Chapter 31
thirty-one
LUCY
Aidan and Isla are coming with me for dinner with my family tonight. As excited as I am, there’s still this flutter of nerves that won’t quit. This is another little shift in the landscape between us. We’re taking this thing and making it more solid. I can’t wait for them to meet everyone.
I check the time on my phone for the fourth time in as many minutes. It’s only five-fifteen—we’re nowhere near late yet.
“You sure this sweater looks all right?” Aidan asks, stepping out of the bathroom. His hair is still damp from the shower, and he’s wearing a dark blue sweater that brings out the gray in his eyes. He runs a hand through his hair, his expression betraying just a hint of uncertainty.
He seems nervous…and it’s ridiculously adorable. He’s usually all firm hands and broody stares, but here he stands looking to me for approval like he actually needs to hear me say it.
“You look dashing,” I tease. “They’re going to love you. Both of you.”
“It’s Knox I’m worried about,” he mutters, tugging at the sleeve of his sweater. “The way you talk about him, sounds like he’d try to snap me in half if I looked at you wrong.”
I laugh, crossing the room to loop my arms around his waist. “He’s protective, not homicidal. And he’s actually a big teddy bear, but never tell him I said that. Besides, once he sees how you are with Isla, he’ll be fine.”
Aidan frowns, his hand moving to rub the back of his neck. “It’s not just that.” His voice drops lower. “I’m ten years older than you, Lucy. Your brothers will take one look at me and think I’m too old for their little sister. And what about your dad? Christ.”
I pull back slightly, studying his face. There’s genuine worry in his eyes, something I haven’t seen since those early days when he was so afraid of letting me get too close.
“That’s what’s been bothering you? Our age difference?”
He runs a hand through his damp hair, making it stand up slightly. “When they see us together, that’s the first thing they’ll notice. Their beautiful, full of life daughter and sister with some older guy.”
“First of all,” I say, reaching up to smooth his hair back down, “you’re not ‘some older guy.’ You’re the man who makes me happier than I’ve been in a long time.”
His expression softens a little, but I can tell he’s not convinced.
“And second,” I continue, “my family isn’t going to care about a number.”
“Do you think they’ll ask about it?”
“Knowing my dad, yes. Not for any malicious reason, though. They’ll ask about everything. That’s what families do.”
He exhales. “I just don’t want them to think I’m taking advantage of you.”
“Aidan Reid, listen to me. My family knows me. They know I don’t do anything I don’t want to do.” I smile softly. “The only thing they’ll care about is how you treat me, how you are as a father, and who you are as a person.”
Aidan’s mouth quirks up at one corner, not quite a smile but close.
“Daddy!” Isla calls from down the hall, breaking the moment. “I can’t find my sparkly shoes!”
Aidan clears his throat. “Coming.”
Before he turns to go, the worry melts from his eyes.
His hands cup my face, then his mouth is on mine.
His kiss isn’t careful like our usual ones with Isla nearby.
This is raw and claiming. I gasp against his mouth, surprised by the sudden intensity, and he takes advantage, his tongue sliding against mine.
My back hits the wall as he presses closer. His fingers thread through my hair, cradling the back of my head as he angles me exactly how he wants me. A soft sound escapes my throat when he nips at my bottom lip, and I feel him smile against my mouth.
When he finally pulls back, we’re both breathing hard.
“What was that for?” I whisper.
“Just getting it out of my system before I have to be on my best behavior,” Aidan murmurs, his voice a low rumble.
“Daddy!” Isla calls again, more insistent this time.
Aidan pulls away with a sigh. “Duty calls.”
The drive over to my parents’ house is filled with Isla’s chatter from the backseat, asking a hundred questions about who she’ll meet and if my parents’ house is big and whether they might have a cat like mine.
Her excitement helps diffuse the nervous tension radiating from Aidan beside me.
He keeps both hands firmly on the steering wheel, his jaw set in that way it gets when he’s trying to hold himself together.
I place my hand on his thigh. “They’re going to love you both.”
He gives me a quick glance, the corner of his mouth lifting in what might be a smile if he weren’t so tense. “I’ll take your word for it.”
