She mumbled something, and if he heard her correctly, she’d said he was the devil. He liked that.

Keeping his arms around her, he reclined against the pillows, still embedded deep within her as she pulsed with aftershocks. This, right here, was the closest thing to heaven he’d ever experienced, and he couldn’t wait to be married to her.

“Love you so much, Alex, even when you’re making me say terrible words I’ve never said in my life. I wish you knew how much I love you.”

“I do know, and I love you just as much, especially when you talk dirty to me. I bet I love you more than you love me.”

“No way.”

“Mmm, yes way.” He smiled in the darkness, content and looking forward to everything they had ahead of them. Every time they made love, he hoped she would conceive. Fatherhood was another thing he couldn’t wait for. When he’d been forced by circumstances to come home to Gansett Island, he’d never expected to find the love of his life here. Now that he had her, warm and soft in his arms, he planned to spend every day of the rest of his life making sure she knew how much she meant to him.

A light knock on the door had Seamus rushing from the living room where he’d been watching late-night TV. He threw open the door to his friend Slim Jackson, who held up a bag.

“I’ve got the goods, my friend.”

“Come in.” Seamus stepped aside to admit Slim and then went to the fridge to grab a beer for the pilot. “How’d you make out?”

“It was easy enough.”

“Caro and I really appreciate this.”

“I’m happy to help. No way you’re going to find suits for little boys on this island.”

Seamus opened the bag to find two identical tiny navy blue suits, white dress shirts, clip-on ties and shoes. He was appalled when tears filled his eyes. The clothes were a reminder of what those little boys would have to endure in the morning.

“You okay, bud?” Slim asked, clasping his shoulder.

“It’s just…” Seamus blew out a deep breath. “You even got belts for them. I can’t thank you enough.”

“A man can’t wear a suit without a belt.”

Seamus appreciated his friend’s efforts to bring some levity to the grim situation. “It’s tough, you know? I hope I’m doing the right things, but I’ve got no fecking clue what the right things are in this situation.”

“You’re providing them with love and support and comfort. That’s what they need right now.”

Seamus ran a hand over the stubble on his jaw. “I suppose. But what if they need other things that I don’t know about? What if I miss something important?”