The Cinnamon Bun Book Store (Dream Harbor, #2)(74)

He glanced up at the little shacks on the beach. With some help from Cliff, he’d managed to get the electricity up to code and he’d strung white twinkle lights from each one. Even the one on the end that was basically falling over at this point had a string of white bulbs. That one was definitely going to take more work than the others, but he’d spoken to Mayor Kelly last night when he’d momentarily lost track of Hazel and the man had assured him that there was a way forward.

He hadn’t been super clear on what that was, but Pete told him he was sure they’d figure it all out. The important thing was Noah had told him his plan and the mayor had liked it.

And Noah was even considering asking his dad for some advice on the whole thing while he was home which was pretty big for him. Like really big.

Movement on the path to the beach caught his eye and Noah froze in his trench. Until he remembered how not a path the path was and then he hurried to help Hazel down.

‘Hey, Noah,’ she said when he got close and his heart stuttered in his chest. She was so damn beautiful, even in the dark, just the shape of her was beautiful. Her curls were loose around her face tonight and a hesitant smile graced her lips.

‘Hey.’ He really needed to get better at this again and fast. ‘Let me help you. It’s kind of treacherous.’

She took his hand and he led her down the jagged pavement to the sand. He wanted to hold onto her but he wasn’t sure if he should so he didn’t pull her back when she untangled her fingers from his. She was looking at the houses and he was looking at her.

‘I talked to your dad,’ he blurted out and she turned toward him, the lights from the houses reflected in her glasses. He wished he could see her better. Why had he chosen this spot? The wind had picked up and Hazel pulled her cardigan further around her and Noah felt his plan rapidly unraveling.

‘About the houses and he thinks we can make it work.’

‘That’s great, Noah?—’

‘I talked to my dad, too. To my whole family actually and I think maybe they’ve forgiven me and I’m going to go home and help out while my sister is on bed rest but then I’m coming back. I was always going to come back for you, Haze. I should have said that ... I should have said a lot of things. Oh, and you’re invited for Thanksgiving ... I mean if you want to ... I mean if we...’

He shook his head, trying to straighten out his racing thoughts. ‘I think we should date. I mean, for real, like not for clues or anything. I just ... I know I’m a little bit younger than you, but I don’t think that matters and I just think we’re good together...’

‘Noah, stop.’

He blinked, Hazel coming back into focus. The wind tugged at her hair and the ends of her sweater. She had her arms wrapped around herself. She was cold. He should get her inside, make her some tea, tuck her in his bed, never let her go.

‘What are you doing?’ Her question broke through his fevered thoughts.

‘Uh...’ What was he doing? Trying to profess his love for her and apparently screwing it up?

‘Why are you still trying to convince me that you’re worth it?’

‘I...’ Noah swallowed hard. Was that what he was doing? ‘I just wanted you to know, I’m working on things ... on myself. I want to be ... good for you.’

She’d stepped closer somehow without him noticing, probably because his brain was spinning in circles and had completely abandoned him on this cold, windy beach.

‘Noah.’

‘Yeah?’

‘You brought me a giant hat and bug spray.’

‘Well, that was just good sense.’

‘You won me a giant stuffed penguin.’

What was she doing? ‘I mean, anyone would have done that.’

‘You showed me I was beautiful and sexy, not to mention, you literally saved my life.’

‘Hazel...’

‘Noah.’ Her voice was serious, stern, like she was not to be argued with right now. ‘You have shown me more care and thought than anyone I’ve been with before. You are good for me.’

He shook his head. ‘I was just giving you everything you deserved.’

‘You left me secret book messages.’ Her lips had tipped up in the corner and he wanted to trace the shape with his tongue. He wanted to grab her and hold her, wanted to bury his face in her hair and breathe her in, but this was too important, these words were too important.

‘Well, the second time, I did yeah. I’m sorry...’

‘Noah.’

‘Yeah?’

‘I’m in love with you.’

‘Oh.’ The sound came out of him like he’d been punched in the gut, a gasp, a puff of air, a choked surprised sound. Hazel looked up at him with wide eyes, that small crease between her brows. She had something clutched to her chest. A folder? He didn’t care. He only cared about her words.

He took her face in his hand, his thumb sweeping across her cheek and his forehead pressed to hers. ‘Thank God.’

She huffed a laugh, the sound small and sweet.

‘I love you, too, Haze.’

‘You do?’

‘Hell, yeah. Of course I do. I have for so long, Hazel, I don’t even know when it started. I was prepared to read every damn book in that bookstore just to spend more time with you.’