When we pull up to my parents’ home, Isla gasps from the backseat. “It looks like a castle!”
I laugh, and we get out of the car. The old stone house isn’t quite a castle, but with its weathered walls and the way it sits nestled against the rolling hills, I can see how it might look that way to a child.
The front door swings open before I can even knock, and there’s my mother, her face lighting up at the sight of us. Her gaze immediately drops to Isla.
“Well, hello there!” she says, her voice warm as honey. “You must be Isla.”
Isla beams up at her. “Are you Lucy’s mum?”
“I am, indeed. You can call me Sam.” She bends down slightly, extending her hand to Isla, who takes it with surprising formality and gives it a little shake.
Mum straightens and turns her attention to Aidan. “And you must be Aidan. It’s lovely to finally meet you.”
“The pleasure’s mine.”
Mum doesn’t hesitate, wrapping Aidan in a hug. I catch the momentary stiffness in his shoulders before he relaxes, returning her embrace with careful politeness.
“Come in, come in,” she says, ushering us through the door. “Everyone’s in the living room.”
I lace my fingers through Aidan’s, feeling the tension in his fingers. He’s trying so hard to appear calm, but I know better. His eyes dart around, taking in the family photos lining the hallway, the worn comfort of our family home.
“This is beautiful,” he admires, and I can tell he means it.
We follow Mum into the living room. Dad’s standing by the fireplace, a glass of whisky in hand, and he turns as we enter. His eyes crinkle when he sees me, but I can feel his appraising gaze as it shifts to Aidan and Isla.
“There she is,” Dad says, setting down his glass and opening his arms to me.
I step into his embrace, breathing in the familiar scent of wood smoke and that spicy aftershave he’s worn for as long as I can remember. “Hi, Dad.”
When we pull apart, he looks past me to Aidan, who’s standing tall with Isla partially hidden behind his legs, her small fingers clutching the fabric of his jeans.
“Paul,” my father says, extending his hand. His voice carries that gentle authority that’s always been his signature.
“Aidan Reid,” Aidan replies, his grip firm as they shake hands. “Thank you for having us.”
Dad nods. “We’ve been looking forward to it. Lucy speaks very highly of you both.”
“Daddy,” Isla whispers. “Can I go see the babies?”
My eyes drift to the couch where Bree and Juliette are sitting with the twins. The girls are tiny, perfect little mirrors of one another, their soft giggles filling the room.
Aidan’s attention flickers to Isla. “Of course.”
Isla approaches cautiously as Juliette beckons her over. “Would you like to sit next to me and say hello?”
Isla nods eagerly, climbing up onto the couch. Aidan relaxes beside me as Isla is welcomed into the fold.
I turn to see Callan striding into the room, his face lighting up when he sees me. Behind him is Knox, whose eyes immediately narrow when they land on Aidan.
“Lou!” Callan sweeps me into a bear hug, lifting me off my feet. “Thought you’d never get here.”
“We’re right on time,” I laugh as he sets me down. “Callan, Knox, this is Aidan. And that’s Isla over there, making friends with the twins.”
Callan’s eyes shift to Aidan before he breaks into a wide grin. He claps Aidan on the shoulder with enough force to make a lesser man stumble. “Welcome to the madhouse, mate.”
Knox finally steps forward to shake Aidan’s hand. His grip looks firmer than necessary. “Knox. Nice to meet you.”
“Knox, play nice!” Juliette calls from the couch.
“Yeah,” Bree adds. “Don’t break him yet. I haven’t even gotten a chance to interrogate him.”
I let out a laugh, feeling some of the tension lift from my shoulders. I slip my hand back into Aidan’s, giving it a squeeze.
“Don’t worry,” I whisper, leaning closer to him. “That’s Bree’s way of saying she likes you.”
Aidan doesn’t look entirely convinced, but his mouth quirks up at one corner.
“Dinner’s almost ready,” Mum calls from the doorway.
As everyone starts moving toward the dining room, I notice Isla still perched on the couch beside Juliette, completely entranced by the twins. Her small face is alight with wonder as one of the babies grabs her finger.
