“However you need to grieve, do it.” I said, sitting back down and taking his hand. “If you need to cry, cry. Shout it out? Sounds good. Pound something to oblivion? We can find a rage room or”—I glanced around the room—“I’m sure there is something ugly but worth a small fortune in this house that we could destroy.”
He let out a laugh, which thrilled me that I could make that happen.
There was a knock at the door before Barry stuck his head in. “Good to resume?”
Noah grabbed my hand and squeezed it. “You bet.”
Several hours later, I sat in a ridiculously comfortable chaise on the deck overlooking what I’d been told was Lake Mendota. It was a warm day for April, though I had a blanket on my legs to ward off some of the chill still in the spring air. I was typing away at my laptop, my story flowing once again. My hero, Julian,came from money, Noah’s parents’ home—now Noah’s?—was providing all sorts of inspiration for me.
I’d transported this home to the setting of my book. In the scene I was currently writing, Collette had helped Julian organize a fund raiser, and they were holding it at his home. As they stood on the deck, overlooking a river, Julian turned toward Collette, brushing back a hair the wind had blown into her eyes. Collette threw caution to the wind and rose up on her toes to press her lips to Julian’s for their first kiss.
My fingers flew over the keys, the entire scene unfolding faster than I could type it. After being stuck on this story for so long, I was grateful my characters were finally cooperating. I felt like I was in the zone for the first time since my last book, and that gave me such relief. Readers were waiting on this story, and I didn’t want to disappoint anyone.
I heard the door open behind me and looked over to see Noah headed my way with a plate and glass in hand. “Hey.” I stopped typing and focused on him. “You doing okay?”
He’d wrapped up the meeting with Barry, which had left him with a list of next steps and people he needed to call. He didn’t need me for that, so I’d excused myself to go write but also to give him some space to do whatever he needed to do. I’d also told him I’d check in with Ivy and Jake so they’d know what was going on up here and to get a time he could FaceTime with Addie later today or tomorrow.
“Yep.” He slid the plate my way. Two giant pieces of avocado toast were there. “One’s for you,” he said, picking up the other piece.
I took a bite and closed my eyes in pleasure. How could something as simple as avocado smashed on bread, topped with what looked like everything-bagel seasoning, be this good?
“That’s Mary’s homemade sourdough,” Noah said before taking another bite.
Answered that question. I wondered if Mary wanted to move to Highland Falls so I could continue to eat all her food daily. She could find a spot at the Sanctuary Café, though I’m certain she actually had a life here in Madison that she wouldn’t want to leave just to keep me in bread and other baked goods.
I set the remainder of my toast down so I wouldn’t inhale it all in the matter of a minute. Turning to Noah, who was sitting on a chair next to my chaise, I looked him over. He seemed more relaxed than he had even this morning.
“How are you?” I asked since he hadn’t really answered me when he came out here other than to take care of me.
His toast gone, he wiped his hands on a cloth napkin and met my assessing look before turning to the water and putting his feet up on the rail. “Better.” He paused, and I didn’t interrupt because I sensed he was getting his thoughts in order. “Ivy has always told me I’m the type A to her type B. I thrive on order, on knowing what comes next. It’s why I can manage projects for the company I work for so well. I love spreadsheets and lists.”
“You’re speaking my language,” I said, to which he laughed.
“I can see that. At any rate, it was hard to sleep because I didn’t know what I didn’t know, so to speak. Things like who would oversee the estate, what my role would be, how we needed to proceed, what would happen to Mary. Meeting with Barry gave me actionable steps. And, as shocking as my parents leaving me money might be, it also means I can hire people to help sell what I don’t want or need, that my entire life won’t have to be moved to Madison while I finalize their estate, and that Mary and any other staff they still have will be taken care of.”
I paused, thinking of all that he was saying and what he wasn’t. “It means you can get closure sooner versus later.”
He looked my way, relief evident on his face. “Exactly.” He looked from me to my laptop. “How is the writing going? Can I get you anything?”
It was odd to have someone want to take care of me. I hadn’t really had that before. My parents were amazing, but I was far more likely to take care of them than the reverse. As Lou would say,Bless their hearts.They’d forget their heads if they weren’t attached.
Add that to the fact that I had a strong feeling that I should be taking care of Noah, he was the one who’d experienced a loss here. So rather than beat around the bush, I said just that. “Noah, I feel like I’m falling down on the job here. What can I get you?”
He gave me a soft smile. “This has likely been the strangest start to dating ever.”
“We’re definitely dating then?”
Good grief. That was romantic, wasn’t it? I swear, I could do this so much easier on the page. Real life was hard.
He nudged my foot with his. “If you’d like to be, we are. I’m just sorry we’ve jumped straight into the deep end of the heavy things going on in my life.” He looked worried, like the chaos around him was going to make me want to say this was all too much. “And I have no answers for how I’ll balance this with what I want to be for Addie, but I’ll work on that.”
Dang, the man tugged on my heart even when he wasn’t trying to. His gorgeous blue eyes were dark, almost gray. I think I had once cataloged them as reminding me of a stormy sea. Note to self, use that in a book.
“Just so I’m on record here,” I said, working to keep my eyes on his even though I was feeling way out of my depth, “I’d like to be dating you too.” I looked at my open document, saved my work, and closed the laptop so I could slide it to the side. “Now, what can I help you with on your list?”
Noah looked at my laptop, then back to me. “I don’t want you to stop writing on my account.”
The way this man cared for me was something I’d have to work up to getting used to. “I’m good. I need a break.”
