Finding You (Love Wanted in Texas 4)

Turning his body to me, Noah smiled. “When I saw you at the hospital, I knew.”

Tilting my head and giving him a questioning look, I asked, “You knew what?”

“I knew I couldn’t ever let you go, Grace. Seeing what my mother was going through, I needed to tell you I loved you. I want us to be together, Grace. I don’t want hook-ups and text messages. I want to wake up every morning with you wrapped in my arms. I want to see your beautiful smile each night when I lay my head on the pillow. Hear you breathing next to me.”

Tears burned my eyes as my head spun. “I want that too.” Looking down, I closed my eyes. “But . . . I’m here and you’re in Austin, and then when I graduate . . . I . . . well I was . . . um . . .”

Jesus H. Christ, how do I tell him I want him and my dreams?

Placing his hands on my arms, Noah gazed into my eyes with so much love it felt as if my heart was going to combust at any moment. “Grace, I would never ask you to walk away from your dreams. I only ask you let me be a part of them.”

“Noah,” I whispered as he gently brushed his lips across mine.

Pulling back slightly, Noah’s eyes searched my face. “I’m not going to lie to you, Grace. I’m not sure where I am in this world right now.”

Smiling, I said, “You’re with me.”

Closing his eyes, Noah spoke softly as he opened his eyes and looked at me. “Please don’t leave me again, Grace. Please.” This thing between us was real. I could see it in his eyes, and I knew Noah would never hurt me.

Placing my hand on the side of Noah’s face, I made a promise to him that scared the piss out of me. “Never. I’ll never leave you again, Noah.”

“Do you know what I really want to do right now?” Noah asked.

Giving him a naughty grin, I said, “Have sex in your sports car?”

Laughing, he shook his head. “Eat. I haven’t had a real meal in I don’t know how long.”

“I’m going to take that as a challenge. Come on, let’s go back to my place and I’ll cook you up something good.”

Noah gave me a loving smile and said, “That sounds like a plan.”

Giving Noah a wink, I said, “First thing we need to do is go to HEB . . . I need frosted corn flakes.”

Noah’s face dropped. “Wow, sounds like you’re going all out with this dinner, Grace.”

Chuckling, I turned and looked over my shoulder. “Oh, I promise you won’t be disappointed, Mr. Bennet.”

Standing in the kitchen, I watched as Noah flattened the chicken breasts and cut them up for the chicken picatta I was making.

Biting on my lip, I fought the urge to jump on top of him and demand he make love to me that very moment. Turning away from him, I started to heat the oil in the pan.

“Dip the chicken in the milk mixture and then the cornflake mixture, right?” Noah asked.

Feeling the throbbing increase between my legs, I said, “Yep.” The sound of his sexy voice was killing me.

Quickly glancing over to the steamer, I smiled as my freshly-picked squash and zucchini steamed to perfection. Alex and I had built a small, raised flowerbed in the backyard and had tons of tomatoes and vegetables growing. I dare say, even Grams would be proud of our makeshift garden.

I added the butter and the garlic as I inhaled deeply through my nose to get the full effect of the smells.

“Are Alex and Will going to be joining us?” Noah asked as he handed me a plate full of coated chicken.

“No, I texted Alex when we were in HEB, and she said tonight was dinner and movie night for them.”

Noah walked up next to me and leaned against the counter as I put the chicken into the skillet.

“Damn, that already smells good.”

Smiling, I said, “It’s the garlic. I love garlic.”