“Leaving you behind was one of the most painful things I've ever done, Holly. The entire drive, all I could think about was you. It’s all I can think about now. How you made me feel. How empty I am without you. How empty my life will be without you in it.”
Her eyes were wide with surprise. I kept talking.
"I thought I was happy before. I thought my life was settled. But it's not. I'm not. I've been waiting for something, and I didn't know what it was until I found you. I was meant to break down that night. I was meant to find you." I paused. "We need each other, Angel.
"You told me you wanted to find your place in this world. Stop looking." I wrapped my hands around hers. "Find your home with me." I stepped closer. "I’ve found mine with you." I kissed her hand softly. "You said you wanted to belong somewhere." I paused. "Belong to me."
"But…"
I shook my head. "No buts. This is real. It's right. I feel it. We'll figure out everything—together. What you want to do about school. Living together as a couple. We can do it all if we're together. I’ll support whatever decisions you make about your life as long as I can share it with you.”
She blinked.
“Our home can be your safe place, Holly. I can be your safe place. You can be mine.”
One lone tear ran down her cheek.
I took in a deep breath. "I love you."
Her voice was incredulous. "You love me?"
I shrugged self-consciously. "I know I don't have a lot of experience with that emotion. But if loving you means wanting to be with you, to make you happy, then yes. I want to protect you, care for you, like you did for me. I want to watch you smile. Wipe your tears. Hold you at night. Wake up with you." I paused. "If wanting to do all those things and be that person for you for the rest of your life means that I love you, then yes, Holly Cole. I love you."
She stared at me, speechless. Her gaze moved between our hands and my eyes.
"A very smart person told me to be happy. You make me happy. Carol told me to hold on to whatever it was I found that made me feel this way. So, I am. It's you. It's all you.
"I love you, Holly. I know this with a certainty beyond comprehension. Stop being alone and searching for your place in this world. It's with me. Let's live our lives together." I smiled at her, even as a tear ran down my cheek. "I want to give you what we saw the other night. A home. One filled with lights and love. A family we created together."
"You want children?"
"With you. Yes. I want everything with you." I tightened my hands around hers. "Please, Angel, rescue me one more time. For the rest of our lives."
Her eyes filled with tears. "Evan," she breathed.
"Don't say no, please. I couldn't bear it. I know it's fast, but please, give us a chance."
"I want to," she whispered.
I pulled her into my arms, relief and joy coursing through my body. In that one instant, everything in my life shifted and settled, becoming perfectly clear. If I had her, I could do anything. Be anything. As long as she was mine, I would be okay.
"What if I can't be what you need?" she asked, searching my eyes with hers.
"You already are."
"Say it again," she pleaded, her voice vulnerable.
I looked down at her sweet face. "I love you, Holly."
Her beautiful smile lit the room. "I want and feel all those things for you as well. I-I love you too, Evan."
The power of those small words hit me. She offered them without any conditions or reservations. Only truth.
I kissed her. “Those are my favorite words in the world. I will never tire of hearing you say them.”
“Then I’ll say them every day.”
"You'll come with me?"
"Yes."
"Now?"
She frowned, confused. "Um, I need to pack up some things and let people know."
I nodded. "Of course. I'll help. What doesn't fit in the SUV, we'll ship."
"You don't want to drive my truck?" she teased gently.
"Ah, no. We'll ship it out if you insist."
"Maybe Tom could store it."
I winked. "Or junk it." I'd happily dip into my trust fund to purchase a nice car for her. But I’d pay to ship the thing if that was what she really wanted. Anything for her if it meant she came with me.
"Don't talk smack about my truck. It’s been good to me." She slapped my chest, then frowned. "Chester?"
I grinned. "My cat twin is welcome. I hope he likes road trips."
"I like road trips."
"I like you."
She blushed sweetly. "What will your friends think when you come home with me?"
"They can hardly wait to meet you. I told them all about you, and they know how I feel." I drew my fingers down her cheek. "I've been searching for you. And now that I've found you, I'm not letting go." I kissed her warmly. "They are gonna love you. I have a feeling you and Tara are going to be best friends. And Carol will spoil you." I tightened my hand in reassurance. "Life will be good for us, Holly. I promise."
Her voice was quiet. "I know."
I pulled her into my arms, nuzzling the top of her head. We stayed locked together, enjoying the moment of unexpected happiness.
Holly tilted her head back. "What now?"
"I'll go find some boxes."
She chuckled. "Everything is closed. It's almost midnight. Tomorrow, I'll call Leslie and ask if she has empty ones from the store we can have."
"How do you think she and Tom will react?"
Holly smiled. "Leslie wanted to know why I let you leave. She said she knew we belonged together when she saw us together in her store." She sighed. "I'll miss them, but they knew I was leaving soon anyway. I think they might be surprised by the news, but they'll be happy for me. She and Tom will help if we need it." She looked around. "It won't take long. There isn't much. Most of this belongs to Connie. I'll have to call and tell her."
I lifted her chin. "They're just things. Take or leave whatever you want. We'll build a life together, Holly. One full of love. We'll fill walls with pictures and our hearts with memories. We'll do it together." I wiped away a glistening tear from the side of her eye. "You're never going to be alone again."