The pride in Aidan’s eyes as he watches her makes my heart swell.
Dinner goes well with easy conversation. Once the plates are cleared, Isla abandons her chair at the table in favor of playing in the living room with the twins.
Everything seems to be falling into place. My family’s warming up to Aidan, and he’s more than holding his own. True to form, my dad can’t let the question I’ve been waiting for go unasked now that it’s only adults at the table. “So, Aidan, you’re quite a bit older than Lucy, aye?”
My heart skips a beat, and suddenly, the room shrinks. A knot forms in my stomach. I quickly glance at Aidan again, but he’s not reacting the way I thought he might. No tension in his jaw, no shift in his posture. He was waiting for this.
The words hang there, awkward, like they always do when my dad asks something everyone else sidesteps. Aidan reaches for my hand under the table, and his voice when he answers is astonishingly sure.
“Ten years, yes,” Aidan says, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. Callan’s watching us with interest while Knox’s gaze is more scrutinizing.
“And you work on the rigs?” Dad asks, leaning back in his chair.
“Aye, North Sea. Two weeks on, two weeks off. Been doing it for eight years now.”
Dad nods thoughtfully. “That’s a tough schedule. Especially with a young daughter.”
“It is,” Aidan agrees. “But it provides well for us, and I get proper time with her when I’m home.”
I squeeze his hand under the table, grateful for his candid responses. He’s not defensive or apologetic. Just honest.
“And how do you manage the time apart?” Dad continues. “With Lucy, I mean.”
I open my mouth to intervene, but Aidan beats me to it.
“It’s a challenge,” Aidan replies. “But I’ve been lucky. Lucy’s incredibly understanding about my schedule. We make the most of the time we have together.”
I feel a rush of warmth at his words, at the way he speaks about us with such certainty. There’s no hesitation, no awkwardness in how he claims our relationship in front of my family.
“And what about long term?” Dad presses, swirling his whisky.
“I’ve been thinking about that,” Aidan admits. “There are some local positions I’ve been looking at. Less money, but home every night.” His eyes find mine. “Seems like a fair trade.”
My heart skips. This is the first I’m hearing about this. He’s been thinking about a job change? For us?
“Good man,” Dad says with an approving nod, and I release the breath I didn’t realize I was holding.
Knox clears his throat. “And Isla? How’s she handling all this?”
“She adores Lucy,” Aidan answers simply. “And Lucy’s amazing with her.”
I could cry. I want to cry. My heart is full in a way I didn’t even know was possible. I want to lean over, in front of everyone, and kiss him. Right now. I want him to feel what I feel, to know that every ounce of me is right here, entirely his.
I love him. I love him so much it hurts.
“SWOON.” Bree fans herself. “Tell me I’m not the only one melting right now.”
I can’t help the laugh that slips out. Even with her teasing, there’s a warmth in her eyes that makes me smile. Bree is Callan’s match in the way they always cut through discomfort with humor.
“You’re glowing, Lucy,” she adds, grinning at me.
I shake my head. “I’m just…happy.”
“And you should be,” Bree says, softer now.
“Well, looks like you’re stuck with her now, mate.” Callan smirks. “I mean, if she’s got you feeling all soft and gooey inside, there’s no turning back.”
Aidan gives him an amused look, but he doesn’t miss a beat. “I can live with that.”
Knox clears his throat, drawing Aidan’s attention. “Speaking of being stuck with her,” he says, his voice deceptively casual, “you should know that if you ever hurt her, there’s a whole lot of us who know exactly how to make sure no one finds your body.”
“Knox!” Juliette gasps, her hand flying out to smack his shoulder with shocking force. “For god’s sake!”
Aidan, to my complete surprise, just chuckles. “I’d expect nothing less,” he says, looking over his shoulder to where Isla is still playing with the twins. “I’d do the same for Isla.”
Knox gives a small nod, seeming to accept his response.
I glance at Aidan again, my hand still firmly clasped in his, and an irrepressible smile spreads across my face. Whatever comes next, whatever storms we might face, I know we’ve already found something worth holding onto.