“Where’ve you been? I’ve been looking all over for you,” he said, coming around the front of his police car.
June frowned. “Why were you looking for me?”
“There’s a lot craziness going on in town. Have you heard four different girls were kidnapped this week alone? A woman shouldn’t be on her own these days.”
Killian brushed her slightly behind him as he stepped forward. “She has me,” said Killian, his voice carrying a distinct threat.
“For how long this time?”
He held her arm out to show Daniel her massive engagement ring. June was afraid to even guess how much it cost. “She said yes. That means I’ll be taking care of her and our son. Always.”
Daniel didn’t even have the decency to congratulate them. He just shut up and got back in his car, driving away without a fight. Maybe he was smart. June couldn’t imagine any man coming out on top of Killian. After a quick bite to eat, they swapped out the bike for his car and made the long drive out to Bain’s home in the country. She was excited to see her son again, especially knowing she’d be able to give him the father he deserved.
“We’re going to have a home, June. A real house, with a kitchen and garden and beautiful view of the ocean. I’m going to make it happen. Killian deserves everything I never had.”
They held hands as they walked to the front door of the old farm house. Before they even knocked, Killian Junior bolted out the door and flung himself into her arms. She hugged him tight, and then kissed him on the cheek.
“Are we going home now?” he asked. June looked up at Killian, not sure what to tell her son just yet.
Killian bent down to Killian Junior’s level and braced his shoulders. “I’m going to marry your mom, Killian. We’re going to be a family. What do you think of that?”
He turned to June. “Is that true, Mom? You’re going to marry him?”
“I love your father, Killian, always have. I want all of us to be happy together.”
She saw the confusion on her son’s face. It had always been the two of them, and he barely knew his dad. It would take some adjustment for all of them.
“Your mom’s not going to be working at a damn bar anymore. She’ll be there for you instead of killing herself working overtime. I’ll take care of both of you. Things will be a lot different from now on.”
“What if you leave us?”
Killian smiled. “Buddy, ain’t going to happen,” he said. “I love you, and no matter what you do, I’ll still love you. Even if you hate me.”
There was a moment of silence, the crickets droning all around them.
“We won’t all fit in the bed.”
June laughed. They shared a double bed in their tiny one-bedroom apartment back in town. She couldn’t count the number of nights she’d quietly cried herself to sleep because she wanted better for them.
“We’re not going back to the apartment, Killian. Your dad’s going to buy us a house. A house by the water.”
His eyes were wide with disbelief. “A house?”
Killian stood up and rubbed the top of their son’s head, leaving his mop of blond hair a mess. “Of course a house. And your own bedroom. You like sports?”
“I play soccer at school.”
“Perfect. I’ll get nets for the yard, and we can practice together,” said Killian
When she saw her son smile, genuine excitement lighting up his face, she couldn’t stop the tears from welling up in her eyes. He deserved the very best. They’d been struggling for way too long.
“I’m going to tell Bain and Scarlett,” he said as he ran into the house.
Once they were alone at the front of the house, Killian cupped the side of her face. “That’s a good sign, eh?”
“Very good sign.”
Killian kissed her, pulling her flush to his body. He grabbed her ass cheek, her dress bunching up in his hand. “Thank you for taking me back.”