“Yeah, yeah!” Gwen says coming around the car and smiling. “Hurry up and kiss her goodbye, Romeo. Even if she is staying, I still have a plane to catch.”
As much as we may not always get along, I smile at Gwen as I release Eva and she pulls me into a big hug.
“Glad you came to your senses, Noah,” she hugs me tight. A small understanding, a slight acceptance passes between the two of us. Releasing me, she turns to Eva. Without saying a word, she pulls her close and hugs her just the same.
“I told you. Not all who wander are lost. You made the right choice, Eva. I’m happy for you.”
Tears fill Eva’s eyes as Gwen releases her and wipes a few that have fallen from her own. Rounding the car, Gwen climbs into the driver’s seat and waits patiently. Kissing Eva briefly, I ache as I let her go even if it’s only for a few hours until I get off shift. She releases me with a smile. I watch her climb into the passenger side and I close the door behind her.
“I love you,” I tell her. “More than you’ll ever know.”
“Remember, talk is cheap Mr. Stewart. Come home to me in one piece and show me how much you love me,” she winks.
I laugh remembering the first time I heard those words from her lips. She blows me a kiss, and Gwen steps on the gas and takes off from the curb.
With a sigh of relief, I turn my attention back to the station across the street and cross traffic. As I come to the sidewalk, my stare catches Rex’s. A smug smile pulls across his annoying face.
“Not one word,” I grin as I enter the station.
Before Rex can speak, someone enters the bay. I turn to see Becky standing at the entrance. She crosses her arms over her chest and gives me a determined look.
“Probably not a good time,” Rex says to her.
“Save it, Rex,” she hisses. “I’ll talk to Noah when and how I like.”
“What is it, Becky?” I sigh. “How have you come to ruin my day this time?”
Her Cruella de Vil laugh grates on my last nerve as she walks a few more steps toward me. “Oh, honey, you haven’t seen anything yet. Don’t push me!”
How I could have ever fallen in love with her is beyond me. A woman I would have once given up everything for now I now can’t stand the sight of.
“I’m just making sure that you will, in fact, be stopping by later to see Bentley,” she demands when I don’t speak.
“I told you I would,” I shrug. “That hasn’t changed since yesterday. Speaking of which, where is our son since you obviously are not with him?”
She flings her hair over her shoulder and grins. “Momma has him. She’s taking him shopping for early birthday presents. It’s not every year you celebrate your first birthday.”
I close my eyes and remember where I was a year ago right now. I’m just damn glad I managed to save myself moments ago from making another horrible mistake before it was too late.
Opening my eyes, Becky takes a few steps closer until she comes toe to toe with me. Her hand raises and she brushes her fingers across my badge on my shirt. “It’s been a long time, Noah, but I still have never forgotten how good it was. Have you?”
Grabbing her hand and jerking it back from my shirt I say, “I’m talking to you for only one reason, my son. So, let’s get a few things straight. There will be nothing between us. Not now. Not ever. You got that?”
Becky stiffens. “No one turns me down.”
“Well,” I chuckle. “Looks like I just did. You know where the door is, Becky. Don’t let it hit you in the ass on the way out.”
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Noah
For a man who loves what he does, the next few hours on shift were agonizing knowing that Eva was finally mine and nothing stood in between us any longer. Now, coming home and seeing her standing and waiting for me on the top steps of my mother’s house, life can’t get any sweeter.
“I sure do love seeing you in your station blues,” she says as I approach. The night air is crisp around us and the look she gives me makes me realize just how much I love her. She stayed. Even when I told her to leave. Not many women would do that. She had dreams. Ambitions. She had her whole life ahead of her - and she chose me instead.
Taking a couple of steps up the front porch, I come to her level and pull her in close. “I never meant for you to give up your life for me,” I whisper.
“Now, Mr. Stewart,” she says, pulling me closer until her lips are almost touching mine. “You did the same for me once, remember? You took a chance. It was my time to do the same. You’re my life, and nothing, and no one, will ever take you away from me again.”
