by Annie Rains
When Jack opened his eyes, he looked a lot calmer. He actually smiled up at Noah. “That worked,” he said. “Where the heck did you learn to do that?”
Noah shrugged a shoulder. “It’s just something the guidance counselor taught me to do in school when I got worked up about a test or something. I just close my eyes and imagine the situation ahead of time. It seems to help.”
Jack stood. “Yeah, it helped. Now, if you don’t mind, drive me to the beach before Grace thinks I’m standing her up.”
“That’s my job as your best man. Anything you need today.” Noah jingled his keys. “Now let’s get you hitched, bro.”
—
Noah had never really paid attention at weddings. They didn’t usually interest him, but today he took it all in. Maybe it was because he was standing front and center as best man. And maybe it was because Krista was standing just a few feet away, wearing a wine-colored silk dress with a low hanging neckline. He couldn’t take his eyes off her, and he couldn’t wait to touch her. Krista’s eyes were misty as Jack read the special vows he’d written for Grace. There was no chance of anyone in the crowd laughing as Jack had feared. Jack’s words were romantic and sincere, and even Noah felt a lump tightening his throat.
The ceremony took all of fifteen minutes and then the wedding party and guests dispersed back to The Landing, which was closed to the public for the night. The tables were decorated in Grace’s colors, a simple vase of gold and deep purple flowers at the center of each. Tables were shifted to create a dance floor and music hummed through the speakers.
Noah weaved through the crowd looking for Krista. She’d been understandably busy all day, but the day was coming to a close and he needed to see her, kiss her, steal her away to the dance floor, and then to his bed.
Her laugh caught his attention first. He honed in on the sound, finding her at a decoration that she and Abby had created for wedding guests to take their pictures at. A corner of the room was overrun with flower arrangements that surrounded a burlap, picnic-style blanket for couples to sit and pose on. A picnic basket off to the side held a sign that read: GRACE AND JACK SAWYER’S WEDDING, followed by the date.
Noah smiled as he stood frozen, mesmerized for a moment watching Krista laugh, head tossed back, hand to her chest. She’d put so much effort into helping Grace and Jack with this wedding. She was a good friend. A good person. Plain good at everything she did.
And he loved her. Really loved her.
Shit.
For a moment, Noah imagined marching right up to that picture stand and telling her so. The feeling was so strong that he knew, deep in his chest, it wouldn’t fade. His love for her was interwoven in his DNA. He was as committed to her as he was to his own skin. And he wasn’t afraid that he’d scare away like he had with his college girlfriend. As long as Noah had Krista by his side, nothing scared him.
And he wanted to tell her so. Right now. Right here. The setting oozed with romance, due to Krista in large part. It was the perfect place to tell her how he felt.
He weaved around wedding guests, friends and family of both Grace and Jack, and brushed his hand over Krista’s to get her attention. Her gaze warmed as she looked at him and her smile notched up, brightening her face. He thought she’d never looked more beautiful than she did at this very moment.
“Hi,” she said.
“I’m a patient man, but I can’t wait another second to hold you in my arms.” He locked her hand in his. “Care to dance?”
The dance they’d shared at the Sawyer cabin resonated in his memory as he guided her to the open floor. “Always and Forever” by Luther Vandross crooned through the speakers, singing the exact words he felt in his heart.
“Today was beautiful, don’t you think?” Krista asked, leaning in to his ear so that he could hear her over the music and guests.
“The prettiest wedding I’ve ever been to. You made Jack and Grace’s day special. You make everyone’s day special.”
Three little words sat unsaid on his lips. He ran his tongue over them, prepping the vessel.
She cocked her head. “Why thank you, Mr. Sawyer.” Her arms draped off his shoulders, aligning her body with his. His hands rested on her waist, pulling her as close as was acceptable in the presence of others.
“Have I told you how beautiful you are tonight?” he asked.
“If you have, I don’t mind hearing it again.”
“You’re beautiful,” he whispered. “It’s all I can do to keep my hands off you tonight.”
