The Cinnamon Bun Book Store (Dream Harbor, #2)(79)

Hazel sat down beside him with her small plate and glass of wine. ‘Hey, Mac.’

‘Hazel.’

‘For the record, I’m team Mac.’

‘There’s no team Mac.’

‘Hmm.’

Noah laughed and leaned closer to Hazel. ‘He’s grumpy today.’

‘I don’t blame him,’ she whispered.

‘I can hear you.’ Mac got up to refill his glass and Noah pulled Hazel’s chair closer to his.

‘You starved me all day so we could, and I quote, “save ourselves for the feast” and now look at you.’ He gestured to her plate filled with crackers, cheese, various cured meats, pickles and dried fruit.

‘I can’t resist a charcuterie board. Besides, we’re here now so this counts as part of the feast.’

‘Oh, is that the rule? Good.’ He snatched a fig from her plate and popped it in his mouth.

‘Hey! Get your own!’ She turned toward him and he grabbed her face. Her cheeks were flushed pink from the warmth of the room and the wine. Her eyes sparked happily behind her glasses.

He thought about the ring Logan had been carrying around in his pocket for months. He thought he wanted one, too. Someday. Soon. He wanted it soon.

She quirked an eyebrow like she was reading his mind so he kissed her, quick and sweet, at the table.

‘What was that for?’ she asked.

He shrugged. ‘Just thinking that I’m thankful for you this year.’

‘That’s sweet, but you should probably save it for later. I’m sure Jeanie’s going to make us do that thing where we go around and say what we’re thankful for.’

Noah chuckled. ‘Okay, noted.’

Hazel’s leg bumped against his under the table.

‘I’m thankful for you, too.’

‘Glad to hear it.’ He found her thigh under the table and let his hand run over the tights she was wearing under her skirt.

‘What are you doing?’ she murmured.

‘Nothing,’ he said, giving her his best innocent smile even as his fingers coasted higher.

‘Noah,’ she warned.

‘Yes?’ he whispered, leaning close to her again. He found the edge of her skirt and slid his fingers up and underneath.

Hazel’s breath caught.

He inched higher, keeping his expression neutral, placid.

‘What are you doing?’ she asked again even as her thighs parted for him.

‘Just having a little reckless fun.’

She held his gaze and he winked at her. She huffed a little laugh. ‘Oh, really?’

‘Mmm-hmm.’ He reached the apex of her thighs and slid a finger down the front of her. Hazel shuddered.

‘Time to eat.’ Logan thumped a plate with a giant pile of turkey down in front of them. Hazel coughed and Noah slid his hand from her skirt.

‘Later,’ he whispered before holding out his other hand for the bowl of mashed potatoes. ‘Can someone pass the gravy?’ he asked, not missing a beat. Hazel let out a breathy laugh next to him, catching his eye as their friends gathered around and took their seats. He smiled at her, letting the chaos of the room swirl around them.

Hazel sat at the center of it all, the calm in the storm. He didn’t really know what had brought him here; he’d docked at a lot of places over the past few years, but Dream Harbor had stuck. And he was thankful for everything that led to this moment. Every screw up. Every rough day at sea. Every fight with his family, with himself. It had all led him here.

He was meant to be here.

With her.

Hazel freaking Kelly. The girl of his dreams.

And for that he was thankful.





Epilogue





Six months later


Hazel was lounging under the shade of the cabana. Even in the shade she was wearing her giant floppy hat and a long-sleeved shirt, because this sun was no joke. She was pretty sure she was burning anyway.

They were in Aruba and had been for nearly a week now. It was the longest vacation Hazel had ever taken in her entire life but Melinda had insisted she take two weeks when Hazel had asked for some time off.

‘You’ve earned it, darling!’ she’d said over the phone. ‘Of course you should take some time off.’

And so she had. Well, she had with lots of convincing from Noah and plenty of assurances from Alex that they had everything completely under control and promises from Annie and Jeanie to check in on the bookstore every few days and report back. Then she had dusted off the passport she’d used only once for a trip to Niagara Falls, packed her bags, and followed Noah for an island adventure.

After this week in Aruba they were headed to visit Noah’s new nephew, Michael, before they returned to Dream Harbor. Noah was so in love with the baby, this visit would already be his fifth since the little guy was born in March. And of course, Hazel loved to see Noah with a baby in his arms. It was nearly as sexy as him docking his boat in a storm.

But he deserved a break too after all the work he’d done on the vacation rentals. After an investment from his dad, the sale had gone through with the town. Noah had hired an architect, and a construction team and worked through the winter to get the houses ready for guests. He’d made a lot of progress but there was still plenty of work to be done.