“About what?” He always listened to her. Always paid attention. Tried to make her happy in a thousand tiny ways.

“About all those days and nights when I felt lonely. I’m wondering if maybe feeling that way is making me appreciate this even more.”

He wrapped her in his arms, holding her tightly. “Honey, I predict there will come a time when you’d kill for a lonely moment.”

She laughed, knowing he was probably right, but also knowing that there would never come a time when she took this for granted. “I can’t believe this is my life.”

“You’ll believe it when the girls are fighting.” But he lowered his mouth to hers, unable to help himself, his kiss urgent and impatient. She kissed him back, her arms wrapped tightly round his neck even though he didn’t seem likely to stop anytime soon. His mouth devoured hers, the erotic slide of his tongue driving all thought from her head. When he finally lifted his head it was so that he could murmur words that made her blush. She loved the time they spent as a family, but she also looked forward to the time they spent alone.

“We may not be in the bedroom—” he kissed his way along her jaw “—but how would you feel about a kitchen counter? I’m reliably informed that it’s soapstone, which probably makes it a vastly superior option to the bed anyway if not quite as comfortable.”

She was so desperate for him she might even have gone along with his suggestion, but fortunately part of her was still functioning and she heard the thunder of footsteps on the stairs.

“Kitchen sex will have to wait.” She pulled away and straightened her clothes a few seconds before Molly charged into the room.

Her cheeks were flushed with excitement. “I’ve checked, and there is enough room for four horses at least.”

“Four?” Izzy sauntered into the room after her and rolled her eyes. “If you’re going to have even one horse, I am definitely going to college.”

Molly grabbed Flora’s hands and danced with her round the kitchen, twirling and spinning.

In a snatched moment between breathless laughter Flora met Jack’s gaze and shared a smile of satisfaction.

Molly was dancing again. Not just with her arms, legs and the rest of her body but with her whole heart.

And then Izzy joined them, grabbing Flora so that the three of them danced together.

At some point Jack was pulled into it, and Molly complained as he trod on her toes but then forgave him when he swung her high into the air. When he finally put her down, Molly slid across the kitchen floor, treating it like a skating rink. “What’s for dinner?”