Her cheeks darkened and she gazed up through her lashes at him. Yep, he could stare into this woman’s eyes for eternity. He was sure of that.
“Krista, I want to tell you something. I think…” He shook his head. “I know that I—”
“Bridal emergency!” Abby said, interrupting them and grabbing Krista by the arm. “Sorry, Noah, but duty calls.”
Noah cleared his throat, those three little words lodged just behind his tongue.
“Oh. I’ll catch you a little later,” Krista said, an apologetic tilt to her eyes.
He was sorry, too. “Yeah. I’ll hold you to that.”
—
After fixing a minor bridal mishap, Krista stood crowded in a group of other single women as Grace turned her back to them and held up the bouquet. Grace glanced over her shoulder, nonchalantly targeting Krista as she’d told her she would.
“Ready, ladies?” Grace called.
The group cheered.
Krista didn’t cheer, though. She was suddenly feeling spent. And a little nauseous. What had she eaten today? Abby’s cooking never made her feel bad, but she was feeling pretty rotten right about now. Maybe it was because she’d woken early and had run as fast as her feet would carry her ever since. Maybe she was coming down with something. Not good timing for that. Calling in sick to work right now was not ideal.
“One…two…three!” Grace flung the bouquet backward in Krista’s general direction. All the women closed in around her trying to nab their golden ticket to forever. Instead of lifting her hands to catch the flowers, Krista covered her mouth with one hand and dodged the women. She ducked away and darted toward the ladies’ room. The ladies’ room was two rooms really. One that served as a powder room and one with toilets and sinks. Krista took the covered bench in the powder room and sat down. She was suddenly shivering and sweating at the same time.
Sick. She was sick.
Leaning forward over her knees, she let the nausea roll up over her like ocean waves. This was probably just due to something she’d eaten. Except she hadn’t really eaten much today. Maybe she’d caught a virus at the hospital. A little niggle of doubt wormed into her thoughts. The condom-breaking incident was front and center in her mind again. What if she was pregnant?
She sat on the bench for a few more minutes. When she felt slightly better, she checked the mirror and decided to find Noah. Her maid-of-honor duties were pretty much over and she needed to go home. She pushed out of the bathroom and scanned the dying crowd, spotting him with his brothers and cousin Gabe along the far wall. She hated to pull him from a family event, but she also didn’t want to throw up on the dance floor and make that the most memorable thing of the guests’ evening. Grace would kill her.
Weaving between couples, Krista made her way toward Noah. When she was standing just behind him, more nausea curled in her belly. Without thinking, she pressed her hand against her stomach, willing the contents there to stay put.
“You’re next, bro,” she heard Sam say.
“What are you talking about?” Noah’s voice said.
“You and Krista, man.”
Krista’s ears pricked when she heard her name. She edged into Noah’s shadow, waiting to feel better and eavesdropping unintentionally. Okay, intentionally.
“Just like I warned you the other day. Now that you’re together, things will roll fast,” Sam said. “Next will be wedding vows, then you’ll be talking baby names. Just be careful.”
K
rista’s heart was beating forcefully in her chest, which only made the nausea worse. How awkward would it be if they turned around now and discovered her listening in? She should walk away, find someone else to take her home. That’s what she should do. She didn’t move a muscle, though. Didn’t breathe for fear of being discovered. Something told her she needed to hear this conversation. She needed to know where Noah stood on these topics.
“Jack is the one who just got hitched. Not me,” Noah said.
“Yeah, but Jack can handle whatever comes his way.”
“And I can’t?” Noah asked. The irritation lining his voice was clear. Krista could imagine the muscles in his jaw ticking the way they did when he was upset.
“You remember what happened with you and that girl you dated in college,” Sam said. “You thought you got her pregnant and completely freaked out. Once you realized you were off the hook, you dumped her and left school. Dropped them both like a bad habit.”
