Page 128 of One Last Time
Finn and I share a look and burst out laughing. “She needs help, Noah. Please”—he drops to his knees and folds his hands—“I’m begging you. Fix her before it’s toolate.”
“I wish I could, but apparently, she has the keys to the house of cool.” I shrug and follow her backinside.
I watch her flop onto the couch with her arms stretched, and she takes my breath away. She has her hair pulled up, isn’t wearing any makeup, and is rocking a pair of black shorts and a baggy T-shirt. Yet, she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve everseen.
Kristin tilts her head and gives me a smile that makes me want to take her to the bedroom and wipe it off her face. “What?”
“Nothing.”
The corners of her eyes crinkle. “You’re thinkingsomething.”
I smile and walk to her, place my hands beside her shoulders, and brace myself over her. “I’m thinking I’m a lucky man. Not only did I find you, I made you love me, and I’ve convinced you that you need me. I’m batting a thousandhere.”
Kristin rolls her eyes. “Sure, it was all you, stud. I lured you in with my adorable awkwardness, gave you mind-blowing sex, and I have the ultimateweapon.”
I chuckle silently. “What’sthat?”
“Noah!” Aubrey yells from the back of the house. “You forgotone!”
She takes my face in her hands and grins. “Her.”
I laugh against her lips and give her a searing kiss. “I loveyou.”
“I love you, too. Now, go feed the animals before I find myself a new man who can keepup.”
“I’ll give you keep up.” I start to lean back toward her, but Aubrey makes herappearance.
“No-ah!” She says each syllable separately. “They could die. They need toeat.”
The laughter from the couch doesn’t go unnoticed. She’s really helping me here. I look to Aubrey, and her eyes go big again, just like with the damn cookies. What is it with little girls? Do they have some kind of magical powers? It’s witchcraft or something because here I am, taking her hand and letting her lead me away so I can feed her stuffed animals so they don’tdie.
“Have fun!” Kristin says as she leans her chin on the top of thecouch.
“We will later, sweetheart. Mark mywords.”
“I’m counting on it.” Kristin smiles, and I start to think of anything other than her naked beneathme.
Aubrey looks at me with a huge grin. “I bet the animals wouldloooovesomecookies.”
I let out a loud laugh and snuggle her. “Do you promise to eat your dinner and not tell yourmom?”
Shenods.
I’m so going to pay forthis.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Kristin
~ Eight Months Later ~
“I can’t believewe’re packing youagain,” Nicole grumbles as she stacks the box she closed on top of anotherone.
“And again, you’re acting like you’ve done anything of value,” I toss ather.
The construction starts in three days, and I’ve procrastinated long enough. I can’t screw around anymore. Plus, Noah will be home tomorrow and he thinks I’ve already doneit.
Oops.
