Page 81

“After I read the emails she sent me over the past few years that I never opened. And only if you’re there, too. You can reassure me that I’m not as fucked up as I think I am.”
“Of course you’re not. And yes, I’ll be there.”
“Keep saying that, and I may start to believe it.”
She gave him a swift kiss. “I intend to say it for a very long time, my darling.” She leaned back. “I have one request, though.” “What’s that?” he asked with an indulgent smile.
She slipped her arms around his neck. “I don’t ever want to live in that apartment. I can’t bear it.”
“First thing tomorrow we’ll instruct agents to find us a house. We’ll sell the apartment and donate the proceeds to a few orphanages in Nawaka. Ones we’llbothvisit when I’ve made sure it’s safe. Agreed?”
Her very soul blossomed with the depth of her happiness. “And here I thought I couldn’t possibly love you more than I already did.”
His face grew sombre, although the light of emotion still shone in his eyes. “Do you love me enough to consider making a baby with me at some point in the future? After I’ve managed to
work through my mommy issues?”
She gasped softly. “You want a baby?”
“How could I not? With you to love our children, they’ll be blessed.”
Happiness burst within her like New Year’s fireworks. “Oh, Nick, you’ll love them too, and yes, I’ll pull you back when you threaten to break some poor boy’s legs for daring to date your daughter.”
“Dating? Our daughter?” He looked horrified at the thought. “Shit. I think I’ve changed my mind.”
She laughed. “You’ve put it out into the universe. You can’t take it back.”
He sobered again. “You really think I can do this?”
“You saved me from a monster in Nawaka, you saved me from gunmen on Althea, and you saved me again tonight. Fatherhood will be a piece of cake.” She kissed away his doubt, then kissed him again for the pure joy of it.
“Baby?” He rubbed his forehead against hers.
“Hmmm?”
“Why the hell are your fingers crossed? I can see them in the mirror.”
She quickly uncrossed them. “I’m part Irish. Crossing fingers is a tradition for luck.”
His gave a husky laugh. “We have a tradition in Greece, too.”
“Yeah, what’s that?”
“Before you contemplate parenthood, you need to practice often. Very, very often.” He toppled her back onto the bed and proceeded to relieve her of her robe.
“Hmm, I think I like that tradition.”
When they lay sated hours later, she toyed with the hair on his chest.
“How many babies do you want, when we get around to it?”
she asked dreamily.
“Four is a nice figure—two boys, two girls. I’m not fussy in which order.Andwe get to choose their names with absolutely no input from your parents,” he replied with a grin.
Bliss seeped soul deep. “I’ll make sure my parents are kept out of the name choosing. But…four children, that’s a lot of work. You know that, don’t you?”
“I feel confident we’re more than capable of rising to any challenge.”
She couldn’t stop tears of joy trickling down her face. “God, Nick, I love you so much it hurts.”
“Which is exactly how it should be,agapi mou,because it’s the same way I love you.”
She closed her eyes and knew perfect contentment.
Her dreams had all come true.