She studies me for a long moment, and I’m sure she’ll say no. She’ll let me down easily, and maybe it’ll be the start of her pulling away, deciding she’s going to save me from her.
Then a mischievous gleam enters her eyes.
“I’ll let you buy it if you can catch me.”
“I’m not chasing you on a roof, Nora. Nora?”
She’s already running to the fire escape.
Fuck.Fuck.
I run after her, reaching the bottom of the flimsy fire escape stairs just as she vaults from them. She races up the hill behind the school, hair flying behind her, and I tear after her.
She’s fast, though, so fast. Like a hunter, darting through a field after its prey. I’m never going tocatch her.
But she slows dramatically as she nears the top, glancing over her shoulder, and I put on a burst of speed.
I finally catch her as we reach the top, wrapping my arms around her waist. I can feel her rapidly beating heart beneath my hand, and then she turns within my grasp.
“You threw it,” I say, awestruck.
“You’ve taught me that sometimes losing is winning.” She kisses me. “We’re going to watch the sun rise from here.”
“You act as if I’ve never heard of the marathon.” I sit on the ground and guide her into my lap, facing me. She grins and kisses my nose, then my lips.
“Did you know that some people like going all the way on Hi-Hill?” she asks.
“You’re going to be the death of me.”
She traces my lips with her finger. “I think I’d rather be the life of you.”
“You’ll always be that.”
She leans down and embraces me, pressing her cheek against my shoulder, then pulls back and gives me a stern look. “But I’m paying for Waffle House. It’s the least I could do since you’re buying my business.”
I’m laughing as I kiss her, but my laughter quickly fades when she starts attacking the button on my pants.
“Wow, you’re already so hard.”
“That’s what happens when the woman I love climbs onto my lap and says she wants to fuck me on Hi-Hill.”
“Nuh-uh.” She presses a finger to my lips as she uses her other hand to free me. “I never said that. I want tomake love to youon Hi-Hill. But it does need to be hard and fast, because it would probably be better if we don’t get caught.”
That’s my Nora, spicy and sweet. Just the way I love her.
EPILOGUE
NORA
FALL
After we get out of the car, I straighten Cormac’s tie, grinning at him.
“What?” he asks, smiling back. He can’t help himself. Ilovethat he can’t help himself.
“It’s sort of our second wedding together as a couple.”
His smile stretches wider. “I guess it is.”
