Page 22 of Finding English

A hard look crossed Henry’s mother’s face as Jerry came to stand beside her, the dogs raising their heads as their master spoke in a sterner tone. “You will do no such thing. My son cares about you, that makes you and Michaela family now.”

“But the risks…”

“I’d listen to her if I were you, lassie. She’s a stubborn one when she gets a hare, and she has a hare for grandkids. It looks to me like you’re doing me and Henry a favor, all that fruit bread is going to give me a soft middle.” Jerry patted his belly, and Cassie laughed but recognized it for what it was; he was giving his wife his support.

Cassie watched the way Josie looked at him with love and devotion and hoped she would have that one day. “Thank you. I’d love to stay if you don’t mind.”

“Think of this as your home.” Josie turned to Henry. “Now, get this beautiful girl to her room, she needs to rest.”

Henry grinned but did as his mother requested, helping her up and out of the room. When they reached his bedroom door, he stopped her. She saw the worry shadowing his face and hated their date had ended like this.

“I’m okay, Henry. I’m still me, please don’t look at me differently. I couldn’t bear it if he stole that too. I’ve worked so hard to be me and not the lone survivor of a sick serial killer.”

Henry cupped her chin, forcing her eyes to his. “You’re so much more than I bargained for.”

Cassie flinched, waiting for him to say it was too much, that he hadn’t signed up for this.

“I knew when I saw you on the plane that you were beautiful and funny. But then I learned you’re clever, sweet, kind, a wonderful chemist, and a fucking amazing mum. I thought that was enough, I was already falling for you. Now I find a bravery inside your heart, an iron will to make every second count inside you, and it only makes me want you more.”

Henry dipped his head, so he spoke against her lips, and she closed her eyes, his words a soothing balm she’d needed more than she knew.

“I want you, Cassie, in my bed, in my life. I want it all, and I’m going to start by making sure you never have to look behind you in fear ever again. That the little angel in that bed,” he motioned for his bedroom door and Michaela, “never knows a moments fear, except the fear for her teenage boyfriends when they knock on our door and ask to take her out.”

Cassie grinned. In spite of everything that had happened tonight he was able to give her that. Looking up as he cupped her nape, she saw the steadfast determination in his eyes, but also the humor he was trying to give her.

“You sure about this? Because once we have you, we won’t want to give you back.” Cassie said it with a smile, but she knew in her heart if she let herself fall the rest of the way for this man she’d never let him go.

“No place I’d rather be. I knew it when I saw you, and I know it now. You, Michaela, and any other children we may have are it for me.”

Cassie’s legs went weak as she sagged against him on hearing the word children. He really meant it; he wanted a future with them. She would fight with everything she had to make sure they had that chance.