Page 75 of Rectify

A grin crossed her lips, but she didn’t open her eyes as he undid the cuffs and massaged her arms. He gathered her close, kissing the top of her head.

“I love you, Natalya.”

She stiffened in his arms, and suddenly he worried it’d been too soon. Nervously, he waited until she met his gaze with hers. He relaxed at the hope he saw.

“Really?”Natalya asked.

He loved her?

“I never stopped,” he replied honestly. “Even when I was furious with you, I still loved you.”

Thank God.

“I never stopped loving you either. I think I love you more now than I ever did before.”

“Me too.”

“Does this mean you trust me?”

He ran his hand through her dark hair. “Yes, I do. It didn’t happen overnight, and I’m still working on it, but I do trust you, Natalya. This time around, things are going to be different. Neither of us is holding back. All I want is to be with you, to love you, and to take care of you. Both of you. I love Mateo as well. He’s a great kid.”

“He adores you. You’re much more of a father to him than Diego ever was. Although you’ve got to stop spoiling him. He needs boundaries and for us to stick to them. Both of us.”

“I know.” Sitting up, he pulled a book out of his bedside drawer. It was worn and well-read, with bright sticky notes poking out from the pages. She peered at the cover:

How To Raise Boys.

“You’ve been reading about raising boys?” she asked as she sat up, resting her back against the headboard.

“Well, I don’t know anything about kids. I haven’t been around them since I was one. So I figured I’d go to the experts. I thought about hiring someone to teach me, but I felt a bit stupid doing that. It’s been interesting reading, and I now realize that Mateo needs my time, not my money.”

“Exactly.” Natalya smiled at him. “You’re an incredible man, Aedan Blake. Not every man would want to take on another man’s child. But you’ve gone beyond that. You truly care about him, don’t you?”

“I do. I want what’s best for both of you, and I want you both to feel safe and happy.”

“I want the same for you.” She hugged him tight.

“How did your trip to the park go?” he asked.

She studied him. Why did she get the feeling he already knew?

“Were you watching us?” she finally asked. She should have guessed. He was very protective of both her and Mateo.

His smile was sheepish. “Declan was.”

Thank God.

“I’m sorry,” he said quickly. “I know that’s intrusive?—”

“No,” she interrupted. “Don’t be sorry. That makes me feel a whole lot better. It didn’t go well. I was on edge the entire time. I was so paranoid I felt like someone was watching me. And I guess someone was.”

“What?” he snapped.

“Oh, it was nothing. A woman came up and spoke to me. She had kids at the playground too. I took my eyes off Mateo for a second. I panicked. Nothing happened, but I kept thinking, what if she was a decoy? What if she was supposed to distract me while someone kidnapped Mateo? I know I sound crazy, but I totally panicked. I wasn’t ready to go on my own. Part of me wonders if I ever will be.”

He tugged her close, rocking her. “You will be. But nobody said it had to be now.”

“But I should be better by now. Mateo needs to live a normal life. He doesn’t deserve a totally paranoid mother. I don’t want to be a helicopter parent who is constantly worried about their child getting hurt.”

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