Don't Let Go(94)

I snickered and thumped him in the chest. “Yeah, I wouldn’t be dropping my robe for you on the steps if she were.”
“God, that was hot,” he said, running a hand over my hip as if remembering where his eyes had traveled.
“Way outside my box,” I said on a chuckle. “Never done that before.”
“I’ll let you do it again,” he said, nuzzling my neck.
“Oh, you will, will you?” I said, closing my eyes to enjoy it.
“I’m generous like that,” he said. “Anytime you want is fine.”
I laughed with him and our eyes met for a quiet moment. The feeling was so overwhelming, my whole body tingled with goose bumps.
He noticed and ran a hand over my arm. “You okay?”
“I really thought you were leaving,” I said.
He shook his head. “Never again.”
“I love you,” I said, touching his face, and watching his expression change with the words. He inhaled quickly and blinked, and I knew I always wanted to do that. Keep him surprised and take his breath away.
“I’ve always loved you, Jules,” he said. “I’m sorry for leaving that behind.”
I shook my head. “No more sorries. We move on from here.” I kissed his lips and relished the rush of being able to do that at will. “You’ve had my heart from the first time you ever kissed me till now. Even when I took your ring off, I just closed up everything inside so no one else could go where you’d been.”
“Lord, that tiny ring,” he said, lifting my hand and threading his fingers through mine. “I saved forever to get that tiny little chip.” Noah smiled and kissed my fingers.
“I still have it,” I said.
He looked at me in surprise. “Seriously?”
“Of course,” I said. “What did you think, that I’d throw it away?”
He widened his eyes. “Basically.”
I frowned and shook my head, rolling away. “Hang on a second. Let me show you something.” I got up and strolled naked to my hope chest, which sat under a window and held everything special to me since I was twelve. Inside, under two quilts, multiple boxes of cards and mementos, and all of Becca’s baby stuff, was a small wooden box. I pulled it out and went back to join him, where he still lay propped up on one hand, watching me.
“You’re beautiful, Jules,” he breathed.
I warmed from my scalp on down and smiled at him. “I’m yours.”
I took a little preparatory breath before opening the box that had remained closed for over two decades. The little hinges squeaked as I lifted the lid.
Yellowed paper notes, folded and stacked, were inside. Along with a small black fuzzy box, some Polaroid photos of us being silly and one of me about six months pregnant, a piece of string, my hospital bracelet, and a foil-covered roll of LifeSavers without the label.
Noah picked up the LifeSavers and looked at me in question.
“You bought them for me on the way to the hospital,” I said, causing his eyes to water. “Hey.” I touched his cheek.
“I can’t believe you saved that,” he said, his voice thick with emotion.
“It mattered,” I said. I picked up the string and held it to my lips. “So did this.”
Noah grinned and wiped quickly at his eyes. “The real first ring.”
I smiled. “Yep.” I reached for the black box, but he covered my hand.
“I don’t want to see that, baby.”
“Um—okay.”
He blinked and another tear fell out that he whisked away with annoyance. “I made you take that off and bury it away. It’s tainted—it was from an us that didn’t get to finish.”
My eyes filled at the emotional words from him. Especially when he picked up the little piece of string and sat up.
Taking my left hand, he started tying it onto my finger, as I watched, unable to speak.
“One day I’m gonna put another ring on this finger. When we’re ready,” he said, clearing his throat of the emotion that was taking over. “That may sound fast, but it isn’t really. We’ve just been on hold for a long time. This time I don’t let go.”
My chin trembled and I tried unsuccessfully to blink back tears as I looked at the little string on my finger again and nervous laughter bubbled up from my chest.
“Is that a proposal?”
“Well, this is the proposal string, isn’t it?” he asked.
I laughed and pulled him back down to me, kissing him until it got serious again and he rolled over, pulling me on top of him.
“Mmm,” I said against his chest, loving the feel of his body responding under me. “You know all that noise you made earlier? I’m gonna make you do that again.”
His eyes darkened. “Well, that’s a coincidence. I was thinking the same thing about you.”
“I like the sound of that,” I purred.
“Very slowly,” he said. “Starting with my mouth.”
Holy crap, I was halfway there.



Chapter 25

Thank God I didn’t have to be at the store till nine o’clock. Which I was late for, rolling in around 9:45.
“I’m so sorry,” I said, rushing in the door fifteen minutes before the parade started.
Ruthie was finishing sales and directing people to the hot chocolate on their way out. She gave me an exasperated look as I ran behind the counter to relieve her. I was better there. She was better out on the floor, doing the actual mingling thing.
I got a once-over and a raised eyebrow as she took note of my jeans and white lace sweater.