“You did it, Em. Maybe you had Noah’s help, but you did what you had to do. And I’ll be forever grateful that you did because now I’m here with you.”
I tug gently on her hand, and she falls into my embrace.
“What are we doing?” she whispers.
“I don’t know, but I wouldn’t be anywhere else.” I press a kiss to the top of her head. “Let’s get to bed.”
She gives me a smile that makes my heart swell with pride. There are moments when she’s come out the other side of her husband’s shadow, and other times when she seems to slip back in. But when she gives me an opening, I’m not about to say no.
Emma grasps my hand and leads me down the hallway to her room. Once we’re inside, she closes the door behind us.
“Are you sure?” I ask.
She nods. “I’m sorry if?—”
“You never have anything to be sorry about. I’m here.”
“I’m just going to brush my teeth. There’s a spare brush in the bathroom cupboard if you want one.”
“Thanks.”
When I leave the ensuite, I turn my back to give her privacy while I slip off my shirt and drop my pants to the floor. I’m in boxer shorts—that’s all I usually sleep in. I hope it’s okay with Emma.
“You can turn around.”
She’s not wearing much more than I am, a pair of boxer shorts and a sleeveless pyjama top. This is it. No sneaking around or sex in the car.
I know there’ll be no sex tonight, but this is where I’m meant to be. I’ll wait for her—as long as it takes.
It means everything that she trusts me to be here with her in such a vulnerable state.
Her gaze sweeps down my body, but her eyes don’t meet mine afterward. Instead, she blushes and looks down.
“Emma.”
It takes her a moment, but her eyes meet mine. This is a big move for her, and the last thing I need is to scare her off. But she also needs to know that I see her.
“Which side do you sleep on?”
Her lips twitch into a smile. “I don’t mind.”
“This is your home. Tell me what to do.”
Any other woman would have given me innuendo at this point, but not my shy Emma.
She shrugs. “I’ve been sleeping on the right, but …”
“Then I’ll sleep on the left.”
She takes a step toward me, and I cover the distance between us, pulling her into my arms. For a moment she freezes before relaxing.
“You’re so good to me.”
“You deserve all the good in the world, babe. You’ve had more than your share of the bad.”
I place a kiss in her hair and let her go before making my way to my side of the bed.
She slips between the sheets, and I join her as she rolls over and switches off the bedside lamp.
