by Anne, Melody
“Mom would’ve loved Sarah,” Noah said. “They would’ve gotten along so perfectly. She would’ve loved Brooke, too.”
“Yeah, she would’ve loved any woman who loved her sons. None of us ever had to doubt how much Mom loved each and every one of us,” Crew said.
“You’d think growing up with such a loving mother, we wouldn’t be so hesitant about getting involved with women,” Noah said.
Crew chuckled. “Well, we did have an awful father. That’s going to make anyone hesitate a bit. I think part of it is all of us are a little afraid we might have some of his tendencies in us, and maybe we never want to put a woman through what he put our mother through.”
Noah sat back as he processed those words. “I’ve never actually thought about that,” he admitted. “But I think Mom more than made up for the DNA we’re forced to share with that man. She gave us her blood, which is more powerful than his, and she raised us in a loving home. All we have to do is think of the lashing we’d get from her if we ever did treat a woman that poorly, and we’re safe to never do it.”
“I’d give just about anything to have a verbal lashing from her one more time,” Crew said with a fond smile.
“Yeah, I’d give anything for a single day longer with her.”
“So are you going to marry Sarah?” Crew said, changing subjects again. Noah knew it was partly because they were getting a bit too sentimental, and grown men weren’t supposed to cry, and partly because his brother was like a dog with a bone and didn’t easily drop it.
“I’m not willing to let her go,” Noah said. That seemed all he was able to admit, at least at this particular moment.
“You’re making my heart skip a few beats at your romantic words,” Crew mocked.
“Hey! I’m trying here,” Noah said with a frustrated sigh as he ran a hand through his unruly hair. “I have feelings for her that are stronger than like for sure, and there’s so much I do love about her, but it is scary.”
“And you might screw it up?” Crew said. His brother wasn’t saying the words to be mean. He was simply reading between the lines.
“Yeah, I might screw it up. I’ve done it before where she’s concerned.”
They were both quiet for several moments as different thoughts went through Noah’s head. He didn’t think he’d be able to handle it if he messed up with her again.
“Well, then make a choice not to mess it up,” Crew said.
“Just that easily?” Noah said.
“Just that simple,” Crew stated.
“But I’ll make mistakes,” Noah said.
“Yes, you will, and so will she. But don’t make them so big they aren’t fixable. See that there’s a problem, and put a stop to it right away. That’s how this will last.”
“I don’t want to change who I am,” Noah said. “But I don’t want her to change, either. I just want to grow together.”
“That’s a pretty damn good place to be,” Crew told him. “And with the help of our family, you have a lot of support. Sarah has a good support system, too. I think you guys will make it to the end of this road and be happier than you’ve ever been. Just stop playing games.”
“You’ve changed a lot lately,” Noah said. “I like it.”
Crew laughed again. “I think I like it, too.”
They changed the subject again and chatted about the veterans project and their siblings. Finn was now married, and it appeared that Noah was a goner. So the two of them wondered who’d be next. It wasn’t a matter of if but a matter of when.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
It was amazing how miraculous the human body was. No matter how sick a person got or how much they thought they were dying, the body was already healing itself, even when they were at their worst. Sarah almost didn’t want to feel better on her fifth day with Noah. Because that meant she had no more excuses to stay in their cozy little world together.
And she very much liked their little world.
She loved that they were eating together, sleeping together, and spending the days and nights chatting and laughing and planning. They certainly had avoided the whole relationship topic, but she felt closer to him than she ever had before. She just wasn’t sure exactly what that meant.
She’d leaned on him over the past five days more than she’d ever leaned on anyone, and she wasn’t ready to stop doing it. But as she packed her bag and got ready to head back out into the real world, she couldn’t help but feel sad and have so many unanswered questions she wanted to voice. She just wasn’t sure how to go about doing that.
She should be more than relieved to get on with her life, to be able to get back to her daily routine. But what exactly was that routine? What brought her joy? She knew being with Noah filled her with pleasure, but she wasn’t sure what else did anymore. She had to figure it out. And it was probably much wiser to do that without Noah at her side. She couldn’t seem to think straight when he was in the same room as her.
Maybe she’d get away from him and realize it was all just a matter of circumstance. Maybe she was only so clingy with him because she’d been sick and vulnerable. She didn’t truly believe that, but she wasn’t exactly sure what to believe.
She stepped into the living room with her bag and found Noah standing there. He wasn’t smiling, but he wasn’t exactly frowning. He looked pensive. Her face probably reflected the same exact look.
“It looks like you’re all ready,” he said. His tone was a little flat.
Damn, he was breathtaking. She didn’t want to wake up each day without him being the first thing she saw. His face in the morning gave her pleasure. It was so strange for someone who’d been so independent for so long to rely on another so much for her own happiness.
“I guess I’m ready,” she told him. The lack of excitement told her how unready she was.
“I’m not,” he admitted, shocking her.
