Page 51 of Fall Love

“Let me surprise you,” I counter, already knowing she doesn’t like them. Or so she says. She runs her hand over her belly, and I want to know if it’s a nervous tic like my hair swiping. Or if she feels protective of our little one inside her. Or if she does it out of habit now.

I want to know everything about her, but I feel like I’m in an hourglass. Time slipping away from me.

She shakes her head, like she thinks I’m ridiculous, but then says, “Let me just check in with Lumi and Isolde.”

She entered the Fall Harvest Market with her sisters. The town closes off Love Lane for street fairs, and I’d been coming out of Fresh Swill, the coffee shop, when I saw them. I didn’t want to appear like a stalker, but I was stalking, right up until Neve stopped at Aunt Charma’s booth. She’d been checking out the rings, which put another idea in my head. One I wanted to ask Neve about after our surprise road trip.

I follow her to find her sisters, where I don’t need another introduction, but Neve still begins with, “You guys remember Tate?”

Isolde smiles kindly. Lumi only shakes her head, not like she doesn’t remember me, but like she’s secretly saying something to her sister.

“We’re going to get out of here,” Neve states, no further preamble.

Isolde’s eyes widen. Lumi’s narrow.

“No elephant, huh?” Lumi asks.

“Does this make him apple pie?” Isolde turns toward her eldest sister. The corner of her lip curls upward like Neve’s does.

I have no idea what either of these things mean and write it off that perhaps they are all a little quirky. Beautiful, but strange in their own way.

With Isolde’s question, Neve wraps her arm through my elbow and tugs me forward.

“Nice to see you again,” I call over my shoulder.

“Don’t be nice to them. They are annoying,” Neve grumbles.

I laugh. “But you love them.”

She slows her pace, keeping her arm tucked around mine, while leaning against me.

“But I love them,” she repeats softly.

Something tells me when Neve loves, she loves fiercely. She loves someone, and sometimes things, like a rundown repair shop, faults and all.

“You have a big heart, Neve Snowe,” I whisper, before kissing the top of her head because I can’t seem to help myself.

A beautiful, quirky, loyal heart.

“Don’t tell anyone.” She bumps into me while still holding onto me, and I grin, feeling so much lighter than I did standing in the middle of the market, afraid I’d lost Neve for good.

Eventually, we stop next to an SUV that is much better than the basic sedan I’ve been driving. It’s another thing that kept me away from her for two days.

“Did you get a different rental?” she asks.

“No. I bought this,” I say, opening the passenger door for her.

“You—” Neve chokes. “You just bought a car. In the past two days.”

“Yep.” I pause as she stares at me. The fresh, new car scent wafts out through the open door. “Do you like it?”

I hesitate only because I want her to like it. The Honda Passport has all the modern amenities plus the highest safety rating. It isn’t a classic Ford Bronco, which doesn’t meet current safety standards.

“It’s fancy.” She shimmies her shoulders but smiles, admiring the leather interior and gadgets on the dashboard as she climbs in. Since she’s too busy checking out the dash, I reach for her seatbelt and strap her in.

Her head whips in my direction. Our faces close.

“I can do that for myself,” she says, her voice lacking heat.