Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 55744 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55744 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
He put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a small box. "I have something for you."
She lifted her head in surprise. "A birthday present?"
He shrugged his shoulders. "I guess you can call it that. But I want you to open it now, before everyone gets here, will you do that for me?"
She nodded her head as an old, remembered ritual came back to her and by rote, she shut her eyes, and lifted her hands, palms up, one cradling the other.
She stood silently, waiting for his gift, until finally, he cleared his throat. "What are you doing?" he asked gently, his tone puzzled.
Her eyes flew open as waves of embarrassment and another rush of sorrow slid through her. Quickly, she pulled her hands down to her sides. She wasn't getting anything right today. "Nothing, I'm sorry." To her horror, her eyes washed with tears yet again, and she mumbled in confession, "I'm having a bad day."
"Sweetheart." He leaned in and very briefly, kissed her forehead. "Tell me why you did that thing with your hands. I know it must have meant something."
At his abbreviated kiss and the term of endearment, she again felt a hot rush of butterflies in her stomach. Well, he was older and handsome and of course she might have a crush on him. That was normal, wasn't it? She decided not to think about it and instead, gave him the answer to his question, no matter how juvenile it sounded. "Before my parents gave me a present, my mom would say, 'shut your eyes and hold out your hands.'" She took a harsh, shuddering breath at the bittersweet memory, admitting, "And I miss that."
At her explanation, Nick's arms wrapped around her and he held her close against the heat of his body. His hands ran up and down her spine in a soothing, consoling caress as she stood still in his embrace, breathing in his scent, and taking the comfort he was offering. His body was big and strong and warm and she laid her head on his chest and let his solid, reassuring masculinity seep into her soul. He rocked her, to and fro, while murmuring soothing sounds in her ear. He held her for long moments while her tears dried up and then he leaned down and whispered, "Shut your eyes and hold out your hands."
At the words, Courtney felt a wash of comfort and nostalgia, as well as a hot rush of tenderness for what he'd done and she smiled. Lifting up, she whispered, "Thank you."
He inclined his head and lifted a tiny box, holding it in the air between them and waited for her to comply with his request. She continued to smile as she shut her eyes. Very carefully, she held up her hands again. Within seconds, the box was placed in her palms and she opened her eyes and stared down at it. "What is it?"
"Open it," he said gently.
Anticipation rushed through her and she recognized that it was the first time she'd experienced the feeling in over a year. She pushed the lid up and the box snapped open. Inside, she found a small silver heart decorated with three different colored gemstones suspended by a delicate chain. She studied it and then looked up at him in question.
He was watching her intently and she frowned in confusion and looked back down at the charm.
Not waiting any longer, he took the box from her trembling fingers and removed the charm and chain, dropping the box to a side table. He held the piece of jewelry out so she could see it better.
"It's pretty," she whispered.
"Do you like it?" he asked.
She nodded her head and reached out a finger to touch the gift as if expecting that both it and the moment might disappear into thin air.
"Do you know what it is?" Nick asked in his deep voice.
Something was tickling her brain, but he was standing so close that she couldn't get her faculties to function correctly. She shook her head.
"They're birthstones."
Her eyes flew up to his, a flutter going off in her heart.
"Yours, your mom's, and your dad's," he elaborated. "I had it made."
Pleasure and pain rushed together and landed in her stomach. Their birthstones! Something she could always wear that would keep her family unit intact, at least within her heart. A tiny feeling of belonging again settled in her midsection. The charm was so perfect that she couldn't wait to wear it. But she also couldn't wrap her mind around the fact that Nick would do something so special for her. She needed to thank him. She cleared her throat and slowly, licked her lips. "Nick--" she began, but stopped abruptly when he took a sudden, harsh intake of air.
She glanced up and found his gaze frozen on her lips. His jaw clenched and his neck corded with something akin to tension. Slowly, almost as if they were forced to, his eyes left her mouth and lifted to hers. A strange feeling filled the air during the loud silence that pulsed between them.