She went completely still.
“Elaine Dwight, Lani Sullivan, I love you so much it hurts.”
“Oh, I-I….” She started crying.
“I’m hoping you feel the same way.”
“Y-yes, but—”
“No buts. For now that’s enough. You’ve been through hell, and that’s going to stop now. We’ll deal with the rest together, okay?”
She fell asleep minutes later, and Buddy rested his head in her lap.
“She’s safe now, boy.”
Noah carried her into the Howler. Faith was waiting.
“Is she okay?” His sister looked worried. “Do you need anything?”
“She’s exhausted, and we both just need sleep. Can I fill you in tomorrow?”
She leaned in and kissed him. “Of course. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
He carried Lani upstairs to his rooms, and she didn’t wake when he lowered her onto his bed and pulled up the covers. He got a cloth and washed the blood of her face, she didn’t even murmur.
“Safe now,” he leaned down to kiss her softly.
Buddy climbed onto his sofa and did a few turns, then closed his eyes. Noah stripped, washed, then joined Lani in his bed.
Pulling her into his arms, he held her tight and lay there holding her until his body relaxed and the knowledge that she was really here in his arms and not being held by a madman sank in. Only then did he close his eyes and fall asleep to Buddy’s soft snores.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Lani’s cake was simple yet elegant. Cream frosting with pastel roses and gold writing. The bride wore ivory, long and floaty, with her hair in a messy bun. And that, thought Noah, was how a man described a bride.
“It’s the bone structure,” Lani whispered in Noah’s ear at the wedding reception, which was held outside on the lawn even though the weather wasn’t what you would call warm, at Cubby and Katie’s house. Huge outdoor gas heaters were warming those who needed it, and Lani was one of those. “Those McBrides all have it.”
“I’ve been told I have good bone structure,” Noah replied, leaning closer so he could inhale her.
In the ten days since she’d been taken from him, Lani Dwight had become almost unrecognizable from the Lani Sullivan he’d met not that many weeks ago.
Her hair had been returned to its normal blonde color and styled. Noah liked it, but then he’d liked her dark hair too. Macy had put her in an emerald green dress that showed off her curves and a short black jacket with shoes to match, which she’d told him several times were killing her. But the biggest change in her was the smile. Lani smiled all the time now and laughed too.
Now that she no longer lived in fear, she was lighter and more open. He’d loved her before, but that had only grown as he’d watched her change.
“I love this part.”
“When the groom makes a fool of himself?”
Cubby wore a dark gray suit and looked pretty good. He was leading his new wife onto the floor for their first dance as a married couple.
“Cubby could never make a fool of himself.”
“Oh, believe me, he can and has.” Noah was always touching her. A brush of a finger or taking her hand in his. Something always drove him to be connected to Lani.
“Are you sure you can leave the Howler for so long, Noah? I’d be fine to go without you if you can’t.”
