Page 78 of Saved By Noel
My words have grown shaky, and Clara’s eyes have filled with tears. I reach forward and take her hand, the one that has been furiously spinning the ring on her pointer finger.
“Clara, I love you. I’m sorry that I wasn’t ready to admit that when you tried. But now, I’m ready to admit that I need you, that I want Clark-and-Clara, all that we could be together. If that’s still what you want.”
She hiccups a sob. For a split second, the terror that I might have irrevocably screwed up my chance with her crashes into me.
Then Clara reaches her free hand up to my cheek, running her fingers down my bearded jaw.
“I love you, too, Clark. I still want us. I think I always will,” she whispers.
I waste no time pulling her against me, leaning my head down to capture her lips. The sensation of her mouth against mine is as intoxicating as it was the first time she kissed me, but this time I give myself over to the rush. My hand reaches to cup behind her head, threading my fingers through her soft curls and angling her mouth against mine.
The moms who brought their kids out to visit Santa today are getting more of a scene than they bargained for, but I don’t care. The string around my heart is humming in victory.
I never want to snap out of whatever spell Clara has me under. All I want is to stand here forever, kissing her lips with all the reverence and passion and tenderness and intensity that she deserves.
However, I do want to be respectful of how Clara feels about this PDA, so I break off our kiss to search her eyes.
“Nu-uh,” she hums before pulling my neck back down to her. I gladly surrender, unable to stop a light groan from escaping my throat as I wind my arms around her waist, pulling her tighter against me. Locking her into my embrace like I’ll never let her go—which is fully what I intend. Clara’s arms loop around my neck, pressing even closer to me. The dam has burst, and every ounce of love for her that’s built up inside me over the past year pours into this kiss.
The warmth of Clara’s lips against mine—add that to the list of things that Ineed.
Chapter forty-three
Clara
Morning light streams through my curtains, but I’m reluctant to open my eyes. I want to stay in the perfect dream I was having; I don’t want to wake up.
My eyes fly open with the realization that itwasn’ta dream.
Clark-and-Clara. This is my new reality.
A grin spreads across my face, and I kick my feet under my covers. I stare up at the ceiling, replaying yesterday’s events on a giant movie screen in my mind.
Clark driving to Kansas City. Braving the crowds at Crown Center to find me. Finally explaining the reasons behind his confusing behavior. Professing his love for me.
Kissingme. No more of the awkward Tin Man stiffness—he wasall inthose kisses at Crown Center. And every other kiss for the rest of the evening.
Clark Noel loves me.
I squeal.
After our, um,extendedPDA at Crown Center, we decided to go to dinner and actually talk about our new relationship. It was torture to get into separate cars, but Clark followed me on thedrive to The Country Club Plaza to eat dinner. We made a quick stop to purchase a coat for Clark before leisurely walking around to take in the Christmas lights.
Clark fulfilled another of my girlhood dreams by suggesting we take a ride in one of the horse-drawn carriages. He pulled me close to his side and tucked the blanket tightly around our legs before draping his arm around my shoulders. As the white horse ambled us through the Plaza, Clark told me about his reckoning with Pops. Bless that old man’s heart—I’m going to give him the biggest hug on record the next time I’m in Noel.
My heart was a puddle of warmth and gratitude and happiness until Clark filled me in on his trip to my cabin to water the plants and finding my movie script.
“Clark! You weren’t supposed to read that!” I had exclaimed, cheeks coloring with embarrassment. He turned me toward him, taking my face in his hands.
“Don’t be embarrassed about it, Clara. It was amazing. The way you brought the town and the characters to life was incredible. Renee and Jack feel like real people, as though I could walk down the street and bump into them. You are unbelievably talented,” he’d assured me.
“Well, I suppose I did have some good inspiration,” I said, smiling.
A mischievous grin spread across his face before he said, “I know a way you could thank me for being so inspirational.”
Let’s just say I’m glad the carriage driver’s back was to us.
Clark followed me to my apartment to say goodnight and asked if I could take today off work. His eyebrows furrowed in confusion when I told him I already had the day off. “Tomorrow is my birthday.”
