Richard smiled. “That I need intense, expensive therapy.”
Hanna laughed in spite of herself.
“But seriously, I know no matter how much I want to, I can’t handcuff you to the copper pipework, or file a lawsuit against you.” He paused for a moment before carrying on. “If you don’t want to stay, nothing I can do will change that.”
“Richard, I—”
He held his hand up. “Please let me finish. When I was talking to the therapist, I realized something about myself. I may have told you I loved you, but I never really convinced you that you were worth loving. When you left, it’s because you thought I wanted—or deserved—something more. And both times you were wrong.”
Matty grew bored of the conversation and ran over to his toy box, pulling out his favorite stuffed toy.
“You do deserve more.”
Richard shook his head. “You don’t get to decide what I want, or what I need. I have to make something very clear to you before we even start to talk about the future.” He rocked on his heels. “I’ve loved you since the day we met. I’ve always loved you, even when you’ve been far away and I haven’t been able to see you.” He stepped toward her, his hand caressing her neck. “If you ever want to leave, don’t do it because you doubt my love for you. Do it because you don’t want me, or because you want something better for yourself. I love you, Hanna Vincent. I’ll always love you and there’s nothing I want more than to have you in my life.”
Hanna could feel her lip tremble as his fingers tangled into her hair. She was going to cry, she knew it, but before she collapsed into his arms, she needed to tell him something, too.
“Richard…” Her voice cracked, and the tears started to fall before she was ready. “I’m not going anywhere.” She glanced across to Matty, noticing he was completely absorbed; playing a strange game with his teddy bear that involved lifting him onto his head before nodding, and watching him fall to the floor. Hanna covered Richard’s hand with her own, feeling the warmth of his fingers on her skin. “I’ve made so many mistakes, but I’m not going to subject Matty to any of that. He deserves to know you and to be with you. I could never take him away.”
She looked at him through thick lashes, watching the way his mouth remained downturned. “And more than that, I don’t want to go. I want to be with you, I want us to be a family.” She glanced down at the floor, trying to find the right words. “I love you, too. So much it makes me cry.” She laughed through the tears, feeling them drip onto her chin. “I’ll only leave if you tell me to.”
“I’m never going to tell you to go,” he whispered, brushing the wetness from her cheeks.
“Then you can take the handcuffs back to the shop.” She glanced down again, feeling a blush steal across her cheeks as she thought of other uses for them. Richard laughed, as if he knew exactly what she was thinking.
He brushed her neck with his thumb one last time before pulling away, smiling wryly at her. “I was supposed to say this all at dinner. I guess I jumped the gun.”
“It needed to be said.” Sh
e felt her heart lift up in her chest. “I’m glad you did.”
A small smile played at his lips. “Well, I’m going to run you a bath, and I’ll put Matty to bed and get dinner ready. Don’t come out of your room until I tell you, okay?”
She looked at him through narrowed eyes. “What have you got planned, Mr. Larsen?”
Richard tapped his nose and winked. “Patience is a virtue, Miss Vincent.”
THE BATH WAS warm and fragrant, and she could barely bring herself to climb out. Her eyes were heavy with relaxation; her limbs loose, like somebody had removed the bones from them. She leaned across and blew out the lit candles, finally sitting up. The water sloshed around her waist, drying in rivulets across her body. Hanna stepped out onto the fluffy mat, pulling a soft, cream towel around her chest.
She chose a plain, black dress; short enough to show her still-youthful legs to their best advantage, long enough not to embarrass Matty, were he ever to notice. She dried her hair quickly, growing bored of preening, and twisted it into a bun before applying some scant, natural make-up.
A knock at the bedroom door made her stand up from the velvet stool and walk across the soft carpet of her bedroom. She glanced in the full-length mirror hanging on the wall next to her bed, noticing how dark the shadows under her eyes were, she wondered if it was from exhaustion, or a sign of age.
When she pulled open the heavy, oak door, Richard was standing behind it, dressed in a pale-blue shirt and dark grey pants. His shirt was unbuttoned at the neck, and she felt her eyes scanning the dip of skin where his throat met his chest, following the sparse hair which led downward.
She swallowed. Hard.
“Are you ready?” The left corner of his mouth curled into a lopsided grin. “Or did you want to invite me in for coffee?”
Hanna burst out laughing. “Is it going to be that kind of date?”
“I sincerely hope so.” He reached out and took her hand. “But I should feed you first.”
He pulled her into the hall, her bare feet padding on the pale wooden floor. Richard raised his hands and placed them on her shoulders, his eyes scanning her body. “You look beautiful.”
She smiled. “Thank you. You’re not so bad yourself.” She chided herself for making the understatement of the year. His cotton shirt molded to his body, revealing muscles in all the right places. His pants fell from his hips in the most delicious way.
“Thank you.” He looked like he wanted to say more, but instead turned and walked her down to the dining room, his arm loosely slung around her shoulders. Hanna leaned into him, his body warming hers through the thin fabric of their clothes.