“Are we recapping past mistakes now? Because you have a few I can dredge up if you want to walk down memory lane. You haven’t done the greatest job in your relationship with Abby.”
“We’re talking about you, and I’m just looking out for you.”
“Look, I was only a kid myself back then. I made a mistake. A lot of mistakes. I’m older now.”
“So you’re ready for kids?” Sam asked.
Noah laughed, but Krista could hear that he wasn’t amused. “Krista and I just started dating. We’re not ready for kids. Changing diapers is the last thing I want to spend my days doing right now, okay?”
“All right,” Sam said, as Krista finally forced her feet to retreat back into the crowd.
Why hadn’t Noah ever told her that he’d had a pregnancy scare with his college girlfriend? She remembered that he’d come home suddenly and had never made any mention of going back. She’d finished up her degree and had moved back here, partly to stay close to him.
Acid stung the back of her throat, reminding her that parenthood might be around the corner sooner rather than later. And apparently that was a deal breaker for Noah. So much so that he’d dropped out of college and come home.
Her stomach rolled.
She needed to get out of here ASAP. Ducking into a corner, she texted Joey who’d skipped the reception in order to be available for guests who couldn’t drive themselves home. He’d finished fixing his cab on Thanksgiving night and was back in business part-time.
SOS, she texted.
Then she waited with her head leaned back against the wall. Crap, what if I’m pregnant? How could she bring a child into the world with a man who might bolt? She thought of little Adam and the unfillable void his own father had left in his tiny heart. She didn’t think Noah would do the same, but she hadn’t known about Noah’s college girlfriend. That made her wonder. Why hadn’t Noah told her about that? Was he embarrassed? Did he think it was no big deal?
Her phone buzzed in her hand.
What’s wrong? Joey texted back.
I’m sick. I need to go home.
Noah can’t take you? he asked.
Krista frowned. She didn’t want to face Noah right now. She was so sick and confused and hopelessly in love with him. It was a huge recipe for disaster.
No, she texted. Can you please come get me?
Be there in a sec.
Krista sighed and leaned her head back against the wall. She’d text Noah once she was in Joey’s cab. She didn’t want him to intercept her leaving. All she wanted to do was go home to her own bed and bury herself under the covers until she felt better.
Chapter 20
Noah sat at one of the empty tables lining the wall and frowned at the incoming text from Krista.
Not feeling well. Joey took me home. Didn’t want to pull you away from Grace and Jack’s wedding.
He’d been suffering a conversation with his overprotective big brother for the last ten minutes, waiting for Krista to come back. And now she was gone. He’d have gladly driven her home. Why hadn’t she asked him?
Sam sat down beside him and loosened his tie as if it were a noose around his neck. Noah had been able to shake him for a minute, but since they were both essentially dateless now, it looked like he might have to endure some more lectures. “She’s dancing with another man,” Sam said instead.
Noah looked up and searched the dance floor for Abby. “That’s Milburn from the movie theater. I think you’re safe.”
“I know that,” Sam muttered. “But she won’t even give me the time of day, yet she’ll dance with Milburn from the movie theater.”
“Maybe you should go cut in. She can’t say no.”
“Oh, she can and she would. And she’d enjoy rejecting me, too.” Sam lifted a drink off a platter that was being carried by him. “Thanks,” he told the server. “I hope to God this is alcoholic,” he said to Noah.
“I’m not DDing your butt home tonight.” Noah raised both hands.
Sam looked around. “Where’s Krista?”
“She left. She’s not feeling well.”
“And you didn’t take her?” Sam tipped his head back and swallowed the contents of the cup. Judging by his soured expression, it was most definitely alcoholic.
“She didn’t ask me. She just called Joey and disappeared.”
Sam’s brow furrowed. “You two have a fight?”
“We were fine. Then she got dragged away for some bridal emergency. After that she participated in the bouquet-toss thing, and I haven’t seen her since.”
“Hmm. Maybe she’s upset that she didn’t catch the bouquet.”
