Page 67 of Rumors in Bayberry
At the airport, he had to purchase a ticket to get to the gate.This process took longer than he expected.And by the time he made it through the security checkpoint, it was ten after eleven.She would already be seated on the plane.His shoulder slumped.He’d missed her.
But he’d paid all of that money, so he might as well walk to her gate.He didn’t know what he expected to find, but it wasn’t to find Sadie sitting all alone.
As he approached her, it was like she was staring off into space.“Sadie?”
She jumped and turned to him.“Reed, what are you doing here?”
He moved to her and then pulled the notebook from his pocket.As he handed it to her, he sat down.“You forgot this.”
Her fingers brushed his as she took it.An electrical charge arced between them.The sensation pulsed up his arm and settled in his chest.
She broke their connection.She lowered the notebook to her lap.Her gaze didn’t meet his as she said, “I suppose you read it.”
He could have made a bunch of excuses for reading it, like he was looking for the name of the owner or how it fell open on the bed, but instead he simply said, “I did.”
“It’s okay if you don’t feel the same way.”
He placed a finger beneath her chin and moved her head until she faced him.“Do you think I’d be here if I didn’t love you?”
Her eyes widened.“You love me?”
He smiled.“I do.”
“I love you too.”With a big smile on her beautiful face, she turned fully to him.She threw her arms around him.She drew him toward her, and then her lips pressed to his.He definitely followed her lead.
His heart was pounding against his chest.And to think of how close he’d come to letting the best thing in his life get away.He didn’t know how the future would work out, but as long as they loved each other, they would find a way through anything.
Without breaking their kiss, they stood.Now he could wrap his arms around her waist and pull her to him.Their kiss deepened.
This was the part of life that he’d been missing—having a loving woman by his side to face the good and bad things in life.He knew no matter what it was, they could face it together.
When they parted, he looked at her.“So, why were you sitting here all by yourself?Weren’t you supposed to be on that plane?”He pointed to the window where the plane was backing away from the gate.“I think you missed your flight.”
“I think you’re right, but I already decided that I wasn’t leaving.”
“And why is that?”He stared into her eyes.
“Well, first, I wanted more of these.”She lifted up on her tiptoes and planted a quick kiss on his lips.It was much too quick for his liking.And then she said, “And second, I had some thoughts about the newspaper.”
“I’m listening.”
She grabbed her stuff from the seat.“We need to have this discussion with my parents.”
“Okay, then.Your chariot awaits you.”He presented his arm to her.
When she slipped her hand in the crook of his arm, it felt so right.He knew merging their lives wouldn’t be easy.Sacrifices would have to be made on both sides, but he was willing to do his part.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Helovedher.
And she definitely loved him.
Sadie couldn’t stop smiling as they drove back to Bayberry.She glanced down to where their fingers were entwined.When this day started, she was miserable.Now, she was so happy she wasn’t even sure her feet had touched the ground when they’d walked to the car.
She just hoped Reed liked her plan, because it involved him too.That was what she’d been lost in thought about when he’d shown up at the airport.It would take a lot to make it work, but she thought they could pull it off.
When they reached her parents’ house, she ran to the front door and burst inside.She was so anxious to tell them her plan.They weren’t in the living room.She headed to the kitchen.They weren’t there either.
