and overwhelming. Tears spring to my eyes before I can stop them, streaming down my face in hot, uncontrollable waves.
“Lucy?” Aidan’s voice shifts, concern etching his features as his hands come up to frame my face. “What’s wrong?”
I try to speak, but a sob escapes instead. I press my palm against my mouth, trying to hold back the flood, but it’s useless. The emotions are too big, too raw, like they’re being ripped straight from my chest.
“I-I’m sorry,” I manage between gasps. “I’m just so happy.” Another sob cuts me off, and I shake my head helplessly.
His eyes crinkle at the corners as he watches me fall apart in his arms. Instead of trying to stop my tears, he just pulls me closer, his hand cupping the back of my head.
“Look at you,” he says with a small shake of his head. “Crying because I’m staying.” His thumb brushes away a tear from my cheek, and there’s something so tender in the gesture it only makes me cry harder.
“I know,” I hiccup, trying to catch my breath. “I’m a mess.”
“You’re perfect,” he says, his voice dropping to that low rumble that always makes my heart skip. “Do you have any idea how much I love you?”
My breath catches in my throat as I stare at him. Did he just…?
“What did you say?” I whisper.
His eyes don’t waver from mine. “I said I love you, Lucy MacKenzie. I’ve loved you since that night with the cherry pie all over your kitchen.”
I let out a watery laugh, my hands trembling as they find his wrists, holding on.
“I love how you care for Isla like she’s your own,” he continues,his eyes never leaving mine. “I love how you look at me. I love that you never push, but you never back down, either.”
His forehead presses against mine, his breath warm against my lips. “I love that you’re stubborn as hell when it matters. That you’ve made room for us in your life when you didn’t have to.”
My lips are on his before another word can leave his mouth, kissing him with every ounce of hope I’ve been holding onto.
“I love you, too,” I whisper against his lips. “I love yousomuch.”
He kisses me back with equal fervor, his hands tangling in my hair. All the fear, all the uncertainty I’ve been carrying just melts away. This is real. He’s here, he’s staying, and he lovesme.
When we finally break apart, both of us breathing hard, I can’t stop the smile that spreads across my face. It’s so wide it actually hurts.
