Page 91 of Derecho

“Oh, uh…I walked up to talk to my dad. When Ma got back, I figured it would be okay to come home. And these were growing next to the barn. Reminded me of the ones I saw the day after Reid was born. Wanted to bring them back and to give them to you. And hope that you’d be open to me apologizing for what happened earlier.”

He showed me a handful of wildflowers, still standing at the edge of the kitchen.

“They’re beautiful. Better get them in some water before they wilt.” I set the knife down, moving to the cupboard where Lachlan kept his glasses. “Here.” I handed the vessel to him, heading back to the cucumber I was currently cutting up.

“What smells so good?” he asked as he headed toward the oven. “Oh my God? Is that shepherd’s pie? I haven’t had that in ages.”

“Your mom might have told me it was your favorite meal growing up. I’m making a cucumber and tomato salad to go with it.”

“For me?”

I wiped my hand on the apron I was wearing. Lachlan stepped closer, resting his cane against the edge of the counter. “Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because I wanted to tell you I’m sorry. For freaking out earlier. Letting your sister hold Reid isn’t wrong. And I’m sorry for being so needy. For coming into your life like a storm that just won’t stop raging.”

His fingers brushed back some of the hairs that had fallen out of my ponytail. “You don’t need to apologize for that. Any of it. I should have kept Reid in my arms. He’s safe with me.”

“I know he is,” I whispered, my eyes dropping to his chest. My palm pressed against the pocket on Lach’s shirt, right above his heart.

“I understand if you’re still mad at me. I’m sorry I called my mom. Whatever she said…I shouldn’t have called her, right? I was so worried, and I thought…God, when is my mind going to stop fucking things up?”

Lach’s head fell into his hands, his fingers pulling at the root of his hair.

“Stop.” I moved his hand away from his head, reaching back up to run my own fingers gently over the strands. “I happen to really like this mind.”

“It’s broken. I don’t know if it’ll ever be fixed. If I’ll ever be fixed. Or whole again.”

“It doesn’t need to be fixed. Your mind isn’t a problem that needs a solution. If there are things you want to work on…well, of course you should work on them. But I hate hearing you talk about yourself like that. Your leg, your mind, they don’t make you less of a man. They make you the kind of man who makes me feel so safe, and so seen. Sometimes, I think you might be the only person in the world who sees me for who I am and doesn’t want to run…So, please don’t be upset about sending your mom over here. We had such a good talk. She hugged me, and for a minute…”

“What?” he asked, his eyes sparkling back at me.

“I felt what it was supposed to feel like. When a mom loves her kid.”

“Lain…”

My fingers twisted together. “I want Reid to grow up knowing that feeling. I want him to have this big, beautiful family that I never got to have.”

“I want that for the both of you, too.”

“Your mom said…”

His eyes closed as he groaned. “Oh, God. What?”

“That she thinks there is something more going on between us. Something more than friendship.”

“What do you think?” he asked as his forehead leaned against mine. His chest stopped moving, and I knew he was holding his breath, waiting for my answer.

“I think I want that to be true,” I whispered.

“Thank God.”

Lachlan’s fingers slipped over my cheek and into my hair. His mouth was impossibly close to mine and I stood still, waiting. The second our lips touched, I knew I was gone. I’d never been kissed with such gentleness. Such care. And I appreciated that more than I’d ever be able to say. But I also wanted more. I craved it. Every nerve in my body was screaming that I needed to be closer to him.

He leaned back, his hands dropping to my hips. Lachlan let me take control. My tongue licked over the seam of his lips, and he granted me entry almost immediately. As soon as our tongues touched, a moan vibrated through Lachlan’s body and lit my own up.

“Christ, Lain. Best first kiss ever.” His eyes popped open at my sniff, going wide as he looked me over. “Are you okay?”