‘I love you, Madeleine. I love your strength, your determination, your sense of fun and intelligence. Your planning to the nth degree drives me nuts but I love it anyway, not to mention your beautiful face, how sexy your hair is when you let it tumble down and, of course, that great arse of yours.’

‘Romantic.’ I grinned.

‘I’m determined to be honest with you about everything now and your arse is amazing.’

‘Shooosh!’ I said, waving my hands, my brain currently swinging between wanting to laugh and cry.

‘I know I don’t deserve another chance, but I would spend every moment of my life grateful for it if you would grant me one. You make me a better man, Maddie. I want you in my life now and forever. I want to marry you. I want to stand up in front of family and friends and look a right eejit when you walk in and I burst into tears because I know I’m the luckiest man that ever trod God’s green earth. But most of all, I need you. I thought I was living the life I wanted but now I know what was missing. It was you.’

EPILOGUE

Ballalee Castle was the only possible choice of venue for our wedding, and although it was a far smaller affair than Peyton and Patrick’s, it was everything I’d ever wanted. Izzy had designed me the most beautiful dress I’d ever seen – which was saying something in my line of work – and Calum arranged everything there to perfection. Lorcan’s family had claimed me as one of their own and I didn’t have words for how much that meant.

Lorcan, true to his word, cried when I walked in, which of course set me off. To be fair, I’m not sure there was a dry eye in the place by the time we finished. I was probably biased, but it really was the most perfect wedding I’d ever planned.

My business was once again thriving, but now I’d found a better balance for my life. Now I had a reason, and help, to find that balance. Lorcan had changed too – but only for the better. He still teased me relentlessly, but I loved it. I think, deep down, I always had. But now that stillness within him, the calm he’d radiated when we’d spent time together in my office, in my home, on the cliffs of Ballalee, was with him all the time. He’d let the hurt that had been eating at him for over a decade go. It was always something he’d carry, that memory, but the agony was no longer in his heart. The space it had left had been replaced with happiness and joy, and love.