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“That’s so wonderful,” I say with a smile. “You all have so many things to celebrate.”
“And you and Diane will still be here,” Tom says, gesturing to my mom, “so you can help us celebrate.”
“Oh, but this is a family affair,” I say, acutely aware of my mom watching me with wise, curious, blue eyes.
I haven’t admitted to her that I’m in love with Shawn.
That I’m in love with all of them.
But I know she can see it written all over my face.
“Nonsense,” Fiona says. “You’ll join us, and that’s that. Kane’s best friend, Cameron Cox, is coming, as well. Our family is full of those tied to us by blood, and others united by love, and that’s the truth of it, Lexi.”
I have to take a deep breath so I don’t cry like a blubbering idiot.
“Thank you for including us,” Mom says, reaching over to pat Fiona’s hand.
Tom pats my hand kindly. “It’s happy we are to have you here, lass. I hope this won’t be your only trip to Ireland.”
“Oh, I think I’ll be coming here for years to come.”* * *“Can you please bring me the baby wipes?” I ask, pointing at the wipes in question across the room. “She’s dirty.”
“She had a healthy breakfast,” Shawn says with a chuckle as he hands me the wet wipes and then leans over to kiss our daughter on the forehead. “Didn’t you, sweet Aisling?”
I quickly get her cleaned up and diapered, and once she’s in her pajamas, I pass her to Shawn. “It’s your turn to put her to bed, Da.”
“And a pleasure it is,” he says with a wink. He takes her into the nursery, and I can hear him crooning to her through the monitor. “You’re my best girl, aren’t you, darling? That’s right. Shall we have a story, then?”
I walk into the bathroom and take a hot shower. When I’ve toweled off, Shawn is already waiting for me in the bedroom.
“That was quick.”
“She passed right out during my Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde story.”
“I’m not sure you should be telling that story to a two-month-old,” I say with a laugh.
“She can’t understand the words. Or, she can, and that was a really boring story.”
He tugs me against him and kisses me long and slow. He loosens the towel wrapped around me and lets it pool at my feet.
“You’re a gorgeous woman, Lexi.”
“I’m glad you think so.”
The dream is sexy and almost in slow motion as Shawn makes love to me. There are soft sighs and long, deliberate touches that make my core ache for him. His words of love echo through my mind as I surface from sleep.
I blink my eyes open and stretch under the crisp, white linens. The sun is up, and I feel well-rested.
I glance over and see Shawn sitting in my plush chair.
“Am I still dreaming?”Chapter 20~Lexi~“Do you ever look at your damn mobile?”
I blink, coming fully awake now. I’m definitely not dreaming. The Shawn seated five feet away from me looks angry.
Exhausted.
Frustrated.
I sit up, and the covers fall, and I immediately pull them up around my bare chest. “Good morning to you, too.”
“It’s an honest question, Lexi.”
“And the honest answer is, I’ve barely looked at my phone in days because I’ve been traveling, and I don’t have cell coverage in Ireland. I haven’t connected to the Wi-Fi yet.”
He takes a long, deep breath and then lets it out slowly.
“I didn’t think you were coming to Ireland until next week.”
His green eyes flash at me. “I didn’t either. I just got here about two hours ago. In the past forty hours, give or take, I’ve flown to Minneapolis, where I met a nice older woman who lives across the hall from you.”
“Mrs. Peabody.”
“Then, I flew to Orlando, where I apparently missed you by roughly ten hours or so.”
“And now you’ve followed me here.”
“That I have.”
“Why?”
My hands fist in the covers, and I bite my lip, waiting for his answer.
“Having a life-altering conversation is damn difficult when you look like that,” he says.
“Like what?”
“Like every bloody fantasy I’ve ever had in my life.”
And there’s the spark of hope that he’s about to say what I’ve longed to hear for months.
“I’d get up and get dressed, but I think you’re on a roll, and I don’t want to interrupt you.”
“Okay, first, I need you to tell me why you snuck out that morning. Why did you leave?”
I do not want to lead with this. “I’d like to know why you’re here first.”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
“No.”
He rubs his hand over his bloodshot eyes. “I’ve buggered all of this up, Lex. I let you leave the first time because I thought that was for the best. Our working relationship had come to an end, and it was just time for you to go.”
“And I’m glad I did.” The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them.
