“This is a work of art.”

“Come see the rest.”

Clare led him upstairs to the girls’ rooms.

“I can tell just by looking which room is Jill’s and which one is Maggie’s, so I guess that one’s Kate’s.”

“That’s right. I can’t wait to see her next weekend.”

“I’m looking forward to meeting this lookalike daughter of yours.” Aidan pointed to the spiral staircase. “What’s up there?”

“Come see.” Clare led the way up the stairs and braced herself for an onslaught of emotions that never materialized. All she felt now was pride as she showed Aidan the house that meant so much to her.

He stood in the middle of the empty circular glass room and turned to take it all in. “This is unreal.”

“I should call Maggie to let her know we’re here.”

“In a minute.” Aidan put his arms around her. “It must’ve been very hard to lose the person who did this for you.”

His insight startled her. “It was,” she whispered.

“You have me now,” he said with a fierce look of love that made her heart contract.

“I know.” She reached up to kiss him and was taken aback by the intensity of his response, as if he was trying to chase away all her pain with one kiss.

He held her close and changed the angle so he could delve deeper. “I want you, Clare,” he said against her lips after several long, hot kisses. “I can’t wait anymore.”

She felt a flutter of fear go through her. What if she couldn’t do it? What if the moment arrived and she couldn’t go through with it? But when she looked up at him and saw only love and naked desire on his face, she knew that she was safe with him. Only him. “Come downstairs with me.”

He followed her to her bedroom in the first-floor study. “Why’s your room in here, rather than upstairs?”

“I couldn’t manage the stairs after…after my fall.”

He put his arms around her. “I love you, Clare. You know there’s nothing you could tell me that would change that, right? Nothing.”

She nodded. “Aidan?”

“What, honey?”

She wound her arms around his neck. “Would you please, please make love to me?”