My chest tightened, and my gaze flew to Noah, who immediately leaned forward, cupping my face, his voice back to the warm tone I knew. “It’s okay, Dani. We’re just talking. Calm down. I’m right here.”
I dragged in a deep breath.
“I can’t go back,” I whispered, knowing it was the truth. I could never go back there. I didn’t want to be without him anymore. Wherever he was, was where I wanted to be. I wanted to mesh my life with his.
He shook his head. “No, you can’t.”
“But I don’t have anything to offer, Noah,” I gasped out, my panic still lingering. “It would take me all winter to make enough pieces for you to sell anything—if they even sold. How would I contribute?”
In a second, I was in his arms, wrapped up in the warmth of his embrace. “You would give me you, Dani. I need you with me. Here. I can’t stand the thought of you living miles away and only seeing you occasionally. Tell me you feel the same way.”
“But—”
“I meant what I said weeks ago. I would come live with you if you were happier there. But I don’t think you would be.”
“No,” I admitted. “I don’t want to go back. I want…I want to stay here. With you—with your family. I just don’t understand how I can.”
“You can help out a million ways here. You love to cook and bake, and you can help Mom and Ella with the preserves, make the desserts. Paint, draw, do your pottery. If you want more, you could help with the financial end of things.”
“This is your family’s farm—you told me yourself—the running of it and the business stays in the family.”
Tilting his head, he studied me quietly. He tucked a loose piece of hair gently behind my ear and ran his finger down my cheek. “We’ve already discussed this as a family, Dani. They know my plans, and they’re on board with them.”
“Your plans?”
“I want this place to feel like your home. To be your home.” He drew in a deep breath and laid my hand on his chest where his heart beat, strong and sure. “I fully intend on you being family, Dani. I plan on making you my wife one day, if you’ll have me.”
My eyes widened at his quiet statement. “Are you…” I trailed off weakly.
He shook his head, a shy smile on his face. “No, I’m not asking you today. I think I can do better than asking you to be my wife over a half-eaten sandwich on a Tuesday afternoon. I’m just giving you all the information you need to make a decision. The right decision. You can make a life here with me. Do something you enjoy. Be with the person who loves you more than anyone else in this world.” He smiled and kissed me tenderly. “Me.”
He stroked my cheek. “Together, we can do anything. I want to look after you, and I need you to look after me. No one else does it as well as you. I need you, Dani.”
My mind raced at the possibilities he was suggesting. Leave Toronto and the corporate world behind. Give up the strange half-life I lived, where most of my time was spent behind a desk surrounded by people I barely knew. Change everything I knew, sell my townhouse, and move here with him.
Live in a small, rural town, in a log house where the stars shone so brightly, you thought you could reach out and touch them. Fill my days with baking, painting, and creating small pieces of pottery, supported not only by Noah, but by a small group of people who cared about me—truly cared. Knowing that every night I would end my day wrapped in the embrace of the man holding me now. The man who had already changed my life so dramatically and only asked for one thing in return.
That I stay with him and return the love he surrounded me with. Give him and this life he offered a chance.
“I need you too, Noah.”
“Is that a yes?”
“I’m not sure what question I’m answering.”
“Stay with me?”
“Yes.”
“Build a life with me?”
“Yes.”
“Can we have lots of babies?”
“I think you missed a question,” I whispered, my voice shaky.
“I’m saving that one.”
I blinked at him. “You want babies with me?”
“Yes. I’d like a few, and I really want a girl. A little mini-you.”
I couldn’t stop the smile on my face. He wanted a few babies. With me.
“Yes, one day, we can have lots of babies.”
His mouth was on mine instantly, his arms encircling me tightly.
That was when I realized it.
I didn’t have to wait for this place to feel like home. Because Noah was here, it already was.
A week later, I looked up at the tall skyscraper, a long shudder running down my spine. Noah slid his arm around my waist, pulling me against him.