Page 96 of Falling for You Again

Aaron inhales steadily, his eyes closing as he savors my declaration.

He fits both hands to my face. “Meli, I’ve loved you since I ran into you on the plane.”

I grin. “When our hearts literally collided?”

His laugh vibrates low in his throat. “I couldn’t have said it better myself.” He smiles against my lips. Then he’s kissing me.

I sigh with relief and gratitude, pure happiness and love. Throwing my arms around him, I squeeze my eyes shut and press my mouth against his. Aaron’s arms draw around me and pull me in close. I want to kiss him all day, and I ache to push him back on the floor like I wanted to before my presentation, but I remember we aren’t the only ones here. Someone is in the back room.

I press my forehead to his. “What do you say, Aaron? Will you be my partner?”

“’Bout time you asked. Yes, Melissa Hynes Borland. I will be your partner in business and in life.”

The surname reminds me of something, and I lift my head, searching his eyes. “Our divorce. It isn’t final. Should we file a dismissal?”

“Whatever you want.” His fingers brush hair behind my ear, tenderly skimming my cheek. “We can let it proceed or stay married. Or even get married a third time. I really don’t care as long as we’re together. That’s what matters to me.”

“True partners.”

“In every way.”

“Fallon and your baby, Aaron. I’m okay with them being part of our lives, part of our family.”

Aaron grimaces. “There is no kid. She called me with the DNA results an hour ago. It’s not mine.”

“Oh.” Fallon was sleeping with someone else when she had been with him.

“Yeah.”

“I’m sorry.”

He shakes his head. “Not my problem anymore.”

No, but I can tell he’s hurting. For a good few weeks he thought he was going to be a dad. I fold my arms around his neck and press my lips to his temple.

“I would have loved that kid,” he says into my shoulder.

He already did love it.

“I have no doubt you would have. And I would have loved your baby as if it were my own because he would have been yours, a part of you. I’m so sorry I ran out on you. I was scared, Aaron. I was so afraid that I couldn’t balance it all and be a good parent at the same time and I’d only disappoint you. I didn’t want you to come to resent me, so I left before any of that could happen. I should have known you’d never make me feel that way.”

“I could never resent you, Meli. You’re too important to me. I love you.”

We’re quiet for a bit, holding each other tightly, before Aaron releases a shuddering breath. He kisses me, then gets to his feet and helps me up.

“Come with me. I want to show you something.”

He takes me to the workshop in back. At the sound of the heavy door swinging shut behind us, the table saw winds down and a head lifts up.

“Hiya, Meli!” Kidder waves.

“Kidder? What are you doing here?”

“Aaron gave me a job.”

I look at Aaron and he shrugs. “If he was good enough for Artisant Designs, he’s good enough for whatever we name this place. He’s our full-time apprentice.”

I am so pleased Kidder found work in the industry. He’s talented and has great potential. He’ll make a fine artisan one day.

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