In the end, it was the family I found, not the one I was born into, that truly saved me and showed me my worth. And to them, I’d be forever indebted.
“Are those happy tears?”
“Oh, yes.” I smiled so hard my cheeks pinched. “Knowing how much everyone pitched in to help make all of this possible.” I placed my hands over my heart. “It means everything to me. Absolutely everything.”
“You’ve got a lot of people who care about you in yourcorner, Lily. You’re loved by so many,” he said, wrapping his arms around my middle from behind.
“The old me would never have believed this could be possible?—”
“And now?”
Still held in his embrace, I turned around and reached my hands up to set them on his shoulders. “Now, I know everything had to happen the way it did before to get us to where we stand now. Yes, parts were messy, sad, scary, and tough, but it’s shown me the path I’m on is the right one because there’s nowhere else I’d rather be than here with you. The love and support from your family and friends, who’ve taken me under their wing and welcomed me into their lives with open arms, is one heck of an added bonus. I will never take what they’ve given me, the true sense of belonging, for granted. I’m just so grateful for it all, and for this life. I love you so much, Jaxon Fisher.”
“And I love you, Lily-one-day-to-be-Fisher.”
“I very much look forward to that, but first, all my efforts will be focused on getting myself right to walk down the aisle as one of Lakelyn’s bridesmaids without my cane.”
“Cane or no cane, you will always be mine and the most beautiful woman in the room.”
“Always the sweet talker.”
“Well, now that we’re home, not surrounded by various people walking in and out of your room, is there anything you’d like to do?”
“I have a list of things, although I know once we lie in your bed, we aren’t leaving.”
“Correction, our bed.” His hands curled over my hips with intention. “And I like your way of thinking.”
“Oh, slow your horses there, hot-stuff.” I lowered my handson his chest. “Because I meant sleeping. After a month of lying on a firm medical mattress and you on that tiny little couch-bed thing, I’m sure your back is aching just as much as mine.”
“Fair point. Sounds like a back massage might be on that list?” he asked with a raised wiggle of his eyebrows and a hint of playfulness twinkling around his irises.
“Well, I definitely wouldn’t turn one down.” The mere thought of having his hands on me had red-hot desire weaving its way through my veins.
“Just say the word.” His eyes betrayed him as he tried to rein in his restraint, but I didn’t want him to hold back.
Not anymore.
“First, I’d like to take a bath. Think you could help me with that?”
“Oh, I can most definitely help you with that request.” A mouth-watering smirk pulled at the corner of his mouth.
Jaxon bent forward, lowering his hands until they found the backs of my thighs, and picked me up. With my legs wrapped around his back and my hands weaving through his hair, he carried me down the hallway, through our bedroom, and straight into the en suite bathroom, where he sat me on the counter.
“What did you do?” I asked, surprised, because the bathroom he carried me into looked nothing like the one I remembered.
The room, since I’d last been there, had been completely transformed from a bathroom with a combined shower and tub to one with a modern glass enclosure and a deep soaker tub next to it, both finished in a warm beige tile. Even the vanity I sat on was also updated with dual sinks and a new countertop.
“Technically, I didn’t do anything.” He ran his palms up and down my thighs as I eyed him curiously. “I found out my landlord and his wife were waiting for me to move out so they couldsell the place. They want to move to South Carolina to be closer to their daughter and grandchildren. So, I made him an offer and bought it because I knew you’d be comfortable here versus finding another place until the lake house is rebuilt. It also meant I could renovate the space into one where you could have a proper soak and relax. Boden helped oversee the project, Jameson pitched in where he could, and I also hired a crew to get it done quickly. Do you like it?”
“I don’t just like it, I love it.” There was even a white hanging crochet plant holder hung above one end of the tub, holding a new little plant baby. “I know you didn’t have to do this, but the fact that you did—I’m just so blown away by your thoughtfulness. Thank you.”
“Haven’t you figured out by now that there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you?”
“Careful, Detective, you’re setting a dangerous precedent by admitting that out loud.”
I loved the way his whiskey-hued eyes always darkened whenever I called him that.
“Nah, I happen to know you’re worth the risk.” His lips found mine, charged with palpable longing and need.
