Page 93 of Because You Loved Me

His feet stopped moving and right there in the middle of the dance floor of the New Year’s Eve party that had followed the vow renewal, he held her face between his hands. “I won’t lose you again, Noa.” He was completely serious as he stared into her eyes. “The last few days without you were the worst days of my life. I didn’t know how much I needed you until I had you, and then lost you. Say what you will—I might be stubborn and hard-headed, but I know how to learn my lessons. And I’ve learned this one, sweetheart. I swear to you, right here and right now, I will work hard every day to be the man you deserve.”

She lifted herself on her tiptoes and kissed him softly. “You already are.”

With a whirl, he spun her out dramatically and she laughed, before they once more resumed their dance around the floor.

Noa was ready for a break when her father appeared. He tapped Asher on the shoulder. “May I cut in?”

“Absolutely, Mr. Briggs.”

“Charles.”

Asher’s smile was genuine. “Charles.” He nodded and stepped back with a wave of his hand. “By all means.”

Her father stepped forward but hesitated before taking her hand. It wasn’t like him to get emotional, but Noa could see the emotion shining in his eyes. He swallowed hard and spoke to Asher.

“I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen my daughter smile the way she’s smiling tonight.” He shook Asher’s hand. “Everything about this situation is unusual to say the least, but I want you to know, Asher, her mother and I…well, all we’ve ever wanted for our children is for them to be happy. You only get one shot at this thing called life. It’s important to be as happy as you can. And you make our little girl happy.”

“Not nearly as happy as she makes me, Charles.” Asher was serious. “And I’ll spend the rest of my life working to bridge that gap.”

Charles pressed his lips together and nodded before exhaling and turning to her. “Shall we?”

It had been a long time since Noa had danced with her father. The last time would have been a cousin’s wedding, years earlier, but the moment they started moving in time to the music, they fell into an easy rhythm.

“It was a beautiful ceremony, Dad. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house when you all read your vows.”

He smiled. “We’ve been through a lot, your mother and I. We’re some of the lucky ones,” he continued. “Our trials have only made us stronger.”

Their strength as well as their love for each other had been evident in the vows they’d recited for each other earlier that evening.

After the false start when Asher had burst through the doors and stopped the first ceremony, they’d taken an hour to reset, and give Asher a chance to shower and change so he could join them before starting over.

Noa had been a little bit concerned that her parents’ first impression of Asher might not have been the most positive—after all, he’d looked like a madman in this sodden winter clothing and wild hair. When she’d heard about the way he’d cross-country skied for hours to get to the lodge and stop the wedding, Noa couldn’t help but swoon a little bit. And she was far from the swooning type.

Her parents both agreed that although his entrance could use a little work, the message Asher had delivered was perfect. And all they’d needed to hear to know that, despite their apprehensions of their only daughter falling for a man so quickly, he was obviously just as taken with her.

And as Charles had just told them both, life was short. It was important to be happy.

And she was.

She really was.

“I wanted to ask you, Noa.” Her dad spun her gently and guided her to the edge of the dance floor, where they stopped moving. “What’s next for you?”

“Next?” Noa hadn’t given any thought to what wasnext.“I guess…I don’t…”

“You don’t have to answer now.” Her father released her, so they stood face-to-face. “But I always wondered about you working in the firm.”

“Wondered? How?”

His smile was kind. “I never really thought it suited you, Noa. Corporate law, I mean. I have to admit that I was surprised when you and Ryan both told us you wanted to come work with Brad and me. Not Ryan so much…he’s always had a mind for corporate, but you…”

“Me what?”

Charles tilted his head and looked at her in a way that only a father could look at his daughter. “I always thought maybe you were meant for something different. I know you’d be amazing in the firm, and you know I’d love to have you. But remember when I just told you to be happy because life was too short?”

She nodded.

“Will corporate law make you happy?”

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