Page 107 of The Cinnamon Bun Book Store

‘What are you doing?’ Her question broke through his fevered thoughts.

‘Uh...’ What was he doing? Trying to profess his love for her and apparently screwing it up?

‘Why are you still trying to convince me that you’re worth it?’

‘I...’ Noah swallowed hard. Was that what he was doing? ‘I just wanted you to know, I’m working on things ... on myself. I want to be ... good for you.’

She’d stepped closer somehow without him noticing, probably because his brain was spinning in circles and had completely abandoned him on this cold, windy beach.

‘Noah.’

‘Yeah?’

‘You brought me a giant hat and bug spray.’

‘Well, that was just good sense.’

‘You won me a giant stuffed penguin.’

What wasshedoing? ‘I mean, anyone would have done that.’

‘You showed me I was beautiful and sexy, not to mention, you literally saved my life.’

‘Hazel...’

‘Noah.’ Her voice was serious, stern, like she was not to be argued with right now. ‘You have shown me more care and thought than anyone I’ve been with before. Youaregood for me.’

He shook his head. ‘I was just giving you everything you deserved.’

‘You left me secret book messages.’ Her lips had tipped up in the corner and he wanted to trace the shape with his tongue. He wanted to grab her and hold her, wanted to bury his face in her hair and breathe her in, but this was too important, these words were too important.

‘Well, the second time, I did yeah. I’m sorry...’

‘Noah.’

‘Yeah?’

‘I’m in love with you.’

‘Oh.’ The sound came out of him like he’d been punched in the gut, a gasp, a puff of air, a choked surprised sound. Hazel looked up at him with wide eyes, that small crease between her brows. She had something clutched to her chest. A folder? He didn’t care. He only cared about her words.

He took her face in his hand, his thumb sweeping across her cheek and his forehead pressed to hers. ‘Thank God.’

She huffed a laugh, the sound small and sweet.

‘I love you, too, Haze.’

‘You do?’

‘Hell, yeah. Of course I do. I have for so long, Hazel, I don’t even know when it started. I was prepared to read every damn book in that bookstore just to spend more time with you.’

She smiled, slow and mischievous before she captured his mouth with hers. He grabbed her then, wrapping his arms around her and lifting her clear off the sand. She squeaked in surprise and he licked the sound from her lips.

‘Wait!’ she said. ‘I brought you something. We’re crinkling it.’

He reluctantly put her down and she thrust the folder she was holding toward him. ‘Here.’

‘Um... Thank you.’