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Rory surprised me when he put his arms around me. He was quite a bit taller than me, so my head landed on his chest. “You put thedearestinStepmommy,” he mumbled, like he was embarrassed. He let go of me and hurried off.
I stood there and watched them go, lighting up on the inside as much as I was literally lit up on the outside. I had this urge to go tuck them in and read them a bedtime story. At their age, they probably wouldn’t appreciate it.
Patrick gazed my way while extricating himself from the string of lights. “You are an angel. I hope you know that.”
“I’ve always thought of myself as more devilish.” I grinned.
“Lucky me.” He reached for me. “Let me help you out of those lights.”
“Now who’s being devilish?”
“Definitely me,” he crooned while he unwrapped the first layer, pressing a kiss to my neck as he went. “You are amazing. I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done for my kids. For me. I never thought we would have nights like tonight.”
“Are you talking about when my mother serenaded you with ‘Wind Beneath My Wings’ earlier?”
Patrick chuckled. “That was something else.”
“I just hope she doesn’t do it at Charlotte’s wedding. She keeps threatening to during her speech.”
“Well ... that would be something.” Patrick moved closer, unwinding another layer, his hands taking their liberties.
I trembled, pleasing Patrick.
“Isabelle, tonight may very well be the best night of my life.”
“Really?”
He drew me closer, still tangled in the lights. He ran a finger down my cheek. “You are so beautiful. Inside and out. I love you. I’ve always loved you.”
There were those words, finally spoken. I felt them all the way down to my toes, illuminating me more than the lights. “Patrick—”
His mouth captured mine before I could tell him how I felt. I supposed showing, instead of telling, was a good option too. I twisted my hands into his shirt while he ran his fingers through my hair, clutching it, pulling us as close as we could possibly be.
He moaned and deepened the kiss.
I dug my hands into his chest, praying his kids didn’t come back out to witness this.
Patrick’s tongue swept my mouth thoroughly, while his fingers knotted in my hair.
I gasped with each prod and taste.
He picked me up, his hands gripping my thighs, and I wrapped my legs around him. He walked us over to turn off the lights, ripping the lights around me out of the wall. The glow of the Christmas tree was all that was left. It was the perfect ambience.
Patrick walked us over to the couch and lowered me onto it, only to join me. There he took me back into his arms. He took a moment to adoringly gaze at me. “How did I get so lucky?”
I reached up and skimmed his jaw with my fingers, loving the feel of his stubble. I felt some other things too. A strong wave of emotion hit me, as well as a shot of courage. “Patrick, I love you. I don’t know if it was at first sight, but I love you. I’m sorry I was afraid of it twenty years ago. I think I knew then, too.” I finally realized what his kiss had been trying to tell me. We belonged together.
Patrick’s eyes filled with moisture. His emotion caught me off guard. Jared had never acted so touched.
My fingers worked their way up to his eyes. I gently wiped away a leaked tear. “Do you forgive me?”
“There is nothing to forgive. I should have come after you.”
“But then you would never have had children,” my voice hitched.
His hand found my abdomen. He gently caressed it. “Isabelle, can I ask what condition you have?”
“You can ask me anything. I’m basically a sperm killer.”
