Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 129084 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 645(@200wpm)___ 516(@250wpm)___ 430(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129084 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 645(@200wpm)___ 516(@250wpm)___ 430(@300wpm)
Tears well in Noah’s eyes. I didn’t expect this reaction over the name change. I don’t know what I thought would happen, but I knew I wanted this for our son, for Noah, and for me.
Noah reads the paper aloud, “Maxwell Noah Westcott.” He looks at me. “The best gift I could ever have. It’s fucking beautiful.”
Max says, “Fuc—”
“Max. No.”
He giggles, looking at Noah like he has no intention of listening.
I sigh. “Oh good lord, help us.”
Noah kisses Max’s head, not putting weight in the swear word because we know it will backfire, but he then slides off the chair to kneel on his knees in front of me.
Although Max’s feet are now on the ground, Noah still holds him with one arm. Taking my hand with his free one, he adds, “Thank you for doing this. Thank you for giving him my last name.”
“You’re welcome. He was always meant to have the Westcott name, and now he does, officially.” Our kisses are gentle, and our smiles are wide for each other.
“There’s only one greater gift you could give me.”
“What’s that?”
“Your hand in marriage.”
I gasp, now the tears are really threatening. I blink, and they begin to fall. “Noah,” I reply, half in caution and partly in awe.
“I don’t want to waste another minute without strings fully attached to you. You’ve given me your heart, your trust, and your unconditional love.” Noah’s smile still shines as he tickles Max. “You’ve given me this guy. I want nothing more than to be married to you, to spend my life loving you every day and night while we raise our family, and then rock ourselves in chairs in our old age.” He kisses my hand, and then says, “I’ll honor our love in duty but with care. I’ll cherish you emotionally and physically because if there’s one thing I know, it’s that I was born to love you, babe. Will you marry me, Liv?”
Max jumps up. “Yes.”
“There’s your answer.”
I never denied my attraction to Noah, six-feet-something of sexy man, a face I was drawn to with his natural handsomeness, those hazel eyes that the sun reached down to personally bless, and lips that I find myself kissing not only because I can but because that’s where so much love is given. His broad shoulders and muscular build protect the gentle heart that he’d sacrifice in a heartbeat for me if asked.
When it came to us, he was never guarded. He knew exactly what he wanted.
So do I.
Taking his hand, I kiss his palm with my eyes locked on his. There’s no reason to hide how I feel about him. He’s always allowed me to be exactly who I am, to grow into who I want to be, and to pursue exactly what I want as well. “Yes, babe. I’ll marry you and I’ll love you deeper than the ocean and longer than forever.” I kiss him and then again for good measure and just because I want to. I let the tears fall where they may because I’m going to marry my soulmate. “Yes. Yes. Yes, Noah Westcott. I cannot wait to be your wife.”
41
Noah
Five days later . . .
I wasn’t kidding when I said I didn’t want to waste more time.
Fortunately, I have a fiancée who agreed with me. We were either going to elope or have a last-minute wedding at the crime scene.
Liv laughed that the crime was against her heart when I stole it.
My side of the story plays out differently. The criminal moment that stands out in my mind is waking up to that empty bed. From either perspective, we got back here as quickly as we could to serve our time—a lifetime of companionship, loyalty, and above all else, our unwavering love for each other and our little family.
We only had one requirement when choosing our date and to make it special. Our families must be able to attend. All eleven and a plus-one were there on the shortest of notices. Not one person complained that we changed their weekend plans. They just showed up for us like they always do.
My mom fusses about my tie as I stand at our end of the aisle. “You look so handsome, honey.”
Tilting my head down, I whisper, “I think we’re starting.” I’d never ask her to stop caring about us.
Her eyes soften as she looks into mine. “So proud of you.”
“Thank you, Mom.”
She returns to her seat just as my dad steps out of the house. With the sound of the ocean behind me and the Hamptons house in front, I stand in the dunes where we met under a full moon on a summer’s night. Two strangers brave enough to talk to each other and bold enough to fall into bed came together on this very spot.
And here we are again . . .