“No, thank you. I ate,” he assured her before walking over to Alana. He bent down and kissed her forehead. She looked up at him with a soft smile, and he hoped to see it often. She looked a little sleepy, and it made him want to hold her on his lap and snuggle with her. “Doing okay, sweetheart?”
Alana nodded. “Yes, I slept well, and Mama fed us all a wonderful breakfast.”
“I thought maybe we could go for a drive?” Noah asked.
Alana nodded and excused herself. She stood up and gave him a curious look. Noah said good-bye to her family and led her outside. It was morning, but the sun was shining bright and heating up the town. Alana had her hair clipped up and out of the way. She was wearing a soft pink summer dress that hugged her curves. Noah leaned in and kissed her lips softly.
“You look beautiful, baby.”
Alana blushed and thanked him. He opened the door to his car and helped her in before he went around to the driver side and got in. He drove her out to an older neighborhood with big homes. It was quiet, and he had always favored this side of town. He pulled up to an old bungalow-style house that was painted white with black shutters. The yard had huge trees that shaded the house from the hot sun.
Alana looked at the house when he pulled into the driveway. A For Sale sign stood in the yard.
She gave him a curious look. “You buying a house?”
He grinned. “Maybe.”
He had gotten the key from the Realtor early this morning. He unlocked it and let her inside.
She looked around the large living room, which had a fireplace surrounded by stones and hardwood floors. The sun shone in through large windows.
“Nice,” she remarked, turning in a circle. “This is a big place for just you. Plus, you live with your brothers.”
He walked closer to her and pulled her into his arms. He hugged her, loving how perfect she felt against him. “It has three bedrooms, and I thought it might be perfect for starting a family.”
Her eyes got big when she looked up at him. “You mean like kids and a wife? A commitment?”
He chuckled at the way she said it, like she was hearing the impossible. Her eyes were wide, and she put a hand over her mouth in shock. He tickled her side.
“Yes, Alana. A beautiful dark-haired wife that is my reason for breathing, and hopefully children that favor her and not me.”
Her smile widened, and she played with the buttons on his shirt. “Why not you? You are handsome and have a great heart. You are protective of those you love, and I am glad I am one of those on your list of loved ones.”
He leaned down and took her mouth in a soft, tender kiss that hopefully showed how much she meant to him. She looked up at him with teary eyes, and although her smile wobbled a little, he knew she felt it, too. Love. A love worth taking down any obstacles that stood in their way. A love that even time could not erase. A love he almost threw away but now appreciated so much more because of all that had happened in the last few months.
“I love you, Alana Garcia. I am grateful you forgave me for my mistakes and gave me a chance to rewrite our story. All this has showed me how important you are to me. I don’t want to waste a single second. I need you. I want you. No more doubts and fears. I give you my heart right here and now. Will you marry me?”
She gasped, and the tears spilled out of her eyes. She covered her mouth with a shaky hand and nodded. “Yes, Noah, I will. I love you. I have loved you for so long, and you finally caught up to me. I have always seen who you were even though you tried to hide it. You are sensitive, and Kari hurt you and filled you with fear.”
“She did, but that is all gone. It is you I love and will always love. I have no doubts about that.”
He lifted her off her feet and spun her around in a circle until she was laughing.
He set her down, but he kept her close. “Do you like this house, or should we look around for something else?”
She laid her head on his chest. He smelled the wildflower shampoo she used. “I like this house because it comes with you.”
Her simple words swelled his heart until it felt like it wouldn’t fit in his chest. He almost lost her because he was afraid to take a chance. He was afraid of being vulnerable and hurt. He sent a silent prayer up above for second chances. He had Alana in his arms, and she would never be far away from him again. Fate had given him one more chance to make this story end happily, and he would treasure every second they had together. Ups and downs, it didn’t matter to him. He would love and cherish his woman for now and for always. Never again would he hide how he felt. He would express his love openly from now on.
THE END