He didn’t say it often, he preferred to show it though Lily did both and often.
Therefore, when he did say it, she reacted, extraordinarily so, gratifyingly so. Her eyes lit then warmed then softened then filled with wonder and awe, though the last bit was normally how she looked at Nate… still.
“I love you too,” she whispered.
Abruptly Nate stopped and so did Lily.
And he thanked time for his children were old enough that they no longer needed to be shielded from Nate’s intense affection for his wife.
He turned Lily in his arms and he gave her a kiss, a real kiss, a kiss that made her breath catch (Nate, with satisfaction, not only heard it, he felt it) and his heart beat powerfully in his chest.
He had no idea that people were staring at the beautiful, loving, happy couple and a few took pictures.
And he couldn’t have cared less.