“I want us to talk tomorrow, Lani. Really talk. Will you do that with me?”
“I’ll try, but it’s hard when you’ve kept your secrets close for years.”
“You’re not alone anymore, baby.”
She cupped his cheeks. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“I don’t know exactly, but since you came into my life I’ve been changing for the better. For so long, I didn’t dare believe in a future or have hope; now I’m starting to.”
“You’re welcome.” He took her hand in his, opening his fingers and letting hers settle between. He then walked out, taking her with him.
“If you bid on me at the auction, I’ll pay for it. I don’t want to spend a night with anyone but you.”
“Okay, but Mrs. C is going to be angry.”
“She’ll get over it.”
His friends had gathered around a table, and he joined them. No one commented on the fact they were holding hands, and Lani seemed comfortable keeping the connection. For Noah, it felt right, like he’d had her in his life forever.
“Fin from Ryker raised eight hundred dollars. The painting circle won him, and he’s sitting for them tomorrow,” Jake said. “And now we need you to top what Jack Trainer got a few years ago.”
“What did he get?” Noah asked.
“Two thousand dollars.”
“I don’t think so.”
“I do,” Lani said. “You’re worth every cent.”
Fuck it.He leaned down and kissed her right there in front of his friends. She’d just openly declared she felt something for him, so he was doing the same.
People came and went, everyone earning well. There were hoots of laughter and lots of heckling from the crowd.
“You’re enjoying yourself.” Noah looked at a smiling Lani. It suited her, and he vowed to make sure she was happy more often. To do that, he had to first sort out her past.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Lani did feel happy; in fact it was terrifying how happy she felt. Was it time for her to walk into the future and put the past behind her?
“So Willow is doing okay, I called in there earlier. Buster is fussing, which I’d kill him for, but Willow is tolerating it,” Branna said.
“He was always the tough one,” Annabelle said. “And look at him now. It’s pathetic.”
“Totally,” Ethan added. He was pushing a baby buggy back and forth. “We’re not staying long, just wanted to see if Noah beat my price.”
“Beat your price?” Lani asked him, and around the table everyone groaned. “What?”
“No one has raised more money than me. I made one thousand the only time I took part in the date auction.” Ethan preened.
“They felt sorry for him,” Jake said. “It was sympathy money, and it’s still not the two thousand Jack Trainer made.”
“Ryker is bigger and has wealthy tourists,” Ethan said.
“The knitting club bought him,” Joe said.
“Got your money ready, Lani? Noah’s about to step onto the stage.” Newman nudged her.
