Page 199 of Beautiful Scars

“She’s Maddie now,” I murmur, slipping my hand in Cillian’s as we head for Lorenzo’s restaurant. “But I’m naming the dog we’re definitely not getting.”

Cillian grumbles deep in his throat. “My mind was made up a week ago, Meisie.”

I grimace faintly. “A German shepherd, though? They’re so...hairy.”

“And intelligent, and great with kids, and, and, and.” He glances at me as he lifts his hand to rap on the metal door. “It’s that or a goldfish.”

“Fine,” I breathe, rolling my eyes. “Goldfish it is.”

He strikes with no warning. One second we’re standing there in the freezing fucking arctic wind, the next he’s tickling me through my seventeen layers of clothing. I’m still giggling and begging him to stop when Lorenzo opens the door.

He tsks at me. “You still dating this guy, Signora? I thought you’d come to your senses.”

I hold up my hand, wiggling it so the wedding band is obvious. “I did.”

Lorenzo lets out a resigned, “Si,” and ushers us inside.

They say good things come to those that wait.

Well, I’ve been waiting for Cillian Hendry my entire life.

I just never knew it.