“What do you mean?” she said. She stood about ten feet from him, but everything within her wanted to close that distance between them and have him put his arms around her.
“I’ve liked our time together—a lot. I know, I know, you’ve been sick, and I didn’t get pleasure out of that, but I’ve enjoyed very much us being together. I’m not ready for it to end.”
“I don’t know what that means,” she said.
“I think we need to go on our next adventure,” he said.
That perked her right up. “Really? What do you have in mind?”
He finally smiled—a real smile. She felt her lips pulling up as she grinned back at him.
“I think you trust me by now. Why don’t we go by your place, pack a new bag, and I’ll surprise you?”
The old Sarah would’ve instantly said no to this. The new Sarah was immediately intrigued. And there wasn’t even a little part of her that wanted to say no.
“Okay,” she said.
His grin grew even bigger, and he finally closed the space between them and pulled her into his arms. She’d slept in his bed for five nights in a row, and they hadn’t once made love. Her body was on fire and filled with need, as she was sure his was, too.
Maybe now that she was better, and they were going off to some new place, they’d finally come together. His lips dropped to hers, and he gave her a kiss that had her head spinning and her core on fire. She’d thought she’d never want to see the cottage bed again, with how much time she’d been forced to spend in it, but after that kiss she was more than happy to have him escort her right to it.
But that was not what happened. Instead he let her go and bent down to pick up the bag she’d dropped during their kiss. “I was hoping you’d say that. My bag is already packed. Let’s get to your place.”
With that he turned on his heels, and she had little choice other than to follow him. She was slightly pouty as she walked to his truck and got in on the passenger side. He smacked her butt as she climbed in, then shut the door and whistled as he jogged around to his side of the vehicle.
She didn�
�t speak to him on the way to her apartment. She was too hot and bothered and a little cranky that he was so easily resisting her. It had been forever since they’d last made love. And he’d been tending to her for days, half the time with her naked or barely clothed. She’d much prefer for him to lose control.
They got to her place, and she practically stomped up the stairs. She brought her bag in and tossed it in the corner before going to her bedroom and grabbing a new bag and throwing some clothes inside. He hadn’t said how long this new adventure was going to take or what kind of clothes she’d need, so she brought a few different choices.
When she stepped back into the tiny living room and saw Noah taking up so much space, she realized how odd it was to have him there. It was much too small for such a large man, and with her gone so much, it smelled a bit stuffy. It wasn’t much, but it had been home for her for a long time, and she appreciated the security of it.
The space was too small to have a lot of items, so she had minimal furnishings, and she despised trinkets of any kind. So besides her one bookcase loaded down with old books, there was nothing that wasn’t essential to living.
“It smells in here,” she said.
“Do you want to stay a bit and open some windows?” he asked. He wasn’t confirming or denying the musty smell.
There was a flicker in his eyes that made her wonder if he had plans other than just letting the apartment air. She was tempted to say yes and see what happened. But she feared she’d be far too grumpy if nothing happened, and that would make the trip miserable.
Sarah was more than aware she was a twenty-first-century woman and could put the moves on him if she wanted to. But for some reason she wanted it to be him this time. Maybe it was because she’d been so weak and vulnerable this past week, and maybe because she wanted him to want her so much he couldn’t resist. She wasn’t sure what it was.
“No, I’d rather get going. If I sit for too long, I’m afraid I’ll just go to sleep again. I’m feeling a hundred percent better now, but I don’t trust my body a whole heck of a lot right now.”
At her words his eyes examined her from head to toe, giving her tingles in all sorts of places. He could turn her on so easily with nothing more than a look. When he touched her, he turned her to putty in his hands.
“Your body is one hundred percent perfect,” he assured her.
Her breath hitched, and she was ready for him to take her right there, wherever he wanted to take her. His eyes narrowed the slightest bit as he licked his lip, as if he could read her mind. Maybe he could. She never had been good at hiding her emotions. He looked as if he was trying to come to a decision, but then he turned away.
“Okay, we have some traveling to do, then,” he finally said, his voice a bit terse. She wished she was brave enough right then to ask him what exactly was on his mind. Maybe he really just wanted to hit the road. And maybe she was underestimating his desire for her.
Sarah followed him from her apartment, and he made sure the door was locked before helping her down the stairs. She wanted to tell him she could do it on her own, but she was still slightly wobbly. Not much at all, but the last thing she wanted to happen right now was for her to trip and add another injury to her growing list of them.
She was both glad and sad about this next adventure. Because the more they did together, the more the project came along. They no longer had to deal with roadblocks or artist’s fatigue. They were nearing the end of their journey—and it was much sooner than she was ready for. She didn’t want this adventure to ever stop. But all good things eventually came to an end.
When Noah began driving in the direction of the airport, she could no longer keep her mouth shut. She’d thought their next location was in driving distance.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
He gave her a smile. He was more relaxed again now that they were moving.
“I’ll tell you in the plane,” he answered.
