Page 41 of Donut Disaster
She takes off. Okay, so I didn’t shake her silly until she agreed to stop “dating” for dollars, but trust me, that will come eventually.
I head into the dining room and spot a tall, dark, and gorgeous man talking to Keelie and Bear, and I can’t help but smile.
Noah makes his way over. His cologne wraps its loving arms around me just a moment before he does.
“Rumors are flying that Everett cut you off.” He pulls back, his evergreen eyes pinned to mine.
“The rumors of the death of my sex life are greatly exaggerated.” I make a face. “Okay, so they’re true.”
His chest bounces with a dry laugh, and I swat him.
“I’m sorry. But I’m not really sorry.” There’s an ache in his heart, and it’s exuding from every part of him. “That was big of Everett. I guess I’ll have to thank him. He’s certainly expending his fair share of kindness my way.”
“That’s because he’s a good man.”
His brows furrow. “And I’m beginning to see his strategy.”
“It’s brilliant. Don’t you think?”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.”
Mom invites us all to feast on the buffet and gives a wonderful toast to Lainey and Forest. The two of them glow in their love for one another, and I couldn’t be happier for my sister.
Once the party winds down, we say goodnight and Noah and I head to Country Cottage Road. Those pregnant storm clouds overhead finally rupture, and a deluge starts just as we each get out of our respective cars.
Noah jogs across the street, and we laugh as we get thoroughly soaked in five seconds flat.
“You want to come in?” I shout up over the driving rain. Summer storms have always been my favorite.
“There’s not a soul that could keep me away,” he shouts back.
I can’t help but feel an insane amount of guilt as we head up the porch. A part of me wonders if Everett is watching. How hurt he must feel to know that Noah and I are spending time together. But then, it was his bright idea, not mine.
We head in and dry off. Both Pancake and Waffles want nothing to do with our soggy selves. Noah makes a fire, and I make us some tea as we nestle on the sofa. I tell him all about the thing Aspen relayed to me about Morgan, about Dr. Drake.
His head inches back as he considers this. “An Army Ranger? I didn’t know that. I’ll have to tell Alex we’ve got another vet in our midst. That’s a pretty big deal.”
“Aspen seemed so impressed she was partially mesmerized.”
He lifts a brow. “I’m sure he wanted to impress her, and it sounds like he had a lot to impress her with. Most of those men who pay to play really do want to be venerated. They want to feel important. Special.”
I bite down hard on my bottom lip. “Noah, I want you to know that you’re important to me. You’re special.” I can’t help but feel as if I’m still causing his heart to ache because I haven’t committed myself to him fully.
“Thank you,” he whispers, pulling my hands close to his chest. “I love you, Lottie Lemon, and I’ll do whatever it takes to win you back.”
Tears burn my eyes, but I bat them away. “How are things going on the wedding planning front?” I take a deep breath. I much prefer sarcasm to tears these days.
He scowls at the thought. “Swimmingly.”
“Have you thought about what I mentioned a while back? Couples’ counseling?”
“For you and me? I’m in.”
“For you and Cormack. Maybe once she sees that clinically you’re not a fit, she’ll finally get the message.” I shrug.
“No way. I’m going to break it to her soon. It’s not fair to her, and it’s not fair to us.”
“A breakup, huh? I don’t know, she’s pretty tenacious. I have a feeling ditching Cormack will make that divorce you just went through look like a cake walk.”