Aye. She had. And yet he would never blame her for it.
“Pain can make us do stupid things.” She bit her lip and shook her head. “I hope some day you’ll be able to forgive me for not telling you about Emily.”
“I don’t blame you. I might’ve done the same. You didn’t know the details of my conviction, and you had to think of Emily. We played the hand life dealt us.”
She kissed his chest and made a soft sigh. “I think Gran left me the house to give us a bit of a push. Thanks to her, we have a new hand. A fresh start.”
“And I intend to play that hand like a bitch and win big,” he growled and lowered his head to kiss the tip of one breast again.
Her laugh turned into a moan, and beneath his weight she squirmed. Her legs opening to him again.
“I’ve already won big,” she murmured. “I have you. I love you so much.”
His heart swelled. “I love you more.”
“Not possible.”
He caught her hands and slid them above her head, pinning them there. Using his knees, he pushed her thighs apart and then sank back into her slick body again.
“I guess I’ll just have to prove it.”
“Yes.” Her eyes closed and she sighed with pleasure. “I guess so.”
Chapter Nineteen
Music piped through the speakers of McLaughlin’s Pub. The pub was closed, but you wouldn’t know it by the laughter and tears flowing in the establishment.
Sarah watched as Kenzie attempted to teach Emily some of the dance moves for Highland Dancing.
The announcement that she and Emily were staying on the island had been greeted with cheers, tears and toasts. Even more frenzy-inducing news was that Sarah and Ian were going to get married.
“Even your mom’s dancing,” Ian murmured next to her. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen her dance.”
“She’s not bad, huh?” Sarah smiled and snuggled closer beneath her future husband’s arm.
He glanced down at her and smiled. The intimacy and love that shone in his eyes made her heart skip.
When was the last time she’d been this happy? Felt so completely full and perfect? Emily had brought a love and enrichment into her life she’d never known was possible. But Ian had been the missing puzzle piece that had never worked before.
“Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad—oh it never gets old!” Emily came bouncing over, eyes twinkling.
The slumber party with Kenzie had been amazing, from what Emily had said. Kenzie had taken her auntie liberties to the extreme. Emily wore a sparkly brand new dress loaded with glittery happy faces and peace signs, black boots with buckles, and her hair was braided into several intricate-looking twists and loops.
“Hello, my adorable daughter.” Ian reached out and snagged his daughter, tickling her on the side.
Emily squealed with delight and hugged Ian. “Do I get to be a flower girl in your wedding? Or am I too old? ’Cause if I’m too old, I should at least get to be a bridesmaid.”
Sarah laughed, her heart so full of happiness and love, it didn’t feel as if her chest could contain it.
“You can be whatever you want to be, honey.”
Emily narrowed her eyes, the gesture so like her dad, and then nodded.
“Bridesmaid. That flower girl thing is for little kids. And I’m a tween.”
And with another whoop of excitement, she was off again to rejoin Kenzie on the dance floor.
“Food’s here.”
Aleck and Colin appeared with plates full of fries, shepherd pies, fried fish, and more food than anyone could eat in a day—let alone the next hour before the pub was set to open to the public.
Sarah watched as everyone gathered around the two tables they’d pulled together. Hands blurred in a flash as people began to divide and conquer the food.
Eleven years later, and she was exactly where she was meant to be. They’d come full circle.
A soft content sigh escaped her.
Ian squeezed her shoulder and she glanced up at him. The same look that must’ve been in her eyes was in his. So much love. So much happiness.
“I love you,” he murmured.
“I love you more.” She lifted her head and met the kiss he was already leaning down to take.
To quote their daughter, it never got old…
Parking her car outside the pub, she swallowed hard and wondered if she were crazy.
You could just leave. You don’t need to do this.
No. She couldn’t.
Pushing open her door, she strode across the parking lot and headed to the front door of McLaughlin’s Pub.
She hesitated, just for a moment. One foot turned back toward her car, the temptation to just turn and drive away still so strong.
No. They deserved to know. After smoothing a hand down her scrubs and pushing back the fatigue from working an overnight shift, she opened the door.