Chapter Nine #4
“You saved our whole family. It’s my proudest moment being married to you. I hope I can prove that to you, and that you want to stay married to me.”
She didn’t hesitate.
“Of course, I do. I was angry. I love each one of you more than myself, and loving you for the last sixteen years has been a gift. I’m blessed. Look at the world we created. We’re in castle land in Scotland.”
Ethan knew who was to thank for that.
“When Callen and Chris were buying this place, they asked me if I wanted to join them in the venture. I told them no, and I regret that. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to give you this.
I laughed thinking you’d hate it, and I didn’t want to be tied to that.
I now know I didn’t because I was a coward.
I forgot that I still know what’s best for you—like you know what’s best for me. ”
She wasn’t angry.
“I mean, they gave me a haunted castle. That’s risky.”
He laughed, and that whiskey-warm sound cascaded over her battered, broken soul and helped heal it.
Little.
By.
Little.
“So, I didn’t give you that, but I want to give you this,” he said.
As they made the clearing, that’s when she saw it. Up ahead, there was the field.
It stole her breath.
“Oh, it’s beautiful,” she said,
On that, he agreed.
For as far as they could see, the terrain was dotted with so many purple dahlias. They were white and purple, pink and purple, and the air was tinged with their scent.
“We have an amazing space here. Let’s go pick some flowers,” he said.
Honestly, she was looking forward to that.
“Someone gave me flowers today, and now this. It’s a good day for me.”
At her words, he looked over.
Again, there was that whip of jealousy that someone else had done something like that for his wife.
Ethan was possessive of her when it came to strangers, or other men. Yes, he shared with Callen and Chris, but just some guy off the street?
Yeah, no.
That shit wasn’t happening.
Ethan wasn’t losing this amazing woman to anyone.
Ever.
Yeah, now, it was clear that he’d been neglectful because when she said she hated cut flowers, he still should have done something instead of nothing. He still should have found a way to make her smile.
That was on him.
When they got home, he was planting her a field full of flowers that she could enjoy.
It was time to do the work.
“Well, I hope you forgive me for picking you flowers, but that’s my plan,” he said, bringing Hamlet to a stop. Then, he got off and helped her down.
In that moment, she realized she hadn’t been perfect over the years either.
Saint Elizabeth wasn’t so saintly.
His words reminded her that sometimes, she was too hard to love, too. In fact, she rode ass about gifts they gave her, and she’d told them she hated cut flowers. Instead of just taking them and being grateful, she’d boxed them in.
“I’m sorry that I made it seem like I didn’t want flowers from you guys. That was wrong. I want lots of flowers.”
He turned and faced her.
This was about them, and no one else. He had to worry about his relationship between them, because Callen and Chris worked harder than he did to prove their love.
Daily.
“What guys? It’s just you and me here, Lyzee Renee LaRue. The re-beginning starts now. As long as you’re here, it’s just us. It’s just you and me until we choose to leave together.”
Her heart skipped.
“Really?” she asked.
He nodded.
“Work can wait. Life can wait. You need me. That’s all that matters now. This moment between us. Callen, Chris, and Gene will hold the family and job down. It’s our time to have an anniversary away.”
Still, she was worried.
“But the Shaman…”
He stopped her by putting his fingers over her lips. That was his problem.
NOT.
HERS.
“There is a time and a place for the Shaman, and while he’s here with you, he needs to stay inside for now. We have to fix this, or nothing else will work.”
She let him talk.
As he did, she stared up at him and saw the fine strands of gray also running through his hair.
They’d been through a lot.
That was for sure.
Ethan continued.
“They can’t be them with you and I holding this family together. We are, and always have been, the foundation.”
Her heart skipped.
“Okay, Ethan. It’s just us.”
Bending over, he picked her some flowers. Then, he tucked one into her dark hair, like he once did with that daisy when he first met her.
They’d had breakfast together on her patio working that very first case together.
It was a fond memory for him.
And it always would be.
As he did that, she let him, and the whole time, she couldn’t be happier.
The men in her world did love her.
They did understand.
When he found her mouth with his, Ethan deepened the kiss. She clung to him, and the whole time, he knew that they’d be okay.
He’d done the right thing.
He came for HIS wife.
Oh, and he always would.
As he broke the kiss, he lifted her chin so they were staring into each other’s eyes.
“Care to let me make love to you in this field of flowers, my bonny lass?” he asked.
At his words and fake accent, her heart skipped.
“Yes, Ethan. Yes.”
And so, he did.