Noah slid his gaze over. He absolutely did not want to get in another relationship discussion with Sam. “How’s the boat doing since you rammed the pier?” he asked, veering the topic into a more neutral one.
Sam had his gaze trained on Abby. “Fixed,” he muttered, looking miserable. Well, that made two of them. Krista was what made things like this fun. Without her, he was miserable.
An hour later, Noah left the reception and circled around Krista’s townhouse. Joey was outside working under the hood of his cab.
“Hey, man. Why’d you nab my date?” Noah said, stepping out of his Jeep.
Joey righted himself and shrugged. “She asked me to. Guess she’s sick or something. She went straight to bed. Now I’m tinkering with this POS. I got it working, did a few jobs tonight, but it started acting up again. I can’t take passengers out and risk getting stranded on the roadside.”
“Good thing for me because I need you on the Summerly.”
Joey leaned against the car. “I’d do both. Gonna have to work two jobs to get my own place anyway. The rate you and Krista are going, I won’t have a roommate for long.”
Everyone was noticing the difference between them. All of Blushing Bay could see it.
“Is she too sick for visitors?” Noah asked.
Joey folded his arms over his chest. “She specifically told me not to let you come inside if you stopped by. I think she’s pretty sick, man.”
That stung a little, but Noah understood. “Okay. Well, I’ll check on her in the morning then.”
“Yeah, man.” Joey nodded, waved, and then disappeared back under the hood of his cab. Disappointed, Noah drove home to his houseboat. Joey was right. Eventually he and Krista would be officially sharing a place together. That was what he wanted. Maybe a place like that nice cabin on the creek that he’d stopped at the other day. That place had a nice feel to it and, trespassing or not, he’d enjoyed fishing off that little pier out back. Noah could already imagine Krista swinging in the front porch swing in the evenings, reading those nursing journals she liked to look at, and humming softly to herself like she did when she thought no one was around.
Unable to sleep, Noah returned to his Jeep and drove out to check on the status of that house. He crossed his fingers and hoped the FOR SALE sign was still there. He was so happy to see that it was when he pulled up that he could’ve purchased it right there, sight unsee
n. What was he thinking?
He got out and walked around the side of the house to check out the back deck that he hadn’t explored before. It was large and open, perfect for grilling out. He wanted to see if the inside was as perfect as the outside. He’d already scoped out where he’d park his boats in the yard. Now he wanted to take a look at where he’d place the bed that he and Krista would be sleeping in together. Maybe it had a little to do with the romance of his brother’s wedding tonight that had him all stirred up, but it was mostly due to Krista herself. She had him stirred up. She would love this place just as much as he did. He knew her well enough to know that. He wasn’t asking her to move in with him just yet, but he was open to the idea. Open to a lot more than that. He just wanted to set some roots more firmly into the ground, and create a place suitable for bringing someone home to. His home.
After walking around the lot, Noah got in his Jeep and stared at the house illuminated by the full moon in the cloudless sky for a moment longer. A place like this would’ve felt like a ball and chain on his ankle at one point. But not anymore. And that was all Krista’s doing.
—
Krista woke the next morning feeling like she was hungover—even though she hadn’t drunk a single drop of alcohol the night before. She’d been too busy catering to Grace and Jack’s needs, making sure their wedding went off without a hitch.
And it had. The only hitch last night was the news that Noah had thought he’d gotten an ex pregnant in college, and when he’d discovered she wasn’t, he’d come bolting home. His fear of roots and commitment was so strong he’d quit college over it.
Krista’s stomach tightened, then rolled. She still had that sick feeling from last night, but it was significantly better. She climbed out of bed and tiptoed down the hall to go make herself a piece of toast. She didn’t want to wake Joey. He’d let her off the hook last night, but he’d want to know what had happened and what the real reason was that she hadn’t asked Noah to take her home. She couldn’t have faced Noah last night, though. Not when she was sick, possibly pregnant, and knowing that pregnancy would send him running for the hills. Better to know this now before things got too serious.