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“And then after dinner, we’ll take a two-hour sunset cruise down Magnolia River, Weeks Bay, and Fish River. It stops at Big Daddy’s for drinks and to watch the sunset before we come back.”
My emotions bubble over just thinking about the lengths he went through to plan this romantic weekend. No man has ever done anything like this for me. “I love you. That sounds perfect.”
“I love you too. And it will be perfect…after we make use of that tub tonight.” He winks.
I snort, beaming with more excitement than I’ve felt in a long time. Though we’re in our thirties, it feels like we’re teenagers again. Hanging out, making each other laugh, and finding ways to enjoy each other have been the highlight of my weekend.
I only wish now we didn’t have to worry about someone trying to kill him.
The couple's massage nearly had me melting off the table. I’d never felt so relaxed in my life and having Noah close made it even better.
“My entire body is butter. You could fold me in half, and I wouldn’t feel a thing,” I say as I collapse on the bed.
“Is that so? Maybe I should take advantage of this newfound flexibility.” Noah grabs my ankles and pushes my knees to my chest. “Hmm…yeah, I could work with this.”
I giggle and stretch my legs, rolling away so he can’t snap me in half. “Nice try. You promised to wine, dine, and cruise me first.”
“I most definitely am…but also…” He stands next to me and undresses. “We’re using that tub before we leave. Strip, woman.”
Noah fills it and adds some bubble bath. Next, he lights candles and closes all the curtains. “Even though it’s not dark outside yet, we’re going to improvise.”
The champagne, the rose petals on the floor, the relaxing music—he’s thought of every little detail. I didn’t think it was possible to love this man more than I already do but every day, he proves to me why we should be together.
“Alright, baby. The tub is full, so let’s go.” He grabs my hand and helps me step in, then slides in behind me.
“Oh my God, it feels so good,” I say with a sigh as I relax against his chest. His strong arms wrap around me as he feathers kisses on my neck.
“You deserve it, sweetheart. I want to give you everything,” he whispers.
I look over my shoulder and meet his eyes. “You’re all I want, Noah. You’re all I’ve ever wanted. This getaway is just a bonus.”
He smiles, then leans down and captures my lips.
“Even though I don’t deserve you, I’ll spend the rest of my life proving to you how special you are to me.”
“You deserve more than you give yourself credit for, Noah. I just want you to be happy,” I confirm.
“Trust me, I’ve never been happier.”
After our relaxing afternoon, Noah and I leave for dinner. We had seafood at Orange Beach and talked and laughed for hours. I almost suggested we skip the cruise and spend the rest of the evening naked under the sheets, but I could tell how excited Noah was to take me.
“It’s so beautiful, such a natural thing we take for granted,” I say as we watch the lazy sun sink below the horizon. Bursts of yellow and orange with slivers of pink fill the sky, and I can’t stop staring at the sky. Noah holds me close as I lay my head on his shoulder, and we admire the view.
“You don’t realize the things you take for granted until they’re taken away from you. Basic human rights. Simple leisures. A home-cooked meal. Everything,” he says.
“You can always talk to me about it, Noah,” I assure him. “But only if you want to.”
Just because he cut me out of his life during his time in prison doesn’t mean he needs to keep it from me. I want all of him—even the parts that haunt him.
“As much as I appreciate that, I want to erase those memories from my life as much as possible. You’re all I want to focus on now. You, Owen, and my family and friends.”
“A new chapter,” I confirm with a smile. Though he’s decided not to go to therapy right now, I have hope that someday he will. I wish I had after everything happened, but Owen helped me cope. Between taking care of him and working, there wasn’t much time to really think about anything else anyway.
“Are you ready to go back to work Monday?” I ask as we make our way to the B&B.
“Hell yes. I feel like shit for leaving Tyler hanging, once again.” He groans.
“Tyler understands.”
