“That is a lot of peanut butter brownie ice cream.” He dug through the ice and pulled up a pint-size container. Grace grabbed a spoon from the other cooler, which was filled with a picnic. She passed it to him.
“You said you needed it like air,” she reminded him.
“I did say that, didn’t I?”
He opened the lid, scooped up a bite, and held it out to her. She swallowed the delicious treat. “I should be feeding you.”
“We can take turns. Give-and-take, right?” He took a huge spoonful for himself.
“What now?” She whispered because the words wouldn’t go away.
“For us?” He smiled at her with a quiet sincerity she knew she could trust. For good.
“For all of it.” She gestured wide, meaning to include his house, her house, their parents. Everything.
“Well,” he said, then paused long enough to make her breath hitch. “I was hoping we could make my house our home but, honestly, it doesn’t matter where we live as long as we’re together. I’ve never wanted all of this with anyone. I thought I wasn’t built that way but that wasn’t why. It was because I hadn’t met you. This house is special. We did it together. I want to build a life and a family here with you. I want it to be our home.”
She launched herself at him, not even caring that he held ice cream. He laughed, catching her as he promised he would, managing not to drop the ice cream. He set it down as she straddled his lap on the chair.
“I’m supposed to be making the grand declarations and you’re just doing it all over again.”
He laughed as she buried her face in his neck. “You can declare whatever you want to me, baby.”
“I want everything you just said.” She brought her mouth to his, kissing him, getting lost in the fact that this was really real.
As his hands moved over her body, sending the best kind of shivers over her skin, she pulled back slightly. “I’m second-guessing the cold water.” She nuzzled against him.
“Especially when there’s a jetted tub upstairs,” he said against her neck where he pressed his lips. He handed her the tub of icecream they’d been sharing. “Hang on to that.” Without warning, he stood, with her in his arms.
She laughed as he carried her through the curtains, up the stairs. “What about the rest of the ice cream?”
He didn’t answer. He was too busy kissing her.
48
Grace stared at the magazine, unsure if she was ready to open it.
“Why are you nervous?” Noah rubbed her shoulders as they both stared down at the shiny cover.
They’d been so busy with Noah’s work on getting donations for the community center, getting ready for Morty and Tilly’s wedding,moving in together, she’d forgotten that the magazine hit stands today.
“I don’t know. It’s almost like a snapshot of our relationship. This is the last one.”
“But not the end,” he said, kissing her cheek before resting his chin on her shoulder, his arms looping around her waist.
He’d wait patiently, content to just hold her, which was so different from when they’d first met. Both of them had been in constant motion, not stopping to recognize where the holes and emptiness were in their own lives. Until their worlds collided thanks to a nine-pound Chihuahua.
“What did Rosie say about the offer?” Noah asked, distracting her from her thoughts.
“She loves it. The internship is going to give her a solidfoundation but she’s as excited as I am for us to go into business together.”
“I’m so proud of you,” he whispered. He touched the magazine with one finger. “Aren’t you curious?”
“Of course. I just, I don’t know. I’m being silly. Let’s read it.”
HH
HOME ANDHEART
