Always You (Adair Family 3)

She still wouldn’t look at me, even though I silently begged her to. I squeezed her hand, but she merely tightened her grip.

Robyn cleared her throat, drawing my attention and I saw her watching us with a furrowed brow. Ever so perceptive, she released my hand to stand up. “Lachlan and I will get us all some coffee. Can we get you anything, Dad?”

“Water, if I’m allowed.”

“We’ll check with the nurse.”

I gave her a grateful nod as she led Lachlan out of the room to give us privacy.

“Talk to me,” I demanded.

Finally, Arro lifted her gaze to meet mine. And promptly burst into tears, racking sobs that gutted me.

I tried to reach for her and hissed in pain, which only made her cry harder.

Fuck!

“Arro, please, darlin’.”

And then suddenly she was clinging to me, resting her head on my stomach as she cried more tears than I knew a woman had in her.

It was awful. I’d give anything not to have to witness her like this. Emotion tightened my chest as I caressed her hair and waited for her to calm.

Finally, she whispered, “I was terrified. So terrified of losing you.”

I squeezed her shoulder as I brushed her hair behind her ear. “I’m sorry if it brought things back up about your dad.”

“Only you would know that.”

“Anyone who loves you would know that. I’m sure your brothers are worried about it too.”

“There was so much blood, Mackennon,” she whimpered.

“It was just a scratch,” I assured her.

Arro lifted her head, expression belligerent. “Just a scratch? Try two more wounds on top of the three that are already my fault.”

“These weren’t your fault, Arro. This was my shit that got us into this mess. And the other three weren’t your fault, either, for Christ’s sake. Fergus was unwell.”

“But you covered me.” She grabbed my hands. “As soon as that first bullet hit, your first thought was to cover me.”

Of course it was.

Understanding filled her eyes along with something like awe.

“I’m here, and I’m alive,” I reminded her. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“There was so much blood.” That haunted look flashed across her face again. “Your pulse was fading beneath my hands. And all I kept thinking …” Fresh tears scored her cheeks. “All I kept thinking was that I’d spent the entire morning trying to figure out a way to tell you I love you too … and I was terrified I was too late.”

I gripped her, pulling her toward me, the cardiac monitor picking up the sudden racing of my heart. “I know you love me. I knew it then, and I know it now.”

“But I never said it, and I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry, Arro.”

“I love you, Mackennon.” She leaned gently over me to press a kiss to my lips. “I love you so fucking much, I think I would burn down the world for you.”

I kissed her harder, ignoring the pain for the pleasure. “I love you too,” I promised. “And I’m not going anywhere. I’ve got too much to live for. You. Robyn. Our family. You’re stuck with me for life, Arrochar Adair.”