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God, this man. He’d installed a nursery here for Maddie while they were up at the cabin. She could spend lifetimes trying to deserve him and would never measure up.
“Jasper, please, I’m on a lot of pain medicine, and it’s been a long night. And I have things I need to say.”
He sat on the coffee table right in front of her, his eyes searching hers.
“Go on.” He nodded, tense, like he was waiting for her to yell at him.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you everything.” A single tear trickled down her cheek.
“Lass, it’s—”
She held up her non-injured arm with her hand up to stop him. “No, I need to get this out. When we first made the deal, I’d been running for so long all I could think about was that I’d found a safe space where Maddie and I could lie low for a bit. Where I could figure out my next move. And then you offered me a way to escape the country, a way to care for Maddie, and the chance at a future away from the threat Ian posed. And I took it. I would do it again in a heartbeat.”
She gathered her courage for the next bit. “But the thing is, I didn’t expect to fall in love with you. And I know my lies hurt you, and for that, I’m so sorry. I understand if you can’t forgive me for everything I brought to your doorstep. I know you don’t fall in love. You warned me you don’t, but my stupid heart didn’t listen. That’s on me. But I need you to understand that I would’ve been proud to be your wife and have you be Maddie’s stepfather.”
“Why? So you can be married to a billionaire?” Jasper asked, studying her.
She shook her head. “No. So I could show my daughter what love looks like. And the type of man I hope she finds one day. One who is loyal and kind and patient. I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness. But I would have done anything to protect Maddie. Literally anything. And I’m not sorry for the time we spent together. I only wish in my need to keep her safe that I hadn’t hurt you. And I just came to say that I love you. I hope that one day, you can find it in your heart to forgive me.”
He just stared, not speaking, just studying her with that intense cobalt gaze.
“If you don’t mind, I can go up and collect Maddie, and we can leave.” Her heart was breaking all over again.
He scowled. “You don’t get to come here and say all that, then leave.”
He lifted her into his arms and settled them both on the couch. He cupped her face in his hands. “Look at me, lass.” He waited for her gaze to land on his before he continued, “I love you. I love you so much I ache with wanting you. Don’t you get it, woman? You’re it for me. There will never be another for me.”
“You love me? Really?” The tears she’d been holding back spilled down her cheeks.
With a tender smile, he wiped her tears away. “Yeah, really. Fuck, I want you both, for real this time. No time limit built into our vows. I want you to marry me for good. I want to adopt Maddie and make her my daughter in truth. And I want more babies with you, lass. But for the love of god, woman, what is your real last name?”
Oh god, this man was more than she ever dreamed she would find. He held the key to her heart and her daughter’s. And she’d never wanted a man more than she did Jasper. “My maiden name is Stewart.”
He sucked in a ragged breath. Fire blazed in his eyes, and he smiled. “You’re a Scot, lass?”
She chuckled at the amazement in his voice. “Descended from some, yes, but there’s some German and French in there too—”
Jasper cut her off with a kiss. And lord above, but what a kiss. It might be the pain medicine talking, but he kissed her, and she heard choirs of angels sing. And she swore in that moment that she would give herself fully to this man. That she wanted him for all her nights.
He finally lifted his mouth. “My brave, brave lass. What do you say? Marry me and love me forever?”
“Yes. To all of it. I can’t think of a man more worthy of being Maddie’s dad than you.” It was more than she had ever dared to dream.
He lowered his forehead to hers. “Christ, lass, I’ll never leave you again. I’m sorry I wasn’t there, that I let him get to you.”
“When I think about what could have happened—he would have shot you to get to me and Maddie. There’s nothing to forgive.” She put her hand over his lips when he wanted to argue. “I know you said some things. They’re forgiven. It’s water under the bridge. You came for me today. No one has ever done that for me before.”
Jasper pressed another kiss against her lips and said, “Let’s get you up to bed, lass, where I can take care of you properly. You will remain in bed while you recover. I won’t hear any arguments from you on this point. I almost lost you both.”
“We’ll take care of each other.” She placed her palm on his cheek. Love for him swelled and flowed through her.
“My lass, what did I do to get so lucky?”
“You loved me when I didn’t think anyone ever would.”
“Always, lass. I will always love you.” He swore with such ferocity that she knew in the depths of her soul he would.
He rose with her in his arms, carrying her up to their bedroom. Freya swore she would never lie to him again. This man, who held her with such infinite devotion, showed her how precious she was to him.
She had to traverse hell to find him. But she would do it all over again to experience the rapture in his loving arms. Because he was a man worth waiting for.
He was her forever, the happily ever after she never expected to find. And she would love him—always.
