“Did you know she’s pregnant?”
Noah nodded. “Nora told me she was having a baby on the night of your birthday.”
“And you didn’t tell me?”
“I swore on a pinky promise that I wouldn’t tell anyone. Besides, it would have spoiled the surprise when Megan told you.” Noah followed Cassie into the kitchen, sat on a kitchen stool, and watched her take the cheesecake out of the refrigerator. “It must be the time of the year for people to be pregnant. My secretary’s baby is due in December.”
“I think it’s got more to do with our age. Most of my friends are either getting married or having children.”
Noah rested his arms on the counter. “Do you want to get married and have children?”
“One day, but at the moment I’m too busy creating jewelry. What about you?”
“I’m not sure anyone would want to marry me.”
Cassie almost smiled, until she saw Noah’s serious expression. “Why do you say that?”
He shrugged, but she saw the hurt he was hiding. “I’m thirty-eight years old. I work long hours and hardly take any time off work. Even if I did find someone, I’m not sure I could give them the happy ever after they’d want.”
She slid a piece of cheesecake onto a plate. “Have you ever considered that being yourself would be enough? Happy ever after doesn’t have to come gift wrapped with a sparkly red bow.”
Noah’s lips twitched. “Are you telling me I’m a brown bag kind of guy?”
Cassie grinned. “I bet your grandma told you it’s not what’s on the outside that’s important, but what’s inside.” She handed him a spoon and a slice of the cheesecake. “Having said that, there’s no way you’re a brown bag kind of guy. You’re tall, handsome, and live in New York City. You also have a great sense of humor and you’re kind. If you told people you were looking for a wife, you’d have women lined up waiting to meet you.”
“I should be grateful I didn’t tell Mabel I’d like someone special in my life.”
Cassie was surprised he remembered the owner of the general store. Mabel was a sweetie, but she was also an incurable gossip. “Sapphire Bay doesn’t have the same number of single women as Manhattan, but Mabel has a gift for finding the unexpected. It’s probably just as well you don’t live here. She would make your happiness her number one priority.”
Noah pulled out the stool beside him for Cassie. “If you were looking for someone special, what would he be like?”
She thought about her ideal man, but the only person who kept popping into her mind was Noah. “I’m not sure. I guess he would have to have a good sense of humor and love children and dogs.”
“You don’t have a dog.”
“But I’d like one.”
Noah’s eyebrows rose. “Big or small?”
“Medium.”
“Short or long-haired.”
“Short.”
“Black, white, red, or brown?”
Cassie grinned. “I don’t mind. If he’s adorable and likes lots of cuddles, he’d fit into my life perfectly.”
“What if I…” Noah clamped his mouth shut.
She waited for him to continue, but he remained silent. “What were you going to say?”
“It doesn’t matter. The cheesecake is amazing.” Noah ate another spoonful of the sweet dessert.
The last thing she’d been talking about was her future canine buddy. Her eyes widened. Noah was definitely adorable. Maybe he liked lots of cuddles, too?
Cassie scooped some dessert into her mouth. Just thinking about cuddling Noah made her temperature soar.
