Page 74 of Chocolate Cherry Cabin

Thomas jumped, slapping Louis’s palm with his own. “Hey, big man!”

Wade gave a nod, acting cool, but gave him a subtle fist bump.

Hannah stopped in front of Louis as her family continued on. “Merry Christmas.”

“Was the piano okay?”

“Someone brought out the best in it.” She’d zipped a tendril of her brown curls into the collar of her jacket and Louis longed to cozy up to her and free the strands. Instead he practiced patience, letting Hannah slowly come to the conclusion he’d already jumped to, that they were meant to be together.

Man, it was difficult to be patient, though. While he leaped into things with only his intuition and a gut feeling as his wingman, she considered every angle before taking action. It was one of the reasons Louis loved her, even though it drove him a little crazy.

Then again, she did a good job of jumping in where fighting him was concerned. Unfortunately for his less patient side, it sure seemed to slow their progress in the relationship department.

“I was ready to scrap the piano, but I was wrong.” She was watching him, her cheeks rosy, a hint of fear in her eyes. Fear of rejection? Of an I-told-you-so?

“That’s funny.”

She crossed her arms in that classic Hannah’s-annoyed posture. “What is?”

“I was wrong, too.”

She tipped back in surprise, one hand coming up to her chest as though trying to steady her heart. “You were?”

Louis shifted closer. “I was wrong about you.”

“What?” She sounded breathless.

“I judged you for caring about others. And you’re right. I saw my mother in you. You share a lot of her traits. Admirable traits, such as how tuned in you are with your values, and how you’ll set everything aside for your family. I didn’t see that quality for what it truly was, and I feared that you were getting the raw end of a bargain, that you were being…” The wordcomplaisantwas on the tip of his tongue. “That you weren’t putting whatyouwanted before others. I was wrong, and I’m sorry.”

“Oh.”

“I talked to my dad earlier.” Louis let out a breath, and said quickly, “My mom was sick before she left her job at Cohen’s. She quit and stayed home so she could be with us, because she knew her days were numbered. She wanted to spend her best, last days with us.” He swallowed hard, his throat tightening.

“Oh, Louis.” Hannah moved to his side, giving his arm a squeeze.

He still couldn’t quite wrap his head around the way he’d so steadfastly believed that his mom’s illness had manifested from her giving up her dreams, and that Hannah was paddling the same boat. He’d erroneously thought that the two women were almost the same, and that he was somehow saving Hannah by pushing her so hard.

Louis pushed his hands deep into his coat pockets, his chest expanding. “I’m really sorry I took it out on you.”

“Don’t be. You helped shape me into who I am today, and I like who I am.”

“So do I.” His throat was tightening up again, but he worked his way past it. “I care about you, Hannah.”

“I care about you, too.” The warmth in her smile and tone felt good.

“That wasn’t what I was hoping to hear.”

Her smile fell, but while he expected her old fighting stance to make an appearance again, it didn’t.

“Maybe I should say it first.” His fingers found hers, entwining their hands together. “I love you, Hannah. I want nothing but the best for you, and I hope somehow, even though I’m just some guy who annoys you, that you’ll find room for me in your life.”

She blinked as if she’d been shocked. Louis wasn’t certain she was even breathing. He was starting to grow concerned that he’d truly broken her this time when she threw her arms around him, nestled her face against his neck and breathed him in.

Louis savored the way she felt in his arms, wrapped in his embrace.

He knew it was a lot to ask that she return his feelings, especially in the wake of her divorce, with their history, and given their up-and-down week. But he’d said it. Put it out there. The rest was up to her, plus fate, destiny, or whatever lucky being had brought her back into his life.

“Does this hug mean I can stick around and continue to be a meddling pain in your butt?” he whispered against her neck. He wanted to kiss his way up to her lips, tangle his hands in her hair and never come up for air.

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