Christmas on 4th Street (Fool's Gold #12.5)

“So you stuck a pin in a map,” he murmured.

“And ended up here, with a store and friends, and a life.” She smiled. “I have so much to be grateful for. My own medical miracle. I might not have seen what you’ve seen, but I’ve fought my own war. I know what it’s like to be overwhelmed and exhausted, all while puking my guts out. I’m tough, Gabriel. Every month I gain another pound or two. By this time next year, I’ll have my curves back. I look forward to being like Isabel and worrying about ten pounds. Because that is so silly and normal and every time she complains about her hips or her thighs I vow I’ll get there.”

She put down the kitten and took his hands in hers. “I know about ghosts and lost opportunities and believe me, I know there are no guarantees. I’m sorry the lesson you learned from what you’ve been through is it’s not worth taking the chance, because I believe it’s all about taking the chance. We are the sum of our experiences and those experiences need to come from a place of wonder and curiosity.”

She smiled at him. “I don’t know if you’re going to stay in the army or not, but I do know you’re leaving Fool’s Gold. I know this isn’t permanent and I still want to be with you. I want us to be friends and I want us to be lovers. And just so we’re clear, if you don’t want to sleep with me after hearing all this, you’re not nearly as bright as you look.”

There was too much for him to take in, he thought. He’d been wrong about her in nearly every way possible. He hadn’t come close to guessing that she’d been sick. He’d missed all the clues. Worse, he’d misread their time together because he’d made it all about himself.

“I’m such a jackass,” he said, coming to his feet and pulling her into a standing position.

“Good answer.”

Sharp claws dug into his leg. He looked down and saw the kitten trying to climb his jeans. He grabbed the cat by the scruff of her neck and gently pulled her away, then set her on the ground. Then he took Noelle by the hand and led her into the bedroom.

Once the door was closed, he cupped her cheeks and studied her face. “You’re so beautiful,” he told her right before he kissed her.

Her mouth was soft and yielding, but as he stroked his tongue against her lower lip, he felt her respond with growing passion. The need was in him—it had never really gone away. Now it moved through his blood, heating, stirring, making it difficult to think beyond how he could touch her and be in her.

She was a gift he didn’t deserve, he thought as he moved his hands across her back and then down her side to her hips. He took the return journey more slowly, savoring the feel of her body before cupping her curves in his hands.

She moaned softly. Her head fell back and he trailed his mouth down her neck.

“Tell me you bought condoms,” he whispered against her skin.

She laughed and reached for the hem of her sweater. “Of course.” Her eyes sparkled with amusement. “Extra large.”

“That’s my girl.”

* * *

Sometime after midnight Noelle pulled on her robe and headed for the kitchen. They were too late for take-out so she was going to have to find them something to eat from what was in her refrigerator. Too bad she hadn’t brought back a few casseroles from their time at the cabin. All that food had been delicious.

She found a frozen pizza in her freezer and figured they could make do. As she turned on the oven, one of the mother cats strolled into the kitchen and meowed at her. The feline gaze was both inquisitive and knowing.

“Yes, we were doing it,” Noelle admitted to her houseguest.

The mother cat meowed again.

“I’m aware of the consequences. I won’t get pregnant.”

The cat’s gaze turned knowing, as if she were pointing out there were other kinds of consequences.

“You meant falling in love?” Noelle asked, her tone light. Because she already knew the answer. She loved Gabriel. She wasn’t sure when or where, but it had happened. It was a monumentally stupid thing to have done and yet she wouldn’t take it back, even if she could.

* * *

“What do you think?” Gabriel asked, turning the laptop so Noelle could see the screen.

She squinted at the image. “It’s a book.”

“It’s a set of books,” he corrected.

“Because that makes it better?” she asked with a laugh.