"Neither are you."
Our eyes met and held. My entire future was there inside the glimmering depths of soft blue. Gently, I traced her damp cheek.
"We'll start off the new year together, Angel."
"Together."
My mouth covered hers.
I was home.
Waking up to Holly the next morning was as amazing as I thought it would be. Nestled in my arms, her head on my shoulder, she slumbered with a smile on her face. I lay still, watching her for a moment, filled with wonder that I would no longer wake up alone. My days wouldn’t be permeated by the sound of silence, and my nights an endless repeat of emptiness.
Holly would be there with me.
Unable to resist, I leaned down, slipping my fingers under her chin and nuzzling her full lips. She blinked awake, her smile growing against my mouth.
“Hi,” she murmured, her voice thick with sleep.
“Sorry, I had to kiss you. You were making me happy.”
“By sleeping?”
I chuckled. “By sleeping beside me. I realized I get to keep you.” My voice caught. “I won’t be alone anymore.”
She snuggled closer, running her fingers through my hair. “Never again. Neither of us will be.”
Our gaze met and held, our future bright and filled with love.
I slid my hand down her back, curving it over the swell of her ass, tugging her closer. “I think we should celebrate.”
She whimpered at the feel of my hard cock pressing against her softness. She lifted her leg over my hip, arching her back so I settled into her heat. “Yes, Evan. We should.”
I groaned at the feel of her. “You are so perfect,” I whispered.
“We’re perfect together.”
I rolled her over, hovering above her. I ga
zed down at her sweet face. Her wild hair curled around her cheeks, and her lovely eyes were filled with love as she returned my stare. I slid inside her, dropping my head to her neck at the rightness of feeling her warmth wrapped around me. I began to move, my need for her overtaking everything else.
“Yes, we are.”
9
Evan
Over coffee, we planned our day and the trip ahead. I frowned as I studied the weather. “We need to leave today to beat the storm heading this way, Holly. Either that or wait a few days.”
She wrapped her hand around her mug. “All I need is a couple of hours. I have to call John and resign from the diner. I already texted Connie, and she has another friend who is going to move in next week. Leslie and Tom will be here in an hour with some boxes and tape.” She shrugged. “I don’t have a lot to pack.”
Her voice held a strange tone, and I realized she sounded almost embarrassed. “Hey,” I called softly. “I told you we’ll build our own memories.”
She nodded. “There are a few boxes in the garage that were my parents’. I would like to take them if that’s okay. And my sketchbooks.”
“Holly,” I started, waiting until she met my eyes before continuing. “You can bring anything you want. I’d rent a trailer if I had to, or ship everything if you wanted to bring this whole damn house.”
A smile curled her lips, and the sadness faded from her eyes. “No shipping needed.”
“Are you sure you’re ready to do this?” I asked, my heart in my throat. “We can stay, or I can head back and you can follow when you’re ready,” I offered, hating the idea of leaving her at all. “This is sudden, and I don’t want to rush you.”
The frantic shaking of her head made me relax. She didn’t want me to go without her. “No! I want to go with you. I’m just—won’t your friends think it’s odd when we arrive and I have, like, two suitcases, a cat, and a few boxes? Maybe they’ll think I’m after your money.”
I burst out laughing and leaned over to kiss her. Then I had to kiss her again. “Silly girl. When I arrived in Nova Scotia, I had a backpack. Your things don’t make you the person you are. Your heart does. I already know you, Holly. I see your soul. It matches mine, and my money has nothing to do with it.” I winked. “In fact, we can split the gas money.”
“Good idea,” she nodded sagely. “I don’t think the bank is open today, but we can stop by the ATM and—”
Another round of laughter escaped my mouth, and I swept her into my arms and kissed her until she was breathless. “Not happening. I was teasing. I’m taking you home to Nova Scotia, I’m taking care of you, and you are going to let me. Understand?”
Her cheeks flooded with color. “Fine. No need to get all handsy and bossy, Evan.”
I grinned. “Why don’t I show you just how handsy and bossy I can get?”
Her eyes widened, and the grip she had on my arm tightened. I dropped my gaze to her mouth and I began to lower my head, when the doorbell sounded.
“Leslie and Tom,” she murmured. “Bad timing.”
“Nope,” I said and kissed her fast. “Let’s get you packed and get on the road. We’ll revisit this later.”
She giggled as she slipped by and patted my ass.
“So bossy.”
I followed, feeling happier and lighter than I had in years.
She did that for me.
With a frown, I cast a last look at the boxes in the back of the SUV I had rented. There were six of them, plus two suitcases. That was the entire contents of Holly’s life, sitting in the back of the vehicle. Three of the boxes held things from her parents—the rest were hers. I was determined her life would no longer be so empty.
I shut the liftgate and hurried back into the house. I stopped at the kennel waiting by the door and peered in at Chester. He hadn’t been overly pleased at being placed inside the carrier, but he stared back at me, calm and resolved. I poked my finger inside and chuffed his chin. “You’re gonna love it there, Chester,” I promised. “Lots of rooms to wander around in and places to lie in the sun.”
