It was like a thousand victories all spiralling through him at once.
‘What changed?’ He couldn’t help but ask.
‘You, contacting my grandmother. It showed you listened to me, you cared, and you understood.’
‘I’ll always listen to you, Anouk.’
‘I think I really believe that,’ she agreed. ‘It’s why I came back, and why I did this,’
He followed her head as it scanned the room, encompassing the entire Christmas scene, not realising that he was pulling her back, closer to him, as he did so.
And, what was more, she was letting him.
‘I love it,’ he murmured, not entirely sure which bit he was talking about.
‘It was the one thing I could think of to show you I had listened, too,’ Anouk babbled. ‘Even if you and Malachi aren’t into it any more, except for the kids.’
‘Shh. I love that you wanted to do something for me. I love that you thought about this, especially when I know how much you hate Christmas. It makes it all the more special that you did this for me.’
‘It wasn’t as bad as I’d feared,’ she admitted.
‘That’s good.’
‘It is?’
‘Sure.’ He grinned suddenly. ‘It bodes well for any kids we might have.’
‘You want children with me?’ Anouk breathed in wonder.
‘If you’d like that.’ He slid his fingers to her chin, tilting her head up until they were eye to eye.
Deep down, she’d always wondered if she would ever want to be a mother. She’d doubted she had it in her. Her life had been about her career as a doctor and nothing else had ever pulled at her.
And then Sol had slammed into her life and everything had changed. She might not have considered babies with him before, but the moment he had mentioned it there had been no doubt in Anouk’s mind that she wanted nothing more than to start a life—and a family—with him.
‘I want children with you,’ she managed, then seemed to draw in a deep breath. ‘And, as for Christmas, it turns out my father always wanted to celebrate the holiday with me. He might not be here, but maybe I can do it in memory of him? Maybe you can help me?’
He felt his mouth crook, a sense of triumph punching its way through him. Who would have thought it would feel this good to be wanted by a woman like Anouk? To want her back?
Before he could answer, she was speaking again. Suddenly serious. ‘And you were right, of course. I was running away.’
‘Understandable,’ he growled. ‘Given the circumstances.’
She shook her head.
‘You misunderstand me.’ She ran her tongue over her teeth, her nerves clearly threatening to get the better of her in a way that touched him deeply. ‘I wasn’t just running away from my grandmother. Or my fear that whatever she or my late father had to say, it wouldn’t match up to the fantasy in my head. I was also running away from you. Or, more to the point, my growing feelings for you.’
It was more than he’d thought she would say. More than he could have hoped she would say. He couldn’t bite his tongue any longer.
‘Whatever you were worried about, don’t be. I love you, Anouk Hart, with all that I am.’
It was the look of wonder in her eyes that made his heart swell so wildly that he feared his chest couldn’t contain it.
‘You still love me?’ she whispered, her eyes scanning his, almost in disbelief.
‘I will always love you. You had to know that, otherwise why come here?’ He arced his arm around the room. ‘Why do all o
f this?’