“He loved you,” I say. “I know you never spoke about it, the two of you, and from what you’ve told me, he was far from perfect. But he loved you.”
Victor closes his eyes again, leaning into my touch. It takes a long time before he replies. “Yes. I think he did.”
I stroke his hair, enjoying the warmth of the Caribbean sun and the gentle breeze sweeping across our sweaty skin.
But eventually, my curiosity wins out. “So?”
“So what?”
“Are you interested in carrying on the St. Clair last name?”
Victor’s lips tug. “I don’t know. My wife never took the St. Clair last name. There’s no guarantee she’ll agree to give it to my children.”
I lift up on an elbow. “Your children?”
“Yes. Our children.”
“So you are interested in having kids.”
His gaze drops to my collarbone, and he reaches out, tracing it with a long finger. “Not any time soon, and I don’t know how good of a father I’d be.”
“You’d be amazing.”
He snorts. “You don’t genuinely believe that.”
“Yes, I do. I’m not saying it wouldn’t take some work. It would for me too. I don’t know the first thing about being a mother.”
“But is it something you want?”
I smile at him, his beautiful strong face and clear blue eyes, the furrow between his brows. Loyal and skilled and dedicated. “I do,” I say. “But not anytime soon.”
He closes his eyes, hand curling around my hip. “Well. That’s good, then. Even if it’s mildly annoying to give my grandfather the last laugh. He always loved being right.”
“Like his grandson?”
Victor’s hand tightens on my hip. “Watch it, Myers.”
I laugh. Happiness makes my chest feel like a bubble, floating high.
His voice is lazy. “You know, if you change your name, I won’t be able to call you Myers anymore.”
“You’ll still be able to.”
“Technically yes, but it wouldn’t be accurate.”
“Well, if you started calling me St. Clair, wouldn’t that be confusing for you?”
“Mmm. I think I’ll manage.” He shifts me closer on the wide lounge chair, a tanned leg resting by mine. “You know, we only have two months left until our one-year anniversary.”
“You’re right. One year since our wedding in the courthouse. The one you wanted scheduled at lunchtime to avoid traffic.”
“Christ. I clearly had my priorities right.” His gaze turns teasing, mercurial, the Victor I love best. The side only I’m allowed to see. He walks his hands up the curve of my waist. “I’ve decided to do things right.”
“Oh? That sounds ominous.”
“I’ve looked into vow renewal ceremonies.”
“You have? That’s… interesting.”