Page 70 of Healed in the Alpha's Embrace
“Permission?” I repeated, blinking. “Right, of course. I promise I’ll talk to him.”
Heather’s gaze softened. “Zoey doesn’t know yet, does she?”
I shook my head.
“Good,” Heather said. “She needs time. If you’d rushed into it and told her after all she’s been through. You’d have scared her away. Getting away from that piece of shit took a lot out of her. You were right to wait.” She reached across the table and squeezed my hand. “And Noah, thank you,” she said sincerely. “For bringing back some light into Zoey’s life.”
“I’d do anything for her,” I said, my hands steady even though my heart wasn’t.
We finished our coffee, chatting about how things were progressing with the gym and Heather’s clinical duties. As we were putting our coats on and getting ready to leave, I turned on what I hoped was a winning smile.
“Could you do me a favor? Could you keep Ro tonight? I’d like to plan something for Zoey.”
She laughed. “So, all this was just a ploy for a babysitter?”
“Not all of it.”
“Of course, I’ll take Ro for the evening. Make sure Zoey has some fun, okay?”
I smiled at her, then we parted ways.
The moment Zoeyslid into the passenger seat of my truck, I could tell she was curious. “Where are we going?” she asked, studying my face for any clues.
“Do you trust me?” I asked, hoping to coax a smile from her.
“Always a dangerous question,” she teased, but there was a lightness to her that hadn’t been there before.
We drove in a comfortable silence until the lake finally appeared before us. Its glassy surface reflected the soft palette of pinks, oranges, and purples of the setting sun.
I parked near the dock whereThe Dodge & Weavebobbed gently in the water. Zoey got out of the car, her eyebrows knitted together. “What are we doing here?”
“Your chariot awaits,” I said, gesturing toward the boat with a flourish.
Taken aback, Zoey let out a sudden gasp of surprise. “You have a boat? You’re taking me out on the water?”
“Better,” I said. “I’ve got plans on the other side of the lake.”
“What? How?”
“See that cabin?” I said, pointing to a building on the far side of the lake, its lights sparkling in the setting sun. “My family owns it, and I’ve planned dinner there for us.”
A rosy flush spread across her cheeks as she brought her fingers up to her mouth and smiled. “Noah, you didn’t have to do all this.”
“I wanted to. Let’s call it a celebration. For new beginnings.”
As we settled into the boat, I watched her, mesmerized by how the wind playfully tousled her long black hair as we cut through the water towards the small floating dock.
“Here we are,” I said, jumping onto the dock and securing the boat with a tight knot. I offered my hand to help her down, feeling the familiar jolt when our skin touched.
Jasmine scented the air, and the crickets had started their evening serenade. It all added to the romantic atmosphere I’d wanted for tonight. I’d spent the afternoon setting the scene here, preparing the cabin for our date. This wasn’t something I’d ever done for a woman, but Zoey was different.
My palms were sweaty, and my heart pounded. What if I’d gone too far? What if this was too much for her?
When I opened the cabin door and ushered her inside, Zoey gasped. Small lamps illuminated the table set for two, and the twinkling lights I’d strung across the walls cast a soft glow over the cabin.
“Wow,” she said, moving towards the table.
I lit the candles I had set on the table.
