He was asking a lot of her. She’d done that with her late husband and look what happened. Maybe he asked for too much.
“It’s hard,” she admitted. “So much has happened…I don’t know if I could handle something else. I’m so sorry. Can you forgive me for being scared?”
“Yes. But I need you to believe that I’m going to be okay. I need you to stand by me no matter what. Can you believe that we’re going to be okay?” He drew her closer, so tempted to kiss her. But not yet. “Believe in us, Jane.”
Jane nodded, the movement so subtle he almost didn’t see it, and then she was reaching for him, leaning in, her lips poised and ready for his. He took advantage, kissing her, showing her how much he loved her, missed her.
Needed her.
He needed her ready-made family, too. He’d grown to love her children. They made him smile, made him frustrated, made him proud. It wouldn’t always be an easy road, but he was prepared.
For everything.
“I love you, Jane,” Chris whispered against her lips. “I don’t want to imagine my life without you any longer.”
…
“I love you, too.” Jane opened her eyes and stared up at him in wonder. She still couldn’t believe he was here, looking at her with so much love shining in his beautiful eyes. He was ready to forgive her so easily because he loved her that much.
And she loved him, too. More than she could say. It was a miracle he could forgive her so quickly. She was so thankful, ready to forget living in fear and embrace living in the now, with Chris and her children surrounding her.
Chris dipped his head, his mouth so close it touched hers as he spoke. “So I can count on you to stick around?”
She deserved that, after what she did. “Only if you’ll let me.”
“Absolutely.” He smiled, the sight of it making her skin tingle. “So what’s on the agenda tonight?”
How easily he fit into their lives. She loved it, loved him. “Taco dinner. Early bedtime because, trust me, we’ll be getting up extra early tomorrow.”
He grimaced. “Tacos? Is that some sort of family tradition?”
She laughed. “It’s a new tradition I started this year.”
“Interesting.”
“The kids and Mindy reacted the same way.”
“I’m sure it’ll be great.” He gathered her close, pressed a kiss to her cheek, her lips, lingering. How she loved his positive attitude. He made her feel like she could do no wrong.
His eyes dark, his expression grew serious. “Jane, I—”
Her children burst into the room, Logan yelling for his Christmas gift. Lexi sent Chris a shy smile and Sophia turned circles in the green velvet dress Mindy had just put her in.
“Are you ready for this?” Jane asked after Logan had tackled Chris and nearly sent him sprawling with a grunt of pain.
“I think so.” He grinned.
“When can we open our Christmas gifts from you?” Logan yelled yet again, and Chris sent Jane a heated look. One that said he’d be unwrapping her much later that evening.
“I—I didn’t get you anything.” Her heart sank as it dawned on her. She’d planned to buy him a gift but had no clue what to get, hadn’t found anything special enough. And once she’d had her meltdown at the hospital, she didn’t think he’d want anything from her anyway.
“Sweetheart, I already have my Christmas gift. You. The kids. All of you are my gift.” Chris drew her down onto the floor so she settled in his lap, in his arms. “You’re everything I need.”
Jane clung to him, her hands curling around his broad shoulders. “You’re everything I need, too.”
And when he kissed her, held her close to his steadily beating heart, she knew he’d always be there for her. No matter what.
Chapter Eighteen