Page 87 of Stolen Kisses
Noah stopped walking and looked at her. “I’ve taken him fishing twice because you asked me to. Now you’re acting like me taking him fishing again is a bad thing.”
“No.” Krista shook her head. “It’s not. Those other two times were planned a few days in advance, though. We had a set date and I knew you’d be able to keep them. Having some unset date in the far future is a little different. I just want to make sure you do what you say you’ll do.”
“Geez, Kris. Glad to see you think so highly of me,” he said, releasing her hand and turning to stare at the water.
“I do think highly of you. But I also know you, Noah.” She ran a hand along his back. “Just forget I said anything, okay? I think it’s great that you’re keeping up with Adam.”
Noah’s lips were grimly set. She was sorry she’d ruined his good mood. “It’s my fault you think that about me. I’ll just have to prove you wrong.” He glanced over and winked, his mood shifting as easily as the waves rolled toward the seafloor.
“Oh.” She smiled as he took her hand again and brought it to his mouth for a kiss. “Okay. Well, let me know when you want to go fishing with him and I’ll make plans to come along, too.”
“I wouldn’t want to go without you.” He pulled her to his side and she tried not to worry that he’d hurt Adam’s fragile emotions. She trusted Noah. Or she wanted to.
After their walk, they returned to Noah’s houseboat and made love well into the night. Then Krista drove home so she would be able to wake early in the morning to meet the other women in the wedding party for hair and makeup.
She struggled to fall asleep as she lay in bed, staring blankly at her bedroom ceiling. The reality of her situation had become as clear as water to her. She’d loved Noah before, but now she’d fallen so deep in love with him that she was ruined for any other relationship in her future. Noah had made so many changes of late, but had he changed his stance on marriage and children? Because that was still something she wanted one day. She wanted to be the bride instead of just the maid of honor. She wanted wedding parties, rehearsal dinners, and a honeymoon of her own. And she wanted that honeymoon to be in the Sawyer cabin. With Noah.
This is foolish, Krista.If it were any other guy, she wouldn’t be having these thoughts so soon. The only reason she was now was because she knew Noah’s road had once been a dead end, and driving down a dead end led her away from the desires of her heart. ButGod,she loved being with him. When she was with him, there was nowhere in the world she’d rather be, dead end or not.
Her alarm clock went off way too early the next morning. The morning fog lifted, however, as soon as she realized what day it was. Grace’s wedding day! And Krista was maid of honor. It was her duty to make sure every detail was perfect. Well, hers and the wedding planner’s.
Krista slid her feet into a pair of slippers and hurried down the hall to go make and then guzzle a cup of coffee. Joey was already standing by the coffee maker. “You’re my hero,” Krista exclaimed, reaching for the full pot. She poured a mug, added in almond milk and sugar, and guzzled happily. Then she dashed off to the bathroom. An hour later, she pulled into the parking lot for Blushing Beauties, a fancy salon in town, and parked. She was the first one from the wedding party to arrive. She opened the bag she’d brought and set a see-through nylon bag at every hair station. Inside she’d filled the bags with mints and chocolate kisses and other sweet things to munch and snack on during the day. Abby was also bringing over some finger foods for people to have while they prettied up for the ceremony at two o’clock.
“Aww,” Grace said, pulling her hands to her chest as she walked in. “You didn’t have to do this.”
“I take my job as maid of honor very seriously.” Krista wrapped Grace in a hug. “Are you ready for your big day?”
“Absolutely. I can’t wait to be Mrs. Jack Sawyer.”
Shelby, the owner of the salon, walked in and hugged Grace, too. “The bride is always first on my list. If she’s not pretty, then no one is.” Shelby ushered Grace to a chair. Then Penny, another stylist at Blushing Beauties, motioned Krista toward a neighboring one. Pretty soon the entire salon was full of excited women and laughter. It was a nice occasion that Krista was thrilled to be a part of.
“So,” Grace said, leaning over to whisper to Krista as they got their pedicures, “shall I try and toss the bouquet to you when I throw it over my shoulder at the reception?”
“I don’t want you to rig the bouquet toss, but…” Krista thought about it. “I’d love to be next up the aisle.”
“With Noah?”
Krista grinned. “Who else?”
“Just be ready to catch,” Grace advised. “Might have to battle my mom for it, though.”
Krista laughed and looked over at Grace’s mother a few chairs down. “If it comes to it, your mom can have it.”
“No. The last thing my mom needs is another husband. She’s fine,” Grace assured her. “You have to beat her to the punch. Got it? It’s your final duty as my maid of honor.”
Krista fanned out her polished toes. “Got it.”
—
“T-minus ten minutes,” Noah announced as he headed into the room where his brother Jack was waiting to get married. “Ready for me to drive you to the beach?”
Jack took a deep breath, blew it out, and stood as if he were being marched to his executioner.
“Whoa. What’s this about? Are you nervous, bro?” Noah asked.
Jack rubbed the back of his neck. “Of course I’m nervous. I’m terrified.”
“But Grace is awesome. You two are perfect together and—”
