‘Oh, you’ve heard that, have you?’
‘Just idle gossip I’m sure.’
‘Well, you’d be right. I don’t want Bo to see me bringing random women home all the time.’
‘Right. I get that.’ She’d been basically celibate herself for the past couple of years for the same reason. She’d given up going out and finding guys to hook up with for the night to scratch her itch. She couldn’t say she missed it.
‘So what made you decide to break your rule all of a sudden?’
‘What?’ He frowned, looking puzzled.
She spread her arms and gave him a look that said he was breaking it right now, with her.
‘I’m not breaking any rule,’ he said seriously. ‘You’re not a random woman.’
Lou’s heart skipped a beat. She wasn’t sure how to feel about that. She was pleased, but it also scared her. Because the moment you had something good, it also meant you had something to lose. And if it depended on another person, it could always be taken away.
‘Anyway,’ she said, changing the tone, ‘in answer to your question, scrambled eggs.’
‘Huh?’ Aidan seemed to have lost track of the conversation.
‘I’d like scrambled eggs for breakfast.’
‘Ah.’ He smiled. ‘Well, you’re in luck. Scrambled eggs happen to be my speciality.’
She really was in luck, Lou thought later as they sat side by side at the island eating soft scrambled eggs and buttery toast, as warm and comforting as a hug. The eggs were perfect – creamy, unctuous with butter and perfectly seasoned. Everyone thought they could make scrambled eggs, that they were the easiest thing in the world, but there was a real art to it.
‘My compliments to the chef,’ she said, smiling with satisfaction as she pushed her empty plate away. ‘That was perfect.’
‘Thanks. I’ve had a bit of practice.’ He leaned in and gave her a soft kiss with buttery lips.
‘That was delicious too. Did anyone ever tell you you’re a great kisser?’
‘Not in so many words.’ He grinned, looking pleased. ‘But I’ve never had any complaints either.’
‘Sorry for freaking out earlier,’ she said quietly, not looking at Aidan.
His silence prompted her to look up.
‘What happened?’
She shrugged, not sure how to explain. ‘When I woke up this morning… I was so happy.’
‘So… they were happy tears?’
‘Not exactly.’
He waited patiently for her to continue.
‘I was scared,’ she admitted finally.
‘Because…?’
‘I told you. I was happy. It’s scary.’ She reached for an explanation, trying to make him understand. ‘It was like when Jack was born.’ She smiled. ‘When the nurse put him onto my chest, I was so happy I thought I’d burst. I didn’t know it was possible to feel so much, you know? To love someone that much. This tiny wriggling unformed creature was the best thing that had ever happened to me. I’ve never felt such pure joy in my life.’
Aidan nodded.
‘But I was also terrified. I didn’t know what to do, I had no idea how to take care of a baby. How was I going to keep him alive, give him what he needed, when I could barely look after myself?’
