“I won’t.”
“What if you wake up one day and realize I’m holding you back?”
He dug his hands into her hair. “That will never happen.”
“You can’t know that.” She wanted him so badly, and she wanted to believe she could be enough for him, but she had years of experience proving that she wasn’t.
“I will rearrange the stars for you every day if I have to. Whatever it takes to prove to you that you are worth it.”
“This is crazy,” she said, even as she dug her hands into his shirt and pulled him closer. “You are completely changing your life for me after only a few weeks.”
“I spent six years trying to convince myself that I didn’t love you, but the way I feel about you is undeniable.” He pulled back to look in her eyes, his thumbs sweeping away the tears that formed at the corners of her eyes. “Do you trust me?”
“I trust you.”
“Then that’s all you have to do. Trust that I know what I want. You are my adventure, Callie. And I’m scared, too. But I think my dad was right. You can’t have the joy without the fear, and I’m tired of letting the fear win. Please take this leap with me.” The corners of his eyes crinkled, the warmth in his gaze washing over her. She nodded, her head bobbing in his hands.
“Okay,” she said, a smile stretching across her face. She could do this.Theycould do this.
“I love you, Calandria Cole.”
“I love you,” she whispered.
“Kiss him already!” Callie and Noah turned to see Kristin watching them with a wide grin.
Noah dropped his head and chuckled, but when he looked back up at her, her heart stopped.He loves me. The edge of his mouth tipped up in a lazy grin, a sparkle in his eyes.
His lips brushed against hers too lightly, and that just wouldn’t do. She dug her hands into his hair and pressed her mouth to his, melting into his touch. He nipped at her lower lip just as the catcalling began. They pulled apart to see half the gathered crowd clapping and staring, hollering their approval. She blushed and buried her face in his chest, rocked by his laughter.
She pressed her lips to his ear, murmuring so only he could hear. “Do you want to stay awhile longer, or can I take you home now and make you mine?”
He grinned, and heat flooded her veins. “Don’t you know by now, sweet girl? I’ve always been yours.”
Epilogue
One Year Later
“I can’t believe I just walked a red carpet!” Callie trilled.
She squeezed Noah’s hand and bounced on the balls of her feet as they moved into the theater whereThorne in Their Side, the completed documentary on Senator Thorne’s vice-presidential bid, would premiere. The senator and Congressman Carmichael hadn’t won the election, but she had been re-elected to serve another term in the Senate, and Noah wouldn’t be surprised if she made the short list of presidential candidates in the next election.
He bent his head to whisper in her ear. “I can’t believe you just walked a red carpet while wearing my plug.”
Her cheeks darkened to the prettiest blush and he nipped at her earlobe. “Behave,” she scolded, but her hooded eyes demanded he do anything but.
“Never,” he said with a smirk.
“Noah!” Senator Thorne’s voice rang out through the crowd.
Reluctantly, Noah tore his gaze away from his wife. “Senator, so good to see you.”
The senator took his hand with a knowing smile. “Laura, please.” She turned to Callie, extending her hand. “And you must be Callie. I’ve heard so much about you.”
“It’s wonderful to meet you. I’ve been following the coverage of your work to expand funding for public libraries.”
“I’m so glad. It will make our next project together even easier,” the senator said. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m being summoned. Noah, my scheduler will be in touch.” She tilted her head towards a young woman with a clipboard who was trying—not so subtly—to flag down the senator, then disappeared into the crowd.
“Next project?” Callie asked.
