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“He’s going to love this one.”
Noah heads downstairs on wobbly legs. If we had more time, I’d have made her practice walking in her heels.
My old prom dress fits her perfectly. The stretchy royal-blue material hugs her slim frame, and the crisscross straps in the back made it easy for me to adjust to her small bust. It’s simple yet elegant.
When we get downstairs, I nudge Noah’s shoulder. “Okay, give your dad a countdown.”
“Three, two, one.” Noah wrings her hands in front of her. “Open your eyes.”
Grant blinks and then his jaw drops open. “Wow.”
Noah wraps her arms around herself. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong.” He pushes off my couch and takes slow steps toward her. “You look so grown.”
“Doesn’t she look beautiful?” I shoot him a prompting look. “Blue looks great on her.”
“The dress is super comfy. And not too much makeup, right?” Noah tilts her chin and bats her eyelashes. “Look how long my lashes look.”
“I love it, Noah.” He reaches out and takes her hands in his. “You look absolutely beautiful. You always look beautiful to me.”
Hot tears spring into my eyes.Shit, now is not the time to test out my waterproof makeup.I need to save my tears for the wedding.
Noah smiles while an adorable blush creeps into her cheeks. “You’re my dad. You’re supposed to say that.”
“Not true.” I raise my hand as I interject. “My father never told me I was beautiful growing up. So, take the compliment and appreciate your dad.”
Noah’s head jerks back. “Are you crying?”
“No.” I dab the corner of my eye with my finger. “There’s something in my eye. I haven’t dusted in a while. Maybe it’s allergies.”
Noah slips her phone out of the silver clutch I loaned her. “I’m going to FaceTime Hannah.”
I grab the car keys off my end table and toss them to her. “You can wait in the car. I just have to make sure I have everything.”
Grant watches me as Noah hobbles outside. “You okay?”
I roll my eyes as I smile. “Yeah, I’m fine. It’s really sweet seeing you with Noah. Your approval means a lot to her even though she might not show it.”
A frown tugs the corners of his lips. “She’s growing up too fast.”
“They always do.”
Grant’s eyes hold mine as he walks backward, stepping away from me. Then his gaze drops, sliding down my body as he makes a slow perusal.
My stomach clenches and my skin prickles with awareness.
The cowl-neck on my satin dress accentuates my chest, and the slit in the long maroon material hits high on my thigh, revealing a sliver of bare skin.
His Adam’s apple bobs before he blinks back up to my face. “You look stunning, by the way.”
“Thank you.” I twirl in a circle. “Not bad for a lawn gnome, huh?”
“Prettiest damn gnome I’ve ever seen.”
Butterfly wings flap against my chest as if a whole garden of them were set loose inside me.
But I stamp them down and laugh it off as I breeze past him. “I don’t know. Mr. Bubbles is quite the looker.”
