Page 57 of The Question of Us (Fisher & Church #2)

I was almost sure Lee blushed, but he shrugged it away and said, “I had a feeling things were heading south for all of us, especially when Gazza told me who he was.” He shot me a wry look. “Be prepared, right?”

I raised both brows. “I see I have a lot of catching up to do.”

“That goes both ways.” Gazza turned to Lee. “Come on. The police want to talk to us again.”

I watched them go, Gazza’s arm wrapped loosely around Lee’s waist. Then I tugged my blanket close and finally crossed those last few metres to Nick.

“Hey, you.” I smiled down at him.

“Hey.” He smiled back, that one crooked eye tooth seeming to have the power to undo me. “We really have to stop meeting like this.”

Tears brimming in my eyes, I dropped to my knees at his side. “Yeah, I could live with that.” I ran my fingers over his bandaged brow. “And you really need to stop letting people mess with your face.”

He chuckled. “Yeah, I’ll remember to tell them that next time.”

I tipped my head toward where Gazza and Lee stood talking to the police, Gazza’s arm still tight around Lee’s waist. “What’s the story with them?”

Nick followed my gaze and shrugged. “I’ve no idea. I do know that we have Lee to thank for the fact we’re even having this conversation, but we can talk about that later. Now, come here.”

He pulled me down for a kiss that lingered to the edge of indecency. A kiss that felt more like desperate confirmation that the other man was alive. Was okay. That he tasted the same. Responded the same. That he lived and loved and would maybe even laugh again.

When we finally broke free, Nick’s face was wet with tears, his body trembling.

“Jesus, you’re freezing.” I caught the eye of a paramedic and asked for another blanket. When it was wrapped around his shoulders, I cupped his face in my hands and he winced at the pressure.

“Good.” I narrowed my eyes. “I’m glad it hurts. Because goddammit, Nick, you can’t be trusted to keep yourself safe.”

He cocked a brow. “I’m here, aren’t I?”

“Barely.” I stared into those beautiful but tired grey eyes. “What the hell did you think you were doing running at that shotgun? I almost had a heart attack.”

Nick ran the back of his hand down my face and I leaned into the touch. “He was still turning around,” he argued, like that excused the idiocy. “There was time?—”

“Shush.” I put a fingertip to his lips. “Or I might have to reconsider my promise not to lose my shit at you straight away. I’d rather you were recovered so I can really go to town on your arse.”

He grinned. “And how’s that working out for you?”

“Just peachy,” I deadpanned.

He slid a hand around my neck and pulled me down for another kiss, sweeter this time, unhurried, like we could finally lean into the promise of a future together.

When he finally pulled away, Nick eyed me with a devilish grin.

“Can I take a rain check on the whole going-to-town-on-my-arse part, cos that sounds like something I wouldn’t want to miss? ”

“Dick.” I flicked him on the forehead, only remembering his injury once the damage was done. “Oops, sorry.” I smiled sweetly and insincerely. “And the answer to that last part is yes .”

He grinned. “Then I forgive you.” His gaze settled on mine, the activity in the barn disappearing behind a singular shared look. An understanding of what we’d almost lost.

We’d been lucky when others hadn’t.

It might not happen again.

There were no guarantees.

In the real world, happy ever afters held no promise beyond the moment. Life could fuck up the best of plans, the best of intentions, the best of relationships.

Nick knew that better than most.

And now, I did too.

All you could do is hold on for the ride, work your arse off to make it happen, and leave nothing unsaid.

I swallowed hard and took a breath. This was a first for me. “Nick, I—” I hesitated, raising my fingers to the troubled lines crossing his brow.

“I love you, Mads,” he blurted, flushing a deep red as he reached for my hand and brought my fingertips to his lips, kissing each one in turn.

I blinked, confused, because... goddammit, he’d gotten there first.

“Come here.” He pulled me down onto my side and lifted his leg over mine, caging me in. Then he tipped my chin up with his fingers until we were staring into each other’s eyes.

“Bastard.” I slid my hand under his damp shirt and over the owl on his heart. “How could you?”

His eyes popped and his brow furrowed. “Ah, okaaaaay. I have to admit, I saw this playing out a little differently in my head. As in, I say I love you. You look all delighted and shit and then you immediately say it back and we all live happily ever after.”

I winced. “Sorry.” Then I frowned. “Delighted and... shit?”

He grinned and kissed me. “Is that so hard to believe? Should I be offended? It’s okay if you don’t say it back. I mean. I’d hoped... of course. But... never mind. Would you like me to say it again? Give it another try?”

I swallowed a smile and tried to settle my heart. “Yes. I mean... no. It’s not hard to believe. But yes. Let’s try it again.” Heat flared in my cheeks. “It’s, um, well, it’s a first for me, you know. Stupid, right? I’d just wanted to say it first.”

“Oh, god. I’m sorry. And it’s not stupid at all.

” He held my face in his hands, his grey eyes glittering with tears as he whispered against my lips, “I love you, Madigan Delaney Church. With every single part of me. I didn’t believe it was possible to feel this way again.

To find another man who could crack my heart wide open again.

I still don’t know how the fuck it happened.

All I know is that I’m the luckiest man in the world.

I’m in love with you and I want us to build a life together. .. if that’s something you want too?”

The biggest smile known to humanity split my face and I prodded his chest with my finger. “Yes. I do believe that’s something I could live with.”

He laughed. “There appears to be something missing and I think it starts with the letter L .”

I traced his lips with my finger. “It’s not missing.

It’s been there for a while now, and I should’ve told you sooner.

Nick Fisher, with no middle name—I love your strength and your story and your courage—although the latter could do with a little micro-management, which we will have a conversation about at a later date. ”

Nick snorted and cupped his ear. “Still waiting.”

I smirked. “But most of all, I love the way you make me feel. Like I’m more than I ever imagined I could be.

I’ve always felt enough on my own, like I didn’t need anyone else in my life.

And to a degree, I still feel that way. I know I can survive on my own, but for the first time I don’t want to.

You changed that. You made me want to share my life because I know the quiet, safe place I crave is with you.

Regardless of what’s happening around us, I’m safe with you.

My heart is quiet with you. And I love you, love you, love you, you crazy, wonderful man.

Now for the love of god, just kiss me, will you? ”

“My pleasure.” He pressed his lips to mine and the world disappeared as I drank in the taste of his promise. “Lucas,” he murmured as our lips parted.

I frowned, wondering what he meant. “Lucas?”

Nick grinned. “My middle name. Just in case you need to full name me sometime in those future discussions you keep mentioning.”

I bit back a smile and nodded sagely. “Noted. I only hope it’s up to the challenge because there are a lot of things to be discussed on that list. A. Lot.”

He grinned and moved to kiss me again, but a shadow fell on our faces and we looked up.

“Sorry to interrupt.” A young police officer stood holding his phone out for Nick to take. “Angela said you might want to take this call.”

Nick frowned. “Who is it?”

The officer grinned. “He says his name is Samuel Minton and he’s very insistent that he talk to you.”