“None of them got serious?”
“Not for me.”
“But for them?”
“A few thought they’d be the one to change my mind about happily ever after and forever, but it turns out that you’re the only one who’s been able to do that.”
“Why me?”
“Oh, Isla… How much time do you have?Every single thing about you does it for me.From the way you smile to how soft your hair is, to your sweetness and the way you are with your kids, to your fortitude in dealing with such a difficult end to your marriage.All of it.You touch my soul in a way that no one else ever has.And there’s just this magical aura to you… There’s no other way to explain it.”
She shifted so she could snuggle up to him.“That’s a lovely thing for you to say.”
“I mean it.Every word.”
“I know you do.”She believed that this man, who’d never felt this way about anyone else, loved her like he said he did.If she was wrong about him… Well, she didn’t want to entertain that possibility.“Is everything okay with your brother?”
“It will be.He recently learned he has a daughter, and he’s trying to adjust to his new reality.”
Julian put his arm around her and made her comfortable with her head on his chest.
“Is he upset about the baby?”
“Quite the opposite.He’s already crazy about her, and he can’t figure out how that’s possible when he expected to never have kids.”
“Life happens.”
“That it does.We should know, right?”
She gave a little nod.“While you were downstairs, I was thinking about what you said about wanting us to move in.”
“I’d love nothing more than to have you guys here with me.”
“You say that now, but you have no idea what you’d be signing on for with two very young kids.”
“I was the oldest of nine and was thirteen when the youngest was born.I’m not new to kids.”
“It’s different when they’re leaving sticky fingerprints on your pristine walls or spilling something on your ten-thousand-dollar leather sofa.”
“That sofa didn’t cost ten grand.”
“Okay, seven grand, then.You get my point.”
“I understand what you’re concerned about, but those things don’t matter to me.Fingerprints can be wiped off of walls, and leather is bulletproof.My mother always had leather sofas for that very reason.She’s the one who said they were bulletproof and last forever.”
“What I’d like to do is renew my rental for a couple of months so you can spend more time with the kids and make sure this is what you really want.”
“It is what I really want.I don’t need more time.”
“I think I might.”She rested her hand on his face.“You’re the sweetest to want to take care of me and us, and I truly love you for that and many other reasons.But I need to be sure I’m making the right decisions for me and the kids.I’m not ready to make that one yet.”
“We’ll play this however you want.I’m not going anywhere, and the offer stands.Whenever you’re ready, my home is your home.”
“One other thing…”
“What’s that?”
“I’m going to work my three shifts at the Whisky this weekend because my friend is counting on me.I’ll see how that goes before I decide whether I’m going to continue or not.It’s a great way for me to work while my kids are sleeping and make a lot of money.”
