Page 90 of Balancing Act

“Actually, if it’s all right with you, I’d like to bring the children out and let them pick. Drew will choose right away. Emma will hem and haw, but my instincts are telling me that in light of AJ’s arrival, it will be a good thing.”

“Of course you can bring the children out. In fact, that’s a nice segue into something else I want to talk to you about.”

“Oh? What’s that?”

He clasped her hand in his and tugged her toward the door. “Since you need to be home by eleven, let’s talk about it on the way.”

Willow was curious, but she felt too mellow to be too curious. She didn’t really want to think much at all. Tomorrow was going to be a seriously tough day, and she would need to do plenty of thinking then. For now, she just wanted to settle back into his leather seats and veg.

So she wasn’t thrilled when, after pulling out onto the highway and heading back into town, Noah said, “About that crib.”

Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, Willow.“Oh yes. That’s really nice of you to offer, Noah.”

“Well, the thing is, I have more than a crib. This was a family retreat, and we always had a nursery. When my niece came along, we updated everything. I have the whole shebang—changing table, a high chair, toys, a bathtub. Pretty sure there are some diapers, too. Willow, my house has five bedrooms and four baths, plus the workshop apartment. I think you and the kids should move in here.”

She sat up straight. “What?”

“I want to reassure you that as much as I enjoyed tonight—which I did. Very much. More than any night in years. Decades, even. Maybe ever. But back to the point, as much as I enjoyed tonight, I’m not trying to set up a repeat. Not that I wouldn’t love a repeat, but that’s not what we agreed to, and I had this idea before I ever dreamed that we’d end up in my loft. I have all this space, Willow, and I’m not using it. Move into my house. I’ll move into the apartment. I spend all of my time in the workshop anyway. You can take your time finding the right place for you and the kids. Pay rent if that will make you feel better.”

“Noah. I don’t know what to say. That’s… incredibly generous. Probably a little crazy, too. I’ll have three children, Noah.”

“They’ll be in daycare this summer, right?”

“Yes. I’m lucky that Little Ducklings had room for AJ. I called them as soon as I got off the phone with his grandmother. But…” Oh, it would solve so many problems.

And, perhaps, create entirely new ones.

Was it a good idea for her to be around Noah daily? She feared she could totally fall for this man.

“Just think about it, Willow,” he said, taking hold of herhand. “It’s an option for you. No pressure from me one way or the other.”

“I will.” And she did. They remained silent for the rest of the ride back to the hospital to get her car, their fingers linked, the mood between them comfortable.

“Thank you,” Willow said as he pulled into the hospital parking lot. “Seriously, Noah. Thank you. For everything. Tonight was…”

“Spectacular. Magnificent. Mind-blowing. The best I’ve ever had. For me, anyway.”

Willow smiled. “For me, too.”

The parking places around her car were taken, so he found a spot a few rows over and parked. As he reached for his door handle, she said, “You don’t need to walk me to my car.”

He gave her a chastising look, then exited his truck. As they walked toward her car, she fumbled in her purse for the keys and finally found the fob. The headlamps flashed as she unlocked the door.

Though crowded with cars parked near the emergency room, the hospital lot was relatively empty of people. Noah reached around Willow and opened the driver’s side door for her. She smiled up at him. “Good night, Noah.”

“Good night, Willow.”

She went up on her tiptoes and kissed him, lingering long enough to make it sweet but not long enough to turn it to steam. When they parted, she slid into her seat and started the engine. She went to shut the door, but he held it open. “There’s something else I want to say. I’m not sure why except it’s almost like I have this ghost kicking my ass telling me to say it. To thank you. Tonight was something else for me, Willow. Something more. You helped repair something inside of me.”

“You did that for me, too, Noah. Thank you.”

“So, we make good medicine together?”

“We do.”

“Why do I suddenly feel like a snake oil salesman?”

“Better than a televangelist with a wife, three mistresses, and an offshore bank account.”

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