CHAPTER 36
“This is the moment when everything falls into place…”
COLIN ADAMS
“Why is making love to you so damn good?” I asked, pulling her close against me on the bed.
“You went a long time without me after everything that happened,” she teased.
“No. The truth is, it’s because I love you. That’s why it’s so good.”
Isabelle gave me a suspicious look, then that smile of hers slowly curved across her lips.
“What?” I asked.
“This romantic side of you—I didn’t know it existed.”
“Then maybe I should go back to being rough,” I said, smirking the way she hated—and secretly loved.
“I’ll admit… sometimes I like that.” She winked.
Things between us had only gotten better after that last storm we went through. We’d grown closer, more like friends—and even though Isabelle still talked more than anyone I’d ever met, it was special having her close, sharing her dreams with me.
I never treated her like an employee. In fact, I’d thought about firing her a few times—not because of her work, of course. I just wanted her to see me as her equal, because that’s what we were in the end. And I don’t even need to repeat what she said when I tried to find her another job…
After our trip, we decided to enjoy every day like it might be our last. And today marked nine months since we met.
So much had happened—it barely felt like less than a year since that woman walked into my mansion terrified to even look me in the eye.
“You know, I still remember how scared you were of me,” I said, stretching and staring at the ceiling.
“Hey, not scared—nervous,” she corrected quickly, pretending to be offended. “You had the worst reputation imaginable. Not exactly my fault.”
“I didn’t know how to be any other way. Not until…”
“Until what?” she pushed, eyes narrowing playfully.
“Until an annoying woman showed up—with a kid I had no idea how to deal with.”
“Oh, you didn’t know how to deal with us? So now it’s our fault?” she said, crossing her arms.
“Exactly. How was I supposed to say no to Hanna? Those big eyes, that smile, worrying about me all the time… I didn’t stand a chance.”
“So, she’s the one who won you over first?”
I stared at Isabelle, incredulous. “Do I really need to answer that? If it weren’t for her, you’d have been out of my house ages ago.”
“How romantic,” she said, rolling her eyes with a grin.
“Hanna stayed with me on the days I wanted to be alone—days I didn’t even want to think about people. But you know what the crazy part is? Every time she came over, I let her stay. And even when I yelled at her once, that little girl still stood by my side.”
“My daughter’s special.”
“Very. But what she did most—without even realizing it—was bring me closer to Joshua. I’m not sure I could’ve done it without her.”
“Of course you could’ve,” she said softly.
“Highly doubtful,” I shot back. “I’m not ashamed to admit it—she was the bridge between us. Between me and you, me and Joshua… that’s the truth. I wish I’d been the one to make that happen, but Hanna beat me to it. Now Joshua and I are closer than ever. He’s glued to me. Both of them are.”
“I know… and I’m just the leftover in this story.” She pouted.
“That’s not true. Joshua loves spending time with you.”
“Colin…”
Isabelle’s eyes filled with tears out of nowhere, and I frowned, confused.
“What is it?”
“He… he asked me something, and I didn’t know what to say.”
“What?” My chest tightened. Could it be…?
“He asked if he could call me Mom. And I just froze… then started crying. I’m such a fool, aren’t I?”
I cupped her face with both hands, feeling my throat tighten.
“Not at all. You’re so genuine it hurts, Isabelle. You don’t hide what you feel, and that’s exactly what makes you special.”
“And to think you’d still be an arrogant jerk even after we started dating…”
I laughed—hard.
“Just don’t provoke me. Something you seem to enjoy doing… even when there’s absolutely no reason to.”
“Maybe a little,” she said with a smirk.
We started watching TV, but tonight I planned to do something different. I needed to be both a father and a partner again—get back to doing the things I’d been putting off.
“Go watch a movie with the kids. I’ve got something to take care of.”
“Oh? What?”
“None of your business.” She leaned in and kissed me.
“Rude… I thought I’d changed you.”
I got up from the bed, but not before teasing her one last time. “I just went back to being myself—and you still manage to annoy me for half the day.”
“Oh, really? Then stay single!”
Two pillows flew in my direction, but Isabelle’s bright smile never faded.
I couldn’t help but think how damn lucky I was to have her by my side.