Looking at her now, it was difficult to imagine a time in which he’d seen her only as Ruthann’s friend, or Jeremy’s irritating little sister. It seemed impossible, now that he’d gotten to know Norah. To see her bravery, her loyalty, her belief in the truth, and the way she loved those around her so fiercely that she would never abandon them.
“Norah,” he said, unable to hold it inside any longer. “There is something I must tell you.”
Her eyes widened, and he wondered if she anticipated what he would say. If maybe shehopedfor it. Because if she didn’t feel the same way about him, Stuart didn’t know what he would do next.
“Yes?” she said, her voice a bit breathless.
Saying the words out loud required more courage than throwing himself into danger back at the jail. He wanted to laugh at the thought—that somehow confessing his feelings for Norah was more terrifying than four men pointing guns at him.
She was looking at him intently now, waiting.
Say it.
“I love you.”
Chapter Twenty-one
THE JOY THAT BUBBLEDup from inside Norah at hearing those three simple words was unlike anything else she’d ever experienced.
Stuartlovedher.
And suddenly, everything was right in the world. Jeremy would be free. Her family would be together again and happy.
And Stuart . . .
She dropped his hand and leaned over to embrace him.
He laughed a little in her ear, and then sucked in a breath as his hand rested on her back.
Norah froze and then rose slowly so she could see him. “Have I hurt you?”
“Never.” He watched her with such light in his eyes that if someone had told Norah it was the middle of the day, she would have believed it.
She looked at him a moment, tracing every feature of his face. “I love you too, Stuart,” she finally said.
He smiled then. “If I weren’t stuck here in this bed, I’d pick you up and swing you around.”
