Page 157 of The Golden Hour

She watches as all the tension bleeds from his body. Mason doesn’t rush to Honey. He takes slow, careful steps toward her, his shimmering hazel eyes locked onto hers, and she feels her own eyes and nose stinging in response.

He looks wrecked. He looks like love.

Mason’s hands shake as he holds them out in front of him, palm up, and Honey, without hesitation, slides her own into them. He lifts them to his face and presses kisses along the back of them, his shoulders hitching with his sobs.

Honey hitches a sob of her own, feeling that last bit of fracture in her heart mend together. She’s looking at Mason, her husband, the love of her life, her soulmate, stripping himself raw in front of her.

She squeezes his hands, and he lifts his head to meet her eyes.

“Your forgiveness doesn’t mean I ever get careless with you again. I’m going to spend every day loving you the way I should have all along.” Mason says, “And Honey Carpenter, I love you more than life itself.”

Honey laughs wetly. “Mason.”

“Yes, baby?”

“Kiss me.”

He cradles her face in his hands, holding her like she’s precious, looking at her like she’s a miracle, and then slowly presses his lips to hers for the first time in far too long.

They both gasp when their lips make contact, and it feels like their first kiss—minus her braces. Their lips move slowly against each other, like they’re relearning each other’s touch.

One hand remains on Honey’s cheek, while the other locks around her waist, pulling her flush against him. Honey’s hands travel, touching Mason wherever she can, feeling her husband against her as they kiss and kiss and kiss until⁠⁠—”

“Ma-ma-ma-ma…”

Laughing against each other’s lips, they both turn to see Daisy watching them, giggling like they’re being silly.

“Oh, is something funny, little flower?” Mason teases, releasing Honey only to walk toward Daisy and lift her out of the pack and play. “Come on, baby girl, say da-da! Da-da!”

“Ma-ma-ma-ma,” Daisy babbles, giggling at the exaggerated sad face Mason wears. Honey giggles behind her hand and reaches for Daisy.

“Yeah, yeah,” Mason grumbles playfully. “I know who your favorite is.”

Mason wraps his arms around both girls, and Honey presses a kiss to Mason’s lips.

“Don’t be sad, sweetheart,” Honey smiles. “She loves her daddy.”

Mason’s eyes soften.

“Her daddy loves her,” he grins. “And her daddy loves her mommy.”

“And that’s enough for now,” Honey whispers, meeting Mason’s eyes. “We’ll take it slow. Day by day, like we have been.”

Mason’s smile widens, and he presses a kiss to Daisy’s cheek, and then does the same to Honey.

“Day by day.”

Daisy giggles, and the three of them sway softly in the kitchen to the soft music playing.

And Honey feels like she’s finally arrived home.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

HONEY

Mason’s been quiet.

Not unpleasant, not cruel, not distracted. Just… quiet.