I draw in a deep breath. “You have, and you’re amazing.”

She shrugs her slim shoulders. “It’s nothing anyone else couldn’t do.”

“Give yourself credit,” I tell her. Nothing anyone else couldn’t do? Survive being kidnapped and shipped to a sinister island where she was used and abused? “You have so much inner fortitude. You deserve everything good. Which is why—”

“I have to go home.” Her voice is soft. Her gaze drops to my chest. Nervous, or shy. Or afraid.

I drop my mouth open. She was pondering the same thing as I was. “Baby?”

“I’ve been sitting out here thinking, Austin. I don’t regret coming with you, and I’d do it again. I showed my parents what you mean to me, and that neither of them can control me. But…”

I smile, bring her hand to my lips and kiss her fingers. One after the other. “I understand. I was about to tell you the same thing.”

She looks up and smiles weakly. “You’re kidding, right?”

I shake my head. “I’m not. While you were in the shower, I talked to my mom. She’s going to have surgery on her hip, not a replacement, and she’ll be in rehab for a month or so. The new meds for MS she’s taking are working well, though, so that’s good news.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” she says.

“Thanks, baby. I have a feeling she’ll even have a pilot before the week’s out. She’s determined.”

“I’m glad she wants to keep the business she started going.”

I give her a small smile. “I think it’s more about me being here with you.”

She flushes even in the soft lighting.

“Anyway,” I continue, because we’re not ready for the kid convo yet, “you know how much my mom means to me, and I know your dad means the same to you. I’d be lost if Mom and I weren’t on good terms, and I don’t want that for you. I agree. You need to go home to work things out with your dad.”

“I don’t want to leave you.” She turns her hand over and grasps my fingers.

“I know.” With my free hand, I reach out and tuck her damp hair behind her ear. “I don’t want you to leave, either, but we’re both right. You need to talk to him. You’ll feel much better when you do. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be here once you and your dad are good again. I won’t put you in the middle. If this is going to be long term, which it is,” I add, ensuring she still knows she’s mine, “I don’t want him hating me.”

She rises. “I know.”

“It’ll be another half hour until your clothes are dry, though.” I raise an eyebrow and give a sly smile. Thirty minutes isn’t a long time, but I can be creative. “Any ideas what we can do until then?”

Before she answers, though, Chance opens the French door to the deck. “Dinner’s on the table, you two.”