Page 28 of Prove Me Wrong (The Sunburnt Hearts #5)
I shake my head, pushing out the words when Noah pulls Jade and me to a stop. My feet stammer as I balance myself to see Noah’s weighted gaze on mine. “Grey, what are you thinking about?”
My lips tighten as I force a smile. “Nothing. Just that I’m glad I taught her a lesson.”
His dimples come back, and I peek at them, my smile becoming natural again. His shoulders slacken as we keep walking. “I’m glad you taught her a lesson, too. Girl’s can be so mean sometimes.”
“Guys can, too,” I mutter under my breath, but Noah doesn’t seem to hear me.
The festival is set up down the main street.
Cool autumn air breezes through the bare trees, gliding along the road and sweeping up fallen leaves.
Cinnamon, sandalwood and apple cider seep into my nose, and I close my eyes, inhaling the warming scents.
Wooden stalls line the sides of the road, filled with townsfolk wandering around, stopping at each stand to see what’s on offer.
A large banner with the words 'Barrenridge Autumn Festival' hangs across two lampposts in orange, red and green.
“What do you think?” Noah murmurs beside me, hoisting Jade up onto his hip to keep her from getting lost in the crowd. Bundled up in a dark green coat and shiny gumboots, I smile across at her as her hand wraps around mine, holding onto it.
“It’s very cute, and not as I remember it being.”
“Back then, it was probably a lot smaller. It’s grown heaps in the last few years, with other smaller towns coming to celebrate the end of autumn with us. ”
Smiling, my eyes move to his back to see the bag slung over his shoulders. “Do you want me to carry Jade? I’d hate for you to carry everything while I stand here with nothing.”
Noah’s lips quirk as he passes his daughter to me, and I hold her up.
I’ve gotten used to the size of her now, and her feet that kick when I carry her, not out of annoyance, but more delight, I’ve come to realise.
Her hands twist in my hair, touching the bow securing it before wrapping around my neck.
Her fresh baby smell has become so familiar to me that I turn and kiss her forehead, breathing more of it in like I might forget it one day, and it’ll probably kill me.
“Should we get something to eat?”
“Yes,” I respond without hesitation.
Noah chuckles, lacing his fingers with my free hand.
Blanching, my gaze widens at his, skin pressed against mine, tingling all over, but I don’t make any move to release my hand.
Feeling the connection, the drumming of my blood heightens until it’s flooding my ears.
Cheeks colouring and heart bursting, I stifle a timid smile.
He guides us over to a stall selling croissants, and the smell alone has my stomach growling. “How’d you know that I love croissants?” I ask as we stare at the display. There are plain ones, filled ones, and some doused in icing sugar and drizzled sauces. They all look delectable.
“Maybe I know you better than you think, Grey,” Noah murmurs beside me, and my heart thuds at the smoothness of his timbre.
Noah hands me one filled with strawberry cream, then takes one stuffed with chocolate for himself before tapping them together.
“Here goes,” he utters before biting the end, sweet sauce dripping onto his chin. He groans, eyes rolling backwards.
Giggling, I bite the end of mine, tasting the sugary strawberry cream mixing with the flaky pastry. I moan with delight; this is amazing.
“Told you the food here is the best.”
“I am never doubting your food choices again,” I mumble through a mouthful of croissant. He laughs.
Jade watches me with wide eyes before reaching for Noah’s food. “Daddy!”
“Here you go, princess,” he says with a wide smile, tearing off a piece of pastry and handing it to her. Jade goes straight in, flakes falling onto her mouth and my jumper. I just laugh. “It’s good, isn’t it?” Noah asks her gently.
“So good,” I murmur back.
Noah grins, showing off his dimples before his thumb comes up, wiping the corner of my lips clean. I feel my face warming at his closeness.
“I’m happy you like it, Grey,” he murmurs huskily, eyes simmering with amusement.
Dropping his hand, I quickly swallow my mouthful before wiping the chocolate from his chin and sucking it off my fingertip. Noah’s gaze tracks my movements, and I swear the colour of his irises darkens a shade or two. “Yum,” I add quietly.
His tongue sweeps across his teeth, and the burning sensation in my lower stomach intensifies. Noah’s face comes closer, lips brushing my ear, sending a whisper of air down my neck as his honeyed voice mutters, “You have no idea how much I want to kiss you right now.”
Tingling all over, I hear the air getting caught in my lungs. Thick and heavy, I force down a swallow as bright green eyes peer down into mine. “I…” comes out of my lips as his brows press together, a wrinkle forming between his golden eyebrows. “I don’t think I can yet.”
That melts away some of the doubt shadowing his face as Noah’s mouth pulls upwards into a smile. “It’s okay, Grey. I can wait until you’re ready. ”
With a fluttering heart, Noah takes my hand in his and leads us towards another stall. I don’t think my face will ever cool down, because I know he’s waiting to kiss me. And I’m not sure why the idea frightens me, but it does.
“You need your coffee,” he continues while my pulse pounds like a freight train inside my ears.
“And I know you only like iced lattes, so I figured I should try one, too.”
“You don’t have to,” I counter as we wait in line for our caffeine fix.
Noah side eyes me and smirks. “I know I don’t have to, but I want to, since you talk so highly of them.”
“Okay, but don’t hate me if you don’t like it,” I say, my lips curling upwards.
He peers down at me as Jade’s head whips around, glancing at anything that catches her eye. “I could never hate you, Grey.”
The warm, fuzzy feeling returns to my insides as my smile grows.
“I could never hate you either, thirty-four.”