‘I’m not going to run away again, but…’
Rafe groaned. ‘No more buts, please!’
‘I love you but I don’t want to be responsible for some sort of family rift. Your mother said your father would hate me,’ she added worriedly.
He took her face between his hands needily. ‘My father is many things, but stupid is not one of them.’ The uncomplicated love revealed in his expression made Natalie’s eyes fill with tears of sheer joy. ‘It’ll take him about two seconds to see you’re exactly what he’s been telling me I need for years. Within half an hour he’ll have convinced himself it was all his idea.’
Natalie laughed. His certainty went a long way to easing her concerns.
‘Forget my father, forget everyone, this is about us. We’re a package deal: you, me and Rose,’ Rafe declared proudly. ‘Is that all right by you?’
‘I think I might get used to the idea.’ She laughed, throwing her arms around his neck. ‘Given forty years or so.’
And Natalie was looking forward to every second of those years beside the man she loved.