Then I went to find Holly. She had been quiet since Leslie and Tom had left, their goodbyes filled with promises of visits and keeping in touch. I liked them both and hoped they would follow through. I wanted Holly to stay close to people who cared about her.
I found her in her bedroom, opening drawers and cupboards, making sure she had everything. A small bag sat on the bed, the mittens I gave her resting beside the bag with her coat. She already had the soft hat on her head, pulled low on one side, giving her a rakish air. The blue looked pretty against her hair and skin. I leaned against the doorway, watching her. She was pale, her teeth caught in her bottom lip, and for a moment I felt a flash of guilt.
Was I pushing her too fast?
“Holly.”
She looked up, a smile appearing. “Hey.”
“You almost ready?”
“I was just checking I hadn’t left anything.” She sighed. “Not that I had a lot to bring.”
I crossed the room and grasped her elbows. I bent and kissed her forehead, my lips lingering on her skin. “We discussed this. None of it matters, Holly. What you bring or don’t bring. As long as you’re with me, all of this is just stuff. We’ll replace what you forget, and we’ll build a whole bunch of new memories.”
I felt her tension ease. “I know.”
“Is it too much, Angel? Do I need to slow down?” My heartbeat raced as I waited for her answer.
“No. I do tend to overthink things.” She laughed, not meeting my eyes. “Since my parents never really thought things out, I sort of took over that job.”
I folded her into my arms, relieved. “You have me now. We’ll worry about them together.”
She leaned back, her smile genuine. “Together—I like that idea.”
“Ready to start our adventure?”
She leaned up on her toes and kissed me. “Ready.”
I slowed down as we passed the diner. It was still closed, but John had a private family party going on inside. “Did you want to stop?”
“No. John wished me well, and to be honest, I think it was the right time. His wife has been wanting to change the hours and close at eleven, instead of being open twenty-four hours. That would mean a lot of hours being cut back, and without me he can give the other girls my shifts. It used to be really busy all the time, but since they built the bypass he doesn’t get as many truckers in at night. The regulars who have come for years, but not a lot of new people.”
“Makes sense.” I squeezed her hand, watching the way she peered over her shoulder at the building fading into the background. I knew, no matter how happy she was to be coming with me, she was going to be sentimental about leaving. “It’s sort of our place, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is. But I’m so excited about where we are going, Evan.”
I winked at her. “So am I.”
She was quiet as she watched the scenery pass by. I hit the highway, pleased at how empty the roads were. I picked up speed, handed her my phone, and patted her leg. “Pick some music, Holly. And the route. If there is any place you want to stop, name it.”
“Really?” she asked, taking my phone, her eyes excited. She had told me about the many trips she had taken with her parents. An added piece of luggage in the back seat, relegated to observer, not really part of the event or the planning. I didn’t want this trip to be like that for her.
“The storm isn’t going to hit for a few days. We have time to do some exploring if you want.”
She leaned over and kissed my cheek, her lips warm on my skin. “Thank you.”
She scrolled through my playlists, pursing her lips. “Well, thank goodness. No rap.”
I felt a smile tug on my lips. “You don’t like rap, Holly?”
She shook her head. “It makes me ragey. Probably not good for a car trip.”
I laughed out loud, unable to imagine her “ragey.” “Probably not,” I agreed. “Best stick to a differ
ent genre.”
“You know what goes well with road trips?” she asked, glancing at me.
“What?” I’d give her anything.
She pointed at the sign we were passing. “Coffee and donuts.”
I hit the indicator and slowed down. “Your wish is my command.”
She smiled—so wide and bright, it was a wonder to witness. “I’m going to like this road trip.”
That was my plan.
Holly
Evan slowly drove up to the house, putting the SUV in park and turning to look at me. I stared at the place, awed and excited. The huge house sat on a plot of land that was astounding in its scope. Though it was snow-covered and icy, I could still see the beauty the winter hid. Mature trees and bushes surrounded a large log home. The ocean sparkled in the background. Two stories, with a huge wraparound porch and tons of windows, the house looked as if it belonged in that spot.
I turned to Evan, who was watching me with excited eyes. “Evan, it’s beautiful!”
He smiled and lifted my hand to his mouth. “Yes, it is.”
Except he wasn’t looking at the house—he was looking at me. I felt my cheeks grow warm, and I wondered if I would ever get used to his affection.
The drive from Ontario had been so different from the ones I used to take with my parents. It was always their trip, their adventure, and I was simply present. This time, Evan made sure I saw anything I wanted. Teasingly, he told me I was in charge of the route and the radio. We strolled around little towns, spent the night in Montreal, planned another trip for when we had more time, to Quebec City. He kept his eye on the weather, but we were lucky and stayed ahead of any storm that might have stalled our journey, although he admitted, even though he was anxious to get me to Nova Scotia, he wouldn’t have minded spending more time trapped in a hotel with me.
Chester proved to be a great traveler, sleeping in his kennel, sitting on my lap, watching the scenery go by, curious but calm.
Now he was sleeping in his kennel, not at all concerned the car had stopped—a seasoned traveler.
An Unexpected Gift (Insta-Spark Book 4) Page 7
