Page 178 of Liberating Lily

“Okay, I’m starting to think that I need to get you out of here. The animals sound like they’re all going to attack you.”

“Oh, well. You get used to them after a while.” She stared up at him and then bit her lip. “Harvey, are we going to be okay?”

He grasped hold of her chin, tilting her head back, and then he kissed her. The kiss was hard, and slightly punishing, but it felt like everything she needed. She needed to make amends to him, and this kiss felt like a good start.

When he drew back, he stared down at her, breathing heavily. “We’re going to be okay, because I won’t have it any other way. But you’ll never do anything like this again. Because you are it for me. My everything. And without you, there is nothing. Do you understand that?”

“I think I’m starting to.”

“Good. Anytime you start to doubt it, you come to me. Understand? No one else. Only me.”

Lily nodded. Only him. Because she was it for him.

“I won’t ever do this again. I promise you, I won’t ever do anything like this. I won’t ever leave you again, Harvey. I want to be with you.”

“Good, because you’re going to be with me for the rest of your life.” He hugged her tight.

She let the safety of his embrace surround her.

This was her man. This was her home. She sank into him like she never wanted to leave.

“Fuck, I was so scared. So scared. Not sure I can ever let you leave my sight again, Lily. Thank God you’re all right.”

She hated that she’d caused him so much pain and angst.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

“Shh,” he said. “I know. I know you weren’t thinking properly.”

“Every bad thought in my head just seemed to magnify and take over,” she said. “I just felt so wrong. So wrong for you.”

“Well, you’re not. You’re the best person I know. You’re everything that is right for me, my amazing, wonderful girl.”

He drew her back and kissed her again. This time it was softer, sweeter, and she loved that too, even though she felt like she still needed to make amends.

“I’m glad that Clem called and told you that I was here. I didn’t know how to do it myself, even though I wanted to. I kept picking up my phone and trying to find the words.”

“Well, I’d tell you that next time you’re just to call me. However, there won’t be a next time, will there?”

“No, Sir,” she said with a small smile.

“Now, how do you suppose we’re going to get this steer out of the way so I can get my car up the driveway?”

“Oh, I’m pretty sure we’re not. Rump Roast moves in his own time. Do you want to come meet the rest of them?”

“Rest of them?” he asked.

“Yeah, the rest of the animals,” she said. “I’ll take you on a tour.”

“All right. But first I need another one of these.” And he kissed her again. This kiss felt less like a punishment or reunion and more like their normal kisses.

Then he drew back and gave Rump Roast a slightly wary look. “Sure you don’t want me to make a move? What if I beep the horn and drive closer to him? Surely, he’d move then.”

“No, he’d probably just dig in his heels. Rump Roast is very stubborn. We have to go check on Chuck Roast first because Clem said he’s had a sore stomach. She thinks he’s constipated.”

“How does she know he’s constipated?”

“I honestly have no idea, and I don’t think I want to know. You don’t either. Sometimes it’s best not to ask when it comes to Clem.”