“I DON’T UNDERSTAND why you’re leaving,” Larry said, scratching his head. “Tell us again.”
Sighing, I looked down at the burger and fries on my plate. Ari had talked me into coming to Moe’s before taking me to the airport since we had so much extra time—I’d wanted to be out of the house by the time Austin came home with the kids. I was seated at the counter in the same spot I’d sat in the day I ran out on my wedding. The day I met Austin.
“Because I don’t have a reason to stay,” I said again.
“But I heard Austin is starting his own business,” put in Gus from the other side of Larry. “Won’t he still need you?”
“He needs a nanny, yes,” I said, my chest tight. “But I don’t think he needs me.”
“Hogwash!” said Larry, his face scrunched up like a fist. “I saw the way he looked at you all summer—everybody did.”
“I agree,” said Willene Fleck, whose date night had mostly been spent listening to me weep about leaving Cherry Tree Harbor. “He’s head over heels for you, and we all know it. He just doesn’t want to do the work—it’s tenth grade history class all over again. He’s lazy.”
Despite everything, I jumped to his defense. “No, he’s not. He works harder than anyone I’ve ever known,” I said. “He’d do anything for anyone.”
“Hmph.” Willene wasn’t sold. “Then where is he?”
“He’s with his children,” I said. “Family is what matters most to Austin and always will.”
“That’s right,” said a deep voice behind me. “And my family includes you.”
Gooseflesh swept down my arms. Slowly, I spun around on the stool.
When I saw Austin standing there, the kids at his side—wearing pajamas with sneakers and hugging the stuffed toys I’d given them—my heart started to pound.
“Sorry, Roni.” Next to me, Ari reached over and squeezed my hand. “He texted me a few minutes ago, begging to talk to you. He played the big brother card. I had to tell him where you were.” Then she pointed at Austin. “Don’t make me sorry, Austin. This better be a good grovel.”
I felt like I was having an out-of-body experience. The entire place had gone silent. Every eye seemed to be on us. “Austin, what is this?”
“It’s me being selfish,” he said, his dark eyes serious. “It’s me asking you to stay when you have every reason to go. It’s me admitting my mistake, thinking I could let you go without a fight. It’s me doing the thing that would make me happy, and hoping it will make you happy too.” He moved closer to me, close enough to take my hands and pull me to my feet. “It’s me choosing you—just you. As you are.”
My eyes filled with tears as I recognized my own words.
He smiled. “Because you’re not just enough—you’re everything.”
The bell over the door rang, and Xander busted in. “Did I miss it?”
“It’s still happening,” said Gus. “We’re waiting for the big dummy to tell her he loves her.”
“Oh, god.” Panicked, I shook my head. “Austin, you don’t have to do this here.”
“I love you, Veronica Sutton,” he said, his eyes locked on mine like we were the only two in the place. “I probably loved you the minute I saw you at my door in that ridiculous wedding dress. I love your grit and your resilience and your light and your heart. I love the way you embraced my family. I love the way you embraced this town. I love the way you make me better. I wish I had said this all sooner.”
“Even his best assignments were late,” Willene whispered loudly.
“Hush,” said Ari. “Don’t interrupt the grovel.”
“So what do you think?” Austin glanced at each of the kids, who were grinning like crazy and jumping up and down. “Does this look anything like the family you always dreamed about?”
I nodded as tears splashed down my cheeks. “Yes.”
“Good, because someone once told me a love like this only happens once.” With that, he took my face in his hands and lowered his lips to mine. The entire place erupted with cheers and whistles and applause. I threw my arms around Austin’s neck, and he lifted me right off my feet. “Thank god,” he said in my ear. “Thank god I got here in time.”
“My heart was always going to be yours, Austin,” I whispered back.
“I’ll take good care of it. I promise you.”
The kids tugged at my clothes, and I gave them each a hug. “I’m so happy to see you guys,” I said.
“Are you really staying with us?” Owen asked.
“I’m really staying.”
“Yay!” Adelaide wrapped her arms around me again.
Xander came over and thumped Austin on the back. “There. Was that so hard?”
“Yes,” Austin admitted, tugging at his collar. “I was running on adrenaline before, but now I’m starting to sweat. Did I say the right things?”
“You did.” I slipped my arm around his waist. “It was everything I wanted to hear. I can’t believe you did it in front of all these people!”
He kissed the top of my head. “I only saw you.”
Ari wiped her eyes. “This is better than a book,” she said. She hugged me and then Austin.
“So was it a good grovel?” he asked, moving behind me and wrapping his arms around my shoulders.
“It was an excellent grovel,” she said with a laugh. “Five stars.”
Back at home, we put the kids to bed, and he walked me up to my apartment. “You have no idea how badly I want to throw you over my shoulder and take you to my bed,” he said as we ascended the stairs hand in hand.
“I have some idea.” I squeezed his hand. “Trust me. But let’s go slow where that kind of thing is concerned. This is a lot all at once, and I want to give them time to adjust to the idea of us.”
“I think they’re going to be just fine.” At the landing, he wrapped his arms around me and kissed me, sweetly at first, but then his hands started to move and his mouth opened wider and his hips began to move against me.
“Do you think they’d be fine for a few minutes in the house?” I asked breathlessly.
“Maybe I could run down to the garage and get the monitor,” he said, his lips working their way down my throat.
“Go.” I gave him a gentle push. “I want you, even if it’s quick.”
It was very quick—so quick we barely made it to the bed. So quick we didn’t even undress all the way. So quick we didn’t stop to think about protection.
“I’m okay with it if you are,” I said as he hovered over me in the dark. “I’m on birth control shots.”
He paused, looking down at me. “You know what? I’m okay with it too.”
“Are you sure?” My heart was racing with excitement.
“Yes. I never thought I would be okay with this.” He eased inside me, one delicious inch at a time. “But then, I never thought I’d fall in love.”
“I never thought I would either.”
“I love you,” he whispered as he began to move. “Say you’re mine.”
“I’m yours,” I promised, wrapping my legs, my arms, my heart around him. “I’m yours.”
