“It wasn’t silly. It was important to you, which made it important to me. And it was important to my family. I’m sorry I missed it, that you had to spend most of the day alone. Just thinking about you all by yourself, waiting for someone to come in, makes me feel ill.”
“I was fine,” I say. It’s not the truth, but I’m not about to pile on the guilt.
“I should have been there.” He pushes his hand through his hair. “Hell, I should have been a lot of things to you, Bonnie, but I royally fucked up.”
“Rowan—”
“No.” He shakes his head. “Please let me get this off my chest.” His eyes plead with me, so I sit there . . . and listen. “Ever since Callum passed away, I’ve felt this dark cloud looming over my life. I lost touch with my da, and even simple conversation with my maw was strained. I had this town and my friends, but nothing ever felt the same with them. Everything just felt dark, and no matter what I did or didn’t do, I was stagnant. Every day was the same. Every thought was the same. Every interaction was mundane at best.” His eyes connect with mine. “And then you came into my life. A ball of energy and blonde hair ready to take the piss out of me any chance you got. You drove me crazy, and yes . . . you made me act like Kilty McGrumpyshire.” I snort, even as my heart threatens to pound out of my chest. “But hell, Bonnie, you made me feel fucking alive again.”
He takes my hand, and from the look of desperation in his eyes, I know I’m done.
“I love you, Bonnie. I don’t know how it happened, or when it happened, but I’m glad that it did. You’ve forced me to step outside of my stagnant little world and learn to breathe life back into my lungs.” He clears his throat. “The other day, when I screamed at you to leave . . . fuck, I don’t know what I was thinking. I was out of control, and I took it out on you. I was too embarrassed, too angry, too blind to fix it with you. I needed to get my head on straight, and honestly, I’m barely hanging on at this point. But my da said I can’t lose you, and he’s right. I can’t let a once-in-a-lifetime kind of love walk out of my life without putting up a fight. So please don’t leave, lass. Please don’t fucking go back to America. I need you here. I want you in my life, in my bed, by my side . . . forever.”
Misty eyed, I blink a few times, but it’s useless. Tears cascade down my cheeks.
He loves me. I’m not dreaming it. He actually loves me.
This man, who I once thought was the most irritating creature on the planet. The man who became an advocate for my success. The man who helped show me how special I really am.
He loves me.
I smile with shaky lips as he gently wipes my tears away with his thumbs, concern etching his face.
With a wobbly voice, I say, “I love you too, Rowan. I don’t know how or when it happened either, but just like you . . . I’m glad that it did.”
“Then you’ll stay, lass?”
“Of course she’s going to stay!” Dakota yells as she barrels out of the kitchen and throws her arms around me. I snort out a laugh, bubbles of grossness coming out of my nose. “She was leaving because of you, you big lug. But now she has no excuse to leave.” Dakota has me in a viselike grip, practically climbing into my lap.
“I love you, Dakota,” I say, laughing, “but do you think I can finish things up here?”
“Oh yeah, sorry,” she chuckles and then turns to Rowan. She punches him in the arm, but he doesn’t even flinch. “That’s for stressing me out and nearly driving my best friend away.” She points a stern finger at him. “You owe me one of those mugs.”
He laughs. “I’m sorry, Dakota. I’ll make you and Isla a matching set. Hers and hers.”
“Oh, I see how you work, really reaching for the brownie points. Uh-huh. I see you, Rowan MacGregor.” Dakota slowly backs away. “I see you.” This time she leaves the shop, and when the door clicks shut, Rowan moves in closer.
“So you’ll stay?”
“Depends.” I smile. “If I stay, will you come to bed wearing a kilt tonight?”
“I’ll do anything you want, lass, as long as I come home to you.”
I stand up and place the mug on the table—carefully—and walk around the table, where I settle onto his lap. His wide palms span my back as I cup his cheeks. “I can’t imagine being anywhere else.” I lower my forehead to his. “I love you, McGrumpyshire.”