CHAPTER 52

In the kitchen, Angela breathed long and deep. This is nuts. If she couldn ’ t hold it together for one day, how would she make it ‘ til the wedding? They can ’ t be in the same family; they couldn ’ t be in the same house. She was flustered and crazy, unable to collect her composure. “ This is nuts. ” She turned on the water and opened the dishwasher, willing her fingers to stop trembling with each piece rinsed and loaded.

The running water drowned out his footsteps. She didn ’ t hear his approach. She felt his presence. She turned as his shadow reached her. He stood there with a few leftover plates and forks. Her imagination was vivid. He reminded her of a lion poised to pounce. She had nowhere to hide. “ Thank you. ” She reached for the dishes.

“ I thought I ’ d keep your company while you worked. ” He gave her the items he held in one hand.

A hazy memory tried to surface. Didn ’ t she tell him once she wanted someone to keep her company while she did the dishes? She was too nervous to hold the thought. She was too nervous to do anything. Reaching for the dirty dishes in his other hand, she hoped he couldn ’ t see her trembling. Or at the very least, he would pretend not to notice.

Nolan didn ’ t give her the plates. He set them on the counter and grasped her outstretched fingers. With no warning, he pulled her in and claimed her lips. The kiss wasn ’ t gentle. It wasn ’ t a light brush of friendship. He was a lion pouncing. A powerful and dangerous force, taking everything from her: her mind, her resistance, her will. He didn ’ t stop there. He made her respond. Made her desire him, want to kiss him back. Her body reacted according to his will with a need she thought she suppressed.

He whispered into her mouth, “ I ’ ve been waiting, dreaming of this. ” He backed her into the sink and left off the conversation.

Angela cried. It felt so good. He tasted wonderful. She needed him; she needed this. But it didn ’ t make sense. She was falling, drowning, lost. She couldn ’ t breathe. There was no air, just him. He was solid; she could feel him, hold him. He touched her, everywhere. Shooting arcs of electricity through her, causing her to come alive with need. She pressed into him. No mind. No thought. Just need.

Nolan had to make a decision: release her or make love to her in his mother ’ s kitchen. He chose the latter. He would do the former, but making love to Angela, anywhere, would always be his first choice. He broke the kiss, but not the contact. She had a tear he needed to taste. An eyelash to brush his lip across. An ear he wanted to nibble. A jawbone to run his tongue along. “ Do you want to take a ride with me? We can grab some beer and talk. ”

She had no mind, no ability to function. Her response was automatic, produced by magic. The breath that spoke it wasn ’ t even hers. It was just the natural answer to any question he asked. “ Yes. ”

He kissed her again, less forceful but no less urgent. He had to or die.

There was a rush of cold air when he backed away from her. But the heat returned when he took hold of her hand and led her out the back door. Angela was dazed. She didn ’ t have a mind, no ability to function. Yes.

Nolan yelled, “ ROB. DISHES. ”

.     .     .

Angela couldn ’ t recall if the motorcycle Nolan led her to belonged to Rob or Hilda. Maybe it was his. She ’ d never seen Nolan ride, but the ease in which he fit into his helmet gave her the impression he wasn ’ t a novice. Her wide-eye stare fixated on his electric blue orbs as he placed a second helmet over her hair. With deft fingers, he adjusted the chin strap, all the while returning her gaze.

“ Damn, you ’ re beautiful. ” He kissed her nose and straddled the bike, holding it steady for her to climb on.

It was fortunate he didn ’ t appear to be expecting a response; the only thing in Angela ’ s head was yes .

He gunned the engine. She wrapped her arms around his waist, and they both felt the thrill. They drove into the night and nothing else mattered. The wind in his face and Angela pressed against him — Nolan had found his recipe for heaven. The faster they drove, the tighter she held him. Nolan noticed and accelerated.

They could have gotten beer from the Summer Shack. The Quik Mart sold alcohol as well. The nearest liquor store was just over the bridge. They passed them all, chasing stars instead. Angela ’ s heart thundered. She clung to Nolan, hoping they had enough gas to make it to the moon.

Their ten-minute trip took more than an hour, and they savored every second of it. Nolan slowed and turned into the drive. He didn ’ t stop at the house; instead, he slow-rolled them down the small incline to the Willow Inlet. He parked and helped Angela slide off. They made their way to the oversized tree stump. He sat the six-pack on the ground and popped a beer for each of them. They silently watched the waves and drank. Nolan reflected. Since her arrival, they hadn ’ t talked much. A lot of misdirection and confusion but no heart to heart; it was time to stop dancing, and deal with it. “ When did you stop loving me? ”

She waited her whole life for him to ask that question. Her answer was there, ready to be spoken without her having to pause or ponder. “ I never stopped loving you. ”

Nolan took a long swig from his beer and set the bottle down. “ If either of us has done anything wrong, I ’ m sorry. If you ’ re hurting, like I am, I ’ m sorry. If there is a way to fix this, I promise, I will do it. I love you. ”

She remained quiet while he talked, but she couldn ’ t help the tiny gasp that escaped when she heard his declaration. He ’ d said it before, but this time was different. It meant something else. Something more.

“ I ’ m always going to love you. Angela, I need you to marry me. ”

The answer was already on her lips, her mouth forming the word. “ Yes — Nolan? What are you saying? ”

“ I ’ m saying what I should have said when you came to me before. I ’ m saying, I ’ m in love with you, and I want to get married. I need to marry you. ”

Yes. It was right there, fighting to leap off her tongue. “ So-so much has happened. Married? We haven ’ t talked or figured out anything. ”

“ Do you still love me? ”

It had to be spoken. She couldn ’ t keep it in any longer. “ Yes. ”

He removed her beer from her hand, entwined his fingers with hers, and pulled her to him. “ Marry me. ”