Chapter 27

Leah helped clear the plates from Gemma’s dining room table. “I’m glad the spring festival is still on. Too bad about all the damage to the center.”

Gemma collected the glasses. “I know. From what I hear, we got a donation for the repairs.”

“Any idea who?”

“They said the person wanted to remain anonymous, but if I know April, that won’t be for long.” Gemma winked.

The corners of Leah’s mouth turned up. “You’re right.”

Gemma placed a hand on her hip. “Talk to me. I know that look.”

“I’m fine.”

“Tell that to someone who hasn’t known you since elementary school.”

She sighed. “Cole and I hit a rough patch. I’ve been calling and missing him. As soon as I got things settled with Brian and Seth—”

“You talked to Seth finally?” Gemma reclaimed her seat at the dining table.

“Yes. I don’t know if he’ll ever get used to the idea, but he said he wants me to be happy.”

Gemma touched a hand to her chest. Were those tears in her eyes? She fanned her face. “Sorry, it’s so sweet.”

Leah settled back into her own seat across from her best friend. “Are you crying?”

“Sorry, I’ve been a little emotional lately.” Gemma’s voice choked with tears.

“More than usual?” Leah joked.

“Don’t make fun of me when I’m pregnant.”

Leah’s mouth fell open. “What?”

“I’m pregnant.”

“What!” Leah’s voice raised in vocal pitch.

“I know. I can’t believe it either.” Gemma dabbed her eyes.

“I’m so happy for you.”

“Me too. Chase can’t wait either.”

Leah’s heart soared for her friend like an eagle dallying with the wind. Her friend would make a great mother. Was Cole her forever? How she wanted him to be. For the rest of her life, she wanted her life with Cole.

She could still sense his lips to her forehead. His strong hands splayed across her back. For a moment, Leah believed the world vanished around them. Like a mirage, it showed before her eyes, but all the mattered was Cole. Being with him meant the world to her. With him, her heart unfolded like a flower.

Though her heart was certain… is that what he wanted? He feared so much of her not choosing him, would he choose her? With him well known in photography, would his work come between them? He wouldn’t let that happen. Not after the way he kissed her.

His eyes had fixed on hers, so soft and sweet in his expression. The way he leaned in to erase the distance between them frequently touching her hands and face. How she longed to stay in that moment. His lingering touches made desire pool within her. All the while, the more difficult questions pressed on her mind.

Could Leah support him if he wanted to travel again? Would she pick up her life and go with him? She always wanted to travel but never thought she possessed the courage to do it. Those days were long gone. Could she leave what she knew for him? Her nerves twitched.

“Leah?” Gemma tilted her head to the side.

Leah stood upright. “I should go.”

“Why?”

“I… want to be by myself for a while.”

“Leah.” Her best friend reached for her hand. “Everything will work out fine.”

“I know.”

****

Leah rushed to the door upon hearing insistent knocks. Looking through the window, her eyes bugged. She fussed over her hair and smoothed down the front of her shirt. She opened the door to stare at Cole.

“I’m so sorry.” Walking inside, he gripped her hands and pivoted her body toward him. She shut the door with her foot.

“I called you,” she replied.

“I called you.”

Her shoulders drooped. “So, this whole time we’ve been playing phone tag?”

“I stopped by earlier, but you weren’t here.”

“I was at Gemma’s.” A slow smile built on her face. “She’s pregnant.”

His eyes beamed. “That’s great.”

Leah slipped her hands from his. “It is. I’m happy for her.”

“I’m so sorry, Leah. I shouldn’t have run out on you like that. I lost my head for a second.”

She folded her arms and walked to her kitchen. He and Chip followed her. Cole kneeled to give a pat to her puppy, but then his eyes focused on her again.

“I don’t blame you,” she said.

“I should have trusted you.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “If you said it was over between you two, I should have believed you.”

“Brian did… want to get back together.”

Cole sighed. “What did you say?”

She shrugged her shoulders. “For the first time, I told him how I felt. I’ll always care about him, but the past needs to stay that way.”

His mouth twitched into half a smile. “I wish we could’ve talked sooner. It would have saved us a lot of confusion.”

“How are you and Seth?”

He blew out his cheeks, resting his elbows on the counter. “He kicked me out of his house.”

Her lips parted. “What? Cole, I’m so sorry I—”

He waved his hand warding off her response. “It’s okay. We talked it out. I even patched things up with my dad.”

“When did all this happen?”

“In between us playing phone tag.”

“I want you to know… I talked to Seth. I finally got things straight between us.”

Cole stood upright, stuffing his hands in his pockets. “He didn’t tell me, but I can’t say I blame him. What happened?”

“We agreed that we’re better off as friends.”

He inched closer. “So… where does that leave me?”

“You tell me.” With each step Cole took, heat radiated from her chest. Leah licked her lips. An overall tingling returned in her body. If he stared any harder, she would surely faint. Did he see her knees shaking?

Closing the distance between them, he laced his fingers with hers. “I meant what I said, Leah. I want this.” He lifted her hand to his lips and placed a soft kiss on her knuckles. She shivered. Then he draped her hand over his shoulder. His hand bracketed her waist. “I missed you like crazy, Leah.”

“Not as much as I missed you,” she breathed.

Then he kissed her as if they had never kissed before. A low pleasant hum slipped from her mouth when his lips claimed hers. Her arms encircled his neck. Did he lift her off her feet? Her brain fuzzed with static unable to concentrate on anything but him. She loved being in his arms.

Deepening their kiss, he stole her breath. As his soft pecks lingered over her lips, her brain turned to mush. He must have set her back on her feet, because she sensed the ground beneath her once more. Then his hand caressed her cheek trailing all the way back to the nape. Leah’s body temperature rose to new heights. Goosebumps raised on her skin. When he broke away, she gasped.

Cole smiled against her lips. “I told you I missed you.”

“I see,” she said.

Chip barked, and the couple laughed.

Leah then rested her head against his chest. He kissed the top of her head. She inhaled his scent as her eyes shut. Was it too soon to say she loved him? They only had one date, not counting their dinner together since he left abruptly. Cole stroked her back as if he wasn’t in a hurry to move. She gladly stayed.

“You know…” he said, “With the festival this weekend, I will need a date.”

She raised her head to look up at him. “Oh, really?”

He clutched her tighter. “You know anybody in town that would like to go with me?”

“Kind of short notice don’t you think?” she joked. “A woman needs time to prepare.”

He laughed. “What?”

“Yeah, to coordinate outfits, hair, makeup, and don’t get me started on the shoes.”

“You’re too much, you know that, right?”

“Not for you though.” She stroked his stubble, tracing his chin with her fingers.

His eyes turned serious, smoldering with intensity. “You’re more than enough for me, Leah Morris. You’re everything I ever wanted.”

She melted like ice. Where did he come up with such sweet things to say? Did he know his words washed over her like sea waves? Speechless, she raised on her tiptoes and kissed him again. He returned the sentiment, his lips meeting hers. Leah ran a finger across his jaw, and when they broke away, she grinned.

“I’d love to go with you.”

“What?” he asked.

Leah stifled her giggle. “The spring festival, Cole. Remember?”

He rubbed his forehead with a smile. “Right, the festival. I’m sorry you…” His eyes gazed into hers. “You…”

“I know.”

They both laughed.