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Chapter Twenty-One

Christ, he hoped he hadn’t left it too late.

He was still in uniform. He’d had a meeting and hadn’t had time to change. And he’d left his cap in the taxi. His hands had been full of other things. Now he stopped and searched the departure lounge. They couldn’t have gone through security yet. If they had, he’d have to find a way to go after them. He’d just have to talk his way through. He could say it was official army business, probably putting everyone in a panic. He didn’t care. And anyway, Darcy would still be this side. She wasn’t flying.

Finally, he saw them, and the breath left him. He closed his eyes for a second. They were still there when he opened them.

His mom and dad were both wheeling trolleys with luggage. Hannah walked beside them, Darcy on the other side, with Lulu in her arms. Lulu was chattering. Darcy looked pale but had a smile on her face. She wouldn’t want to upset Lulu.

Would she say yes?

He didn’t know, and there was that churning in his gut again.

He tightened his grip on the squirmy thing in his arms and moved toward them.

When he was about ten feet away, Lulu caught sight of him and screamed. “Matt!”

She banged her little fist on Darcy’s shoulder, and she halted and turned slowly. Darcy was expecting him—he’d promised to be here. All the same, her eyes widened when she saw him. She’d once said that he was Mr. Perfect, but he was guessing he looked a little ruffled around now. And probably shit-scared as well. Her gaze dropped down over him, and she frowned.

Then Lulu wriggled, and she put the little girl down on the floor. She ran to Matt and stopped in front of him, eyes wide as she stared up. “Puppy? For Lulu?” she asked.

“Yeah, princess. For you.”

She stretched up and put out a tentative hand. The puppy licked her fingers and she giggled. “Woof.”

Whichever way this thing went with Darcy, he knew he couldn’t give Lulu up. They might not be the perfect family, but he’d do his best for her. He just hoped he’d have Darcy at his side to help him. Would she forgive him for being an ass? For not seeing what was in front of him sooner? For that matter, would she be able to overcome her own fears? Could he convince her that it was safe to love him and Lulu?

His mom and dad had also come to a halt, with Hannah beside them. She grinned at him.

“Look after that,” he said, and dumped the squirming puppy into his sister’s arms, then took hold of Lulu’s outstretched hand, squeezed.

“You got a puppy?” Darcy said. She sounded dazed.

“I did. I wanted to get a rescue one. But they had to do house checks, and all sorts, and I needed one now. It means we’ll end up with two dogs, as I’d already said yes to the rescue and—” He broke off. He was babbling. Christ, he’d never been this nervous.

“Why?”

“In a moment.” First, he had an apology to make. He turned to his parents. “I’m sorry, Mom, Dad.”

His mom looked sad but resigned. “I sort of thought you might have a change of heart. I just didn’t think you would leave it this late.”

“Sorry,” he said again with a shrug.

“For what it’s worth—I think you’re making the right decision. Lulu already sees you as her father. Now, I’m guessing you’d like to talk to Darcy alone.”

He nodded. A knot formed in his throat and he swallowed. “Go pat your new puppy,” he said to Lulu and handed her to his mother.

Darcy hadn’t moved. “You got Lulu a puppy? She’s not going to be able to take it on the plane.”

“She’s not going on the plane.”

“She’s not?”

“Lulu belongs with me. Actually, she belongs with us.”

Something flickered in her expression. “What happened to ‘she’s better off with a real family.’”

He shrugged. “I’m her family. But I’m hoping that I can give her a real family. Complete with a dog.”