“I see you checking me out.”
I could feel the heat rising to my skin, but instead of hiding from it, I just looked him up and down and winked.
“I can’t help it. You’re kind of hot.”
“You’re going to make me blush, Montgomery.”
I snorted and leaned forward, resting my forehead against his. “You should be careful about calling me Montgomery. There are a few of us here.”
“That there is. How many more did you say are coming this week?”
I held back a smile at the hesitation and slight worry in his tone.
“My entire family is not coming here right now. Do not worry. Just some of my favorite cousins, the ones that you’ve met and are currently friends with will be visiting. They just had a few things to deal with.” I tried not to think about that too hard because I knew a couple of cousins might not be able to make an appearance at all.
They had far more in their lives to overcome then I had ever thought possible, but they would have me to rely on. Even if I was far away.
“First, when we say some of your favorite cousins, that means all of them. Because I know you actually like your family.” I opened my mouth to speak, but Ewan slipped his finger over my lips. I melted, and he just smiled that beautiful smile of his. “Second, why did you get those shadows in your eyes just then? You were overthinking as it was before I sat down next to you. Talk to me.”
I sighed, wondering how he could know me so well. Then again hadn’t I just thought of my own surprise that I could read him just as well?
“I’m worried about a few of them, but you know why.” I didn’t keep secrets from Ewan, nor did he with me. And we were still learning each other with each passing day. “I do love my family equally, but I do have a list of favorites. It’s what you have to do to enjoy yourself.”
“So you’re saying I should make a list of my favorite people in your family?”
“Please do,” I said with a laugh, and he leaned down, kissing me softly.
I was never going to get used to that.
His touch. His taste.
The way that I knew his gaze would dart over to the side every so often just like mine did to ensure Amelia was okay.
This man loved my baby girl just as much as I did.
And just like that, my heart broke open into a thousand pieces, to ensure that I could wrap it around Ewan.
“Livvy. Talk to me.”
Again, that deep voice just did something to me.
“I am thinking about how blessed I am.” His eyes widened marginally in surprise. “I never expected you. Honestly, I never thought to even try dreaming someone like you up.”
He pushed my hair back from my face, and he swallowed hard. “I never tried to dream you up either. However, asking you to be my fake date to a wedding where everybody already knew there was no way you could be one, in truth, was kind of genius.” His eyes crinkled at the side as he smiled.
I leaned forward to kiss his chin. “I am your date from here on out, at least. So that worked. And at the next wedding, I can plan ahead.”
“What if that wedding was ours?” he asked softly.
I froze, leaning backward, my heart racing. “Excuse me?
“Don’t sound so surprised, Montgomery.”
“Ewan,” I whispered, tears threatening as my whole world lit up with this man’s words.
He leaned forward and brushed his lips against mine. “What did you think I was going to ask you, Livvy? I love you from the very depths of my soul. I couldn’t keep my eyes off you the first time I saw you in the park, and I will be forever grateful that I was there.”
My heart beat quickly, and I swallowed hard. “You saved my baby girl.”
