Page 53 of Rush

They made their way upstairs and deposited their load.

“Do you think we should shower first?”

Her eyes practically rolled into her head. “You’re kidding, right?”

Of course, he was joking. Walking over to the nightstand, he pulled open the drawer and took out the small, wrapped package, holding it out.

She pounced on it, jumping up to sit crossed legged on the bed. “I’m so excited.

A case of unexpected nerves took root in his gut as he watched her untie the white ribbon and pull off the lid of the light-blue box. What if she didn’t like it? When giving gifts in the past, he’d never given much thought whether the recipienthad liked it or not. And honestly, he never cared. But with Nora, the anticipation of her reaction was killing him. He wanted her to love it.

Her gasp brought his attention to her face. Her hand flew up, covering her mouth and tears welled in her eyes as she stared down at the diamond inlaid dancing ballerina pendant hanging from a white-gold chain.

“Oh, Linc, it’s absolutely beautiful.”

“Do you like it? I remembered the story about you wanting to be a ballet dancer.”

Her gaze flew to his, a tear rolling down her cheek. “I love it. Thank you.” She looked back down at the pendant, her finger gingerly tracing over the pink-diamond encrusted tutu the dancer wore before she pulled it from the box. “Will you help me put it on?”

He sat down behind her on the bed, lifting the necklace from her fingers. He moved her hair aside, draping it over her shoulder. The tiny clasp was difficult for him to maneuver with his large fingers, but he finally got it hooked around her neck.

He kissed her bare shoulder. “Happy birthday, baby.”

She turned until she sat facing him. “Thank you for making it special.”

He stared into her eyes, as lush a green as the forest floor speckled with sunlight and knew every day with her would always be special.

Chapter Twenty

Sitting in front of her closet, a mess of stuff piled around her, Nora searched through a duffle bag, digging to the bottom. She pulled out an old t-shirt. Tossed it. A black belt that she didn’t even remember packing. Toss. A half-used tube of toothpaste. Toss. Toss. Toss.

“Looking for something?”

Glancing over her shoulder, she saw Linc leaning in the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest. He looked calm, cool, and relaxed. Three things she was not.

Did she mention calm?

How could he be so calm?

“I can’t find my other red shoe!” Which matched the cute peplum top she was wearing perfectly.

“What’s it look like?”

She glanced back at him, her brow pulled down in frustration and huffed, “It’s red.”

He slapped on a tolerant smile which kind of pissed her off more. “I meant, other than red.”

She took a deep breath to calm her irritation, then grumbled, “They’re leather with a closed toe and a strap around the back with a low heel.”

He took a few steps into the room, squatted, flicked a shirt aside, and picked up a red shoe by the strap so it dangled on his finger. “This one?”

She dropped her head, all her anger deflating from her with a sigh. She looked back up feeling contrite. “Sorry for snapping at you.”

He stood, walking over to stand above her. She took his offered hand and he pulled her up from the floor.

Correctly guessing what her freakout had been about, he took her into his arms and assured, “Everything is going to be fine and you’re going to be great.”

She dropped her forehead to his chest and wrapped her arms around his waist. “You don’t know that.”

---