A Mother for Matilda

  Vic choked on a sob. ‘Oh, Lawson. I love you too. I’ve always loved you.’ She raised her face to his and pulled his neck down to claim a kiss. ‘I can’t believe you’re saying this. I’d just about given up.’

  He shook his head, his heart filling with joy. She loved him too. Somehow, though, he wasn’t surprised. Somewhere deep inside he knew they’d been destined for each other. He kissed her eyes and her nose. ‘Believe it.’ He dropped a kiss on her mouth. ‘But I’m asking a lot of you, Victoria. I’m asking you to be a mother as well. Something you’ve been for the last eighteen years. Something you’ve told me repeatedly you never ever want to be. Can you handle that? I don’t want you to regret this choice years down the track.’

  Vic smiled. She lifted a hand and stroked his face, running a finger down his scar. ‘Of course I won’t. Lawson, even if you and I never came to be, I know I belong here. I know now I could never leave. This is my home. It holds my heart. There’s a world out there, I know that and I do want to see it, but it’s nothing compared to what I have here. All I need now, all I’m ever going to need, is you. If I have that then the rest doesn’t matter.’

  Lawson smiled. He felt warm all over and it had nothing to do with the fire. ‘It’s still a big ask. Instant mother. I’m scared stiff that one day you’ll start yearning for far horizons again and turn around and walk away. Like Matilda’s mother did.’

  She ran a finger over his lips. ‘I’m not Deb, Lawson. I’m not someone you barely know. I certainly couldn’t walk away from you or Matilda. When you love someone that means you love all of them. And you and Tilly are a package deal. She’s the sweetest thing. She’s part of you—why wouldn’t I want her? I would be honoured to be her mother.’

  Lawson swooped down and took her mouth in a kiss that he felt all the way to his groin. She clung to his shoulders and her moan empowered him to go deeper. Linger a while. He pulled away minutes later, with difficulty. ‘We’re getting married. As soon as your father’s well and we can arrange it.’

  Vic smiled, her heart full of the most incredible sweet ache. ‘Here on this beach. Matilda can be flower girl.’

  ‘And then we’re going on a honeymoon. For six weeks. We’re going to London. And Italy.’

  Vic felt her heart flutter in her chest. ‘And we’ll take Tilly.’

  Lawson’s heart filled so much he thought it was going to burst out of his chest. ‘But in the meantime, you’re coming to live with me. With us.’

  She grinned. ‘Yes. Sir.’ And she pulled him down with her into the sand, eager to comply with his commands.

  And all that could be heard for the next little while was the crackle of the fire and the pounding of the surf as their bodies promised each other a life full of happily ever afters.

  ISBN: 978-1-4268-5260-2

  A MOTHER FOR MATILDA

  First North American Publication 2010.

  Copyright © 2010 by Amy Andrews.

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