Leaning closer to Kelly, I asked quietly, “How are you feeling about me and your dad?”
She shrugged nonchalantly. “I want you both to be happy. I know you’re not like Jill.”
“I am not,” I assured her. “I’m … I’m honored to be welcomed into this family. You know that, right?”
Kelly studied me, a small smile playing on her lips. “Americans are kind of gushy, aren’t they.”
I laughed at her teasing. “Gee, thanks.”
“I’m kidding. Well, kind of not kidding. But it’s, like, way better than the opposite. Trust me.” Her expression turned serious. “I’d take your lovey-dovey crap over Jill’s ‘couldn’t give a crap’ any day of the week.”
“I’m not lovey-dovey.” I pretended to be affronted, hoping to keep her mood light. “I am?—”
“American.”
“Stop it.” I nudged her leg with my foot and she giggled.
It was the best sound in the world.
Murray must have thought so too because when he came over with my plate of food, he set it before me and kissed me good morning.
“Och, I’d say you were making Dad all lovey-dovey too, but he’s always been that way.”
Murray rolled his eyes at his daughter’s gentle mockery and sat down across from her and next to me.
“So … this is us.” Kelly glanced between me and her dad. “London’s actually my stepmum, for real.”
Murray reached over to take my hand as he held his daughter’s gaze. “For real. But you can talk to us if this ever starts to feel too fast or too much.”
Something flickered across her expression, but she pasted on a smile and shook her head.
I knew Murray saw whatever that was too, so I voiced my suspicion. “I’m never going to take your dad away from you.”
Her head jerked up, eyes flashing defensively. “I never said you would.”
And I knew by her belligerent tone that I’d hit the nail on the head. “I mean it, Kelly. I am not an attention hog. I don’t want your dad all to myself. I want this. A family. All three of us.” Swallowing down the emotion that seemed to keep rising to the fore lately, I confessed, “This is all I’ve ever wanted. A real family.”
Murray’s hold on me was almost crushing.
Kelly held my gaze, hers shimmering now. “Then we’re yours.”
I beamed, laughing because I was a little embarrassed that the tears I was holding back fell freely down my cheeks.
“Americans,” Kelly teased again, even as she reached over to take my other hand in hers.
43.Murray
The night before “the mission,” I was trying my hardest not to let my worries show. Kelly didn’t know anything about it and there was no way I ever wanted her to. It was bad enough London and I still had the Nick situation hanging over us. Ramsay was waiting for an update from his contacts.
Kelly had gone to bed, and London and I were sitting in the music room, playing one of my old Runrig records at low volume. London was trying to make her way through my catalogue of artists she wasn’t familiar with. The Scottish Celtic rock band had been the soundtrack to my youth because Mum had loved them and played them constantly. It didn’t surprise me that London enjoyed the music. She had an eclectic taste like me.
My wife was curled up on the sofa, resting against my side as I trailed my fingers over the bare skin of her arm. I’d let my mind shift away from my worries to enjoy this moment with her.
I knew London was terrified about tomorrow too, but she was doing her best to forget.
It was with an unwelcome jolt that her phone disturbed our peace. The mobile vibrated on the coffee table and my heart did a thump at the sight of Ramsay’s name on the screen.
London lunged for it as I used the remote to mute the record player.
