“I was waiting for you, Ms. Rawlins.”
“I don’t even know what to say to that.”
“It’s true. When I first came back, I was too busy getting well again. I had to focus on myself and fixing me, fixing my relationship with my family. Then I got busy with the farm, the store, the restaurant.” I ran my finger down her cheek. “No one caught my eye or interested me, Dani. I went out a couple of times, but nothing ever felt right. You feel right—we feel right.”
“I know,” she whispered.
“I love my family. I love being with them, but I’ve always felt like something was missing. I’m always the fifth wheel. But with you—for the first time in so long, I’m not alone. I feel complete when I’m with you.” I swallowed, my throat feeling tight. “I know it’s fast, but it’s how I feel.”
“So do I.”
“Good. Then next weekend—yes? You’ll let me take you away?”
“Yes,” she answered, then yawned, desperately trying to cover it up behind her hand.
I stood, lifting her. “Come on, Sprout. We need to go to bed. You have apple crisp to make tomorrow and an even more daunting task after that.”
“What?”
“Meeting my parents.”
Her eyes widened in alarm. “Your parents? Oh God, what if they don’t like me?”
“Not a chance. They’re going to love you.”
She leaned her head on my chest, and I kissed her hair as we made our way to her bedroom.
“Noah?”
“Hmmm?”
“Thank you for coming to me, again.”
I sat her on the edge of her bed, bending down and looking at her. “I’ll always come to you, Dani. You’re not alone anymore.”
She flung her arms around my neck and drew me to her sweet mouth. I lifted her to the middle of the bed and showed her how not alone she was now.
Twice.
Dani slept tight to my side all night. She was so exhausted she didn’t move until I slid from bed to go make coffee and breakfast. Her eyes blinked open, and she smiled at me.
“You are here. It wasn’t a dream.”
I bent over and kissed her tempting mouth. “Nope. I’m here. You’re stuck with me.”
She looked almost shy as she dropped her gaze to the sheets, picking at the edge with her fingers. “I like being stuck with you.”
I covered her hand with mine and waited until she met my eyes. “Good. Now I’m going to make breakfast, and we’ll head to the farm. We’ll leave your car and take the truck, yeah? You okay with that?”
“You’re really coming back with me?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, then.”
I kissed her. “Good.”
A short while later, we pulled up outside my house, and I groaned. “Brace yourself, Sprout.”
“Why?”
I indicated the golf cart parked by the porch. “My mother’s already here, no doubt lying in wait.”
She bit her lip, looking worried. Laughing, I grabbed her hand, pulling her out of the truck. “I’m teasing. She’s bringing you all the stuff for your baking. Not lying in wait…I think.”
We walked in with Dani tucked into my side. My mom was in the kitchen, peeling apples. There was a huge bowl of peaches as Dani had requested as well. Mom’s face broke into a wide grin when she saw us. “Hello, you two. I thought I’d help Dani by peeling the apples for her. Save her some time so she could relax a little today.” She smiled kindly at Dani. “I understand you have a busy week ahead of you, dear.”
Laughing, I bent down and kissed my mom’s cheek. “Nice try, Nosy Parker. You’ve been waiting to meet my girl. I’m onto you.”
She didn’t even deny it. “Are you going to introduce me?”
I reached for Dani, dragging her close. “Mom, this is my Dani. Dani, this nosy woman is my mother, Kris.”
Dani’s eyes widened, but my mom simply smiled, ignored Dani’s outstretched hand, and pulled her in for a hug. I had to blink away the moisture when I saw Dani’s reaction to being hugged. She stiffened at the unexpected contact, then suddenly, she was hugging my mom back. My mom murmured something and drew back, cupping Dani’s face. “I’m so happy to meet you, my dear. My entire family has been singing your praises all week. Especially this one.” She tilted her head in my direction. “But he didn’t do you justice.”
She cupped Dani’s cheek. “Noah,” she scolded. “She’s so pretty. You never said how pretty she was!”
Dani’s cheeks became redder, and I pulled her to my side, kissing her warm cheek. “Stop embarrassing her, Mom. I told you she was the prettiest girl I’d ever seen. You were just too busy planning the wedding to listen.”
Dani gasped, and both Mom and I laughed. “Teasing, Sprout.”
Mom shook her head. “Leave the poor girl alone, Noah. You go bother your sister and schmooze the customers. I’m going to help Dani and tell her as many stories as I can so she has something to hold over you. Keep you in line.”