They pulled up to the private hangar where his plane was stored, and she couldn’t help but smile. She really did enjoy riding in it. She’d miss doing that if she didn’t ever get to again. It seemed that no matter what she did with Noah, though, it was a fun adventure. Maybe it was more about being with the man than what they were actually doing. Noah had definitely changed her mind about traveling.
They got inside the plane and lifted off. She was quiet as she watched the ground below them grow smaller and smaller.
“We’re heading to one of the Andersons’ famous vacation properties,” Noah said. After silence for about fifteen minutes, his voice startled her coming through the earphones.
“Where is it?”
“It’s just outside of Glacier National Park.”
“Oh, I’ve never been there,” she told him, instantly perking up. Her body was still dissatisfied, but at least this was going to be a fun day or two. Any property the Andersons owned was bound to be amazing.
“This place has a special meaning behind it,” Noah said.
“I love a good story. Tell me,” she insisted.
He chuckled, and she loved how the sound washed over her.
“Joseph and Katherine were on an anniversary trip and found the place in utter disrepair. It was going under. Katherine fell in love with it immediately, so without telling her, Joseph bought it and brought it back to its former glory and gave it to her at her next birthday party.”
“The world thinks Joseph is a tycoon, but he’s really nothing more than a sentimental husband and father and uncle,” she said. One of the things she loved most about this project was getting such an intimate look at a man she’d admired from afar for a long time.
“I wish I would’ve known him while I was growing up. But my mother had valid reasons to keep us away. My father was such a bad man, and she wanted to stay away from his family. Maybe some of it was fear that they’d take us away, and some of it was shame, but I can’t blame her. And I’m glad I get to know Joseph and Katherine now. I was suspicious at first, but I’ve come to realize what a great man he is.”
“I love that in the end of her life, she gave you one last gift,” Sarah said as she reached out and patted his arm. “Your mother sounds like she was an amazing woman.”
“She was the best. I never wanted more than her and my brothers. I never thought I’d want more family. I was wrong. Because now that I have the Andersons, I can’t imagine them not being in my life.” He turned and gave her an intense look. “When I love someone, I love them for life.”
A shiver ran down her spine. She wasn’t sure what he was trying to tell her with those words. She still wasn’t sure where all of this was going, but she was certain it was heading somewhere. She’d just have to try to have patience. That wasn’t something she’d ever been known for.
“I want to open up more with you,” he told her before she could reply to his last comment. She smiled at him.
“I think we’re both doing that. I don’t know when or how, but I think it just sort of happened.”
Now it was his turn to smile. He reached over and grabbed her hand, squeezing her fingers tightly in his. They were opening up to one another. She hoped they’d both be strong enough not to shut down once more.
Before they could continue the conversation, they hit a patch of turbulence, forcing Noah to concentrate on flying. Sarah was okay with that. She was still slightly afraid, but not anywhere near where she’d been a while ago. She was going to give this a real chance. She was going to stop trying to hide from what she was feeling.
They chatted a little more as they neared Glacier. And then he began navigating the plane to the resort’s private landing strip. Maybe they’d finish their conversation that night—and maybe they’d communicate in other ways. Either way it would be a win for her.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Time was an odd thing. It was a certainty in life. And though there were periods in life it felt like time was moving faster or slower, in reality it was a constant that didn’t c
hange. There were twenty-four hours in a day and three hundred and sixty-five days in a year. There was the leap year, where one extra day was added, but other than that, time was always consistent.
So it was funny that people used sayings such as time was running out or time was getting longer or shorter. It didn’t change. But it felt like it did. Life moved forward no matter how much a person tried to slow it down. And when your life was at a point where things felt uncertain, you had a whole new concept of the meaning of time.
Noah wanted to stop the clock. He wanted to slow time and freeze these moments he was having with Sarah. But he couldn’t do that. The clock hands were going to keep on turning, and the seasons would keep on changing. All he could do was try to make the most of the time he had with her.
Was that going to be for mere minutes, or was it going to turn into forever? He wasn’t sure he could answer the question. They were both in a new place together where they weren’t fighting this thing between them, but at the same time, they hadn’t decided where their journey was going to take them.
That all led him back to his quandary about time. How much time did he have left with the woman he was falling for more each day? Were they going to make it last? Or would they choose to walk away from one another? That question wouldn’t be answered until the clock stopped. Maybe he’d choose to simply stop the clock. He could produce his own time.
Taking Sarah to this romantic resort was exactly the next step the two of them needed to take on this journey they were on. He didn’t need any more inspiration to finish this project, but he wasn’t going to tell Sarah that, because he didn’t want their adventures to come to a close. He was liking them far too much. Each minute he spent with Sarah was another beautiful moment in his timeline of life.
“This place is beautiful,” Sarah said as they drove along the trail to the main resort. The airport was about a mile from the building, and there were golf carts to transport them. Joseph had thought of everything when he’d brought this place back to its former glory. He’d made it better.
