Page 64 of Marrying a Spy

Chapter Twenty-Two

Sophia’s eyes widened as Noah leaned toward her. He forced himself to calm down, even though every part of him wanted to pull her into his arms and tell her everything. But he knew she wasn’t at the same place he was, and he needed to respect that.

“Okay. What?” she asked.

He took a deep breath. “I resigned at the agency.”

Her mouth dropped open. “You did what?”

He pushed his hands through his hair. “I resigned at the agency. After Georgie was arrested, I quit. I’m done.” He shoved his hands into his front pockets and glanced up at her. What was she thinking? Was she mad? Was she glad?

“Wh—why would you do that?” she whispered. He could see a flicker of hope in her eyes.

He stepped forward. He was ready to love her completely. “Because I realized what was important in my life.” His chest squeezed at the directness of his words, but he didn’t care. She needed to know how he felt.

Her cheeks flushed as she dropped her gaze. “And what is that?”

“You.” He closed the distance between them. “It’s always been you, Sophia. I meant those words I said to you. I love you, and I want to marry you.” Taking a chance, he reached out and grasped her hand. She hesitated but didn’t pull away.

“But…”

Noah shook his head. “Outside of the gas station, you said that once I had what I needed, I was free to leave. You are what I need. You’ve always been what I needed. I’m not complete without you.” He stepped closer to her, reveling in the feeling of her hand in his.

She raised her gaze to study him. Her eyes were wide, and he could see the uncertainty in her expression. She was scared. So was he.

“Please, Sophia, let me in. I’m so sorry I hurt you before. I didn’t want to. Your father had me scared. Scared that you would get hurt if I was close to you. That I had dragged you into a situation that would only end badly. I’d already been the reason one person got hurt, I couldn’t let that happen to you too.”

He winced as the memory of Judy rushed back to him. She’d been killed because of him. That hurt so much. But if anything happened to Sophia, he was pretty sure his life would end that day.

“How can I trust that you won’t leave?” Her voice was barely a whisper. He could feel her worry emanating from her.

He lifted her hand to his chest, to where his heart hammered behind his ribs. He hoped she could feel the love he had for her coursing through his veins. “Because I love you, body and soul. You are my everything. I live and breathe for you. I won’t ever leave you. But if you tell me to go right now, I’ll walk out and never bother you again.”

Her eyebrows rose.

“But I hope you don’t ask me to do that.” He pulled her hand up to his lips and kissed her knuckles.

When she didn’t answer, he glanced over at her. He could see the tears brimming on her lids.

“You’re really not going to leave me again?” she asked.

Noah shook his head. “Not unless you tell me to go. I’m here. I’m yours. Forever.”

She chewed on her bottom lip for a moment before a small smile hinted on her lips. “Yes.” She whispered.

Noah leaned in, not sure he’d heard her. “What?”

She nodded as she closed the gap between them. “I want you to stay,” she said, rising up onto her tiptoes and wrapping her arms around his neck.

Pushing out all thoughts of worry and doubt, Noah pulled her close to him and leaned down, inhaling the familiar scent of her shampoo. Her body felt so right pressed against his. She was his world. His everything. He was forever and irrevocably changed because of her.

“I love you,” he whispered.

She pulled back to study him. A tear had escaped and rolled down her cheek. “I love you, too,” she whispered.

Noah leaned down and pressed his lips against hers. In that moment, it was just the two of them. Two incomplete people making a whole.

He loved her and she loved him, and that was all that mattered. He’d go the rest of his life proving to her that she’d made the right decision.

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