Page 147 of Falling Back to You

I was absolutely going to marry this woman.

“Time for games!” Khia announced, sentimentality having run its course and bouncing right back into fun-mode.

Somewhere in between pin the crown on the princess and the second call for cupcakes, I cornered Noelle in the hallway, just out of sight from all the guests in the living room.

What I really wanted to say was Will you marry me? Maybe tomorrow? But that was too soon. I could wait a little longer. Little being the key word. “You kept my jersey,” I said, bracketing both hands on the wall beside her head.

She arched an eyebrow. “Snooping, were we?”

“Stop changing the subject.”

Noelle smiled, her hands running over my shoulders to loop around my neck. “What can I say? Your clothes are comfortable.”

“You have no idea how much I love seeing you wearing my number again.” Slipping an arm around her lower back, I tugged her close and pressed a kiss to her smirking lips. “Thank you for helping make this so special for her,” I added, pulling back a fraction. Not quite ready to leave the heady cocoon of us.

“I love that girl, Cal.”

My heart swelled, thundering in my chest. Finding a woman who’d love my daughter had been my main qualm with dating again. And yet . . . I had. Because there was absolutely no doubt in my mind about Noelle’s sincerity.

“I know,” I said softly, brushing my thumb under her eyes, then trailed kisses across her cheek. Her eyes fluttered shut when I moved to her jawline. “And I love you,” I whispered.

“I love you, too.” She pressed a final kiss to my lips, then ducked under my arm still propped against the wall. “C’mon, Cap. We can canoodle later.”

“I’m holding you to that promise, Holiday.” And I followed after her, goofy smile on my face.

Chapter fifty-three

Noelle

One of the hardest parts of adulting was making plans with friends and getting them to match up on everyone’s calendar. Myles, Juliet, and I had been trying to line up our schedules to have dinner, and after several weeks, we’d managed it.

Their apartment was on the south side of downtown above the Bean There, Done That Café. I couldn’t imagine living there, smelling coffee and baked goods all the time. That was a level of self-control I hadn’t acquired yet because I’d be in there all the time to buy pastries. Even if I couldn’t eat them. Talk about torture.

Flowers and a dish of millionaire shortbread in hand, I knocked on their apartment door.

Juliet opened it, phone pressed to her ear, and smiled. “Elle, come in! No, Liz, we have a friend over for dinner. Yes, I have friends besides just you guys, you goose.”

“Thanks for having me.” I chuckled at the exchange and stepped inside. The apartment was cozy but minimalist chic, decorated in white, black, and pops of pink.

“Of course, I’m glad it finally worked out.” She gave me a quick hug, then groaned into the phone. “Liz, we talked about this. We aren’t doing matching baby outfits.” Her phone pinged, and she pulled it from her ear. We both stared at the link to matching pumpkin baby outfits.

“Aww,” I said.

Juliet whimpered into the phone. “Okay, fine, it is pretty cute.”

Myles appeared as if by magic beside us, and I nearly jumped out of my skin. He chuckled apologetically. “Care to join me for a game of Mario Kart? Getting off the phone with Liz is a process. No Irish goodbyes there.”

“They’re not even born yet!” Juliet cried. “Save the matchmaking for, I don’t know, two decades from now?!” Another sigh. “Arranged marriage is different from marriage of convenience. How many times do I have to explain that?”

“Nothing fake about us, Elizabeth!” Myles called loudly enough for Liz to hear.

Juliet winked and held a hand over the speaker. “Sorry, just give me a few minutes and I’ll be back.”

“Who was that?” I asked as she disappeared down the hall.

“Liz Walker. One of her college friends. Practically a sister.” Myles chuckled. “And she’s a talker. Plus, she’s due just after Juliet, and they’re bonding. Now, are you prepared to be destroyed on the Rainbow Road?”

“Can’t wait.”