“Definitely not.”
I kissed her plump lips, enjoying their soft warmth, then she parted them to allow entry into her sweet mouth. God, I could stay tangled up like this with her forever.
As long as Val would have me, that’s as long as I intended to stay.
Chapter 36
VAL
Chewingmylip,Ipinned an errant curl back into the pile atop my head. I had five minutes before I needed to be ready, and my hair was determined to be uncooperative. Thrusting a final bobby pin into the mess, I called it a day. It didn’t look half bad, but it was a far cry from the inspirational photo of the braided bun I’d found on Pinterest.
I sighed, grabbing my purse from the bathroom counter, then headed to the kitchen. Since Nolan and I had made things official, it had been a blissful last week at Hale’s Peak. Cressida was still staying up at Summit’s Edge to give Nolan and I some privacy in our “glowing honeymoon stage,” as she called it, but was at his side for their public appearances. Only another few months of fake dating Anton and then they’d make their breakup public.
After I’d given an interview to the paparazzo who’d helped us with the photos of Hal’s car, I’d had an influx of requests from other tabloid writers looking for a quote. Dodging them was a full-time job, but Cressida was helping to divert them, acting as my PR rep.
But I put all of that aside, focusing on tonight. It was the Hale’s Peak end of season party, but Nolan had asked me to meet up with him beforehand. Something about another one of his surprises, and I was giddy just thinking about it.
Right on time, Nolan walked down the hall wearing dark jeans and a long-sleeved Henley, looking good enough to eat.Placing a warm hand on my neck, he kissed me deeply.
“Beautiful,” he said.
My stomach sprouted wings and threatened to fly away. “My hair looks like a bird’s nest.”
“You’re perfect. Let’s go.” He tucked my hand into the crook of his arm and led me to the car. Stan dropped us off at Briar Manor, but instead of heading inside, Nolan took me around back to my greenhouse.
“Are you planning to put me to work?” I snarked. “I was promised food.”
Nolan laughed. “You know you’re about twelve seconds away from finding out what the surprise is, right?”
“I like to know things as soon as possible. It helps me plan.”
“Are you planning to run away or something?”
I shot him a playful smile. “To be determined.”
He stopped and pulled me flush against his chest, nuzzling into my neck. My laugh died in my throat as he pressed me against the nearest tree, his lips hot on the tender spot at the base of my throat. “You’re not going anywhere.” A quick nip to my neck, then he sealed his words with a kiss on my lips. It was too lingering to be anything other than a promise of more to come.
My smirk would have been more convincing if I didn’t feel so flushed. “I’ll allow it,” I said. “So, the greenhouse…?”
Nolan gave me an innocent shrug, pushed open the door, and flipped a switch.
It was my greenhouse as I’d never seen it before.
String lights with tiny incandescent bulbs lined every window seam, shelf, and row of plants. A welcoming spread of artisan cheeses, freshbread, and to-go bags had been set up on the bench where we’d sat all those months ago, sharing the closely held secrets of our hearts.
“Nolan,” I breathed, “This is amazing. It looks like stars.”
He leaned against the wall with a hand in his pocket. “The cloudy weather ruined my original plan of a starlit picnic on the heated patio of Summit’s Edge. So I thought I’d make you your own starry sky.”
Tears pricked at the backs of my eyes. Here was a man who would give me the whole world, and if he couldn’t do that, he’d make one for me. I grabbed his face and pulled his lips down to mine. “Thank you,” I said.
He kissed the tip of my nose. “Let’s eat before you get upset.”
I reared back in mock offense. “Are you implying that I get hangry like a toddler?”
He smirked and settled onto the bench, opening the first bag of takeout. The smell of melted cheese and spicy meat made my mouth water. “Not like a toddler. Well, not all the time.” He winked and handed me a taco wrapped in foil.
“Is this from that Mexican place in town?” I took a hearty bite and knew immediately that it was. I’d know their salsa anywhere.
