32. Chapter 32
Chapter 32
Noah
S he smiled broadly when she saw where we were. It was late afternoon, and soon, the sun would dip below the horizon, casting a golden glow over Savannah. By then, I hoped that our tour of the botanical garden would be over, and we could enjoy our dinner.
"I love these gardens. How did you know?"
There was a child-like enthusiasm in how she spoke when she was in a garden, and I knew I had done good! My chest was all about ready to puff with pride. I made Stella smile. I, Noah Carter, asshole extraordinaire, had made the love of my life, whose life I ruined, smile. Fuck, but this was better than winning the big Boston stadium project last year.
When she finally said yes to a date, I'd done my research and had hoped that this serene oasis just outside Savannah would be a first step in mending some of the fractures between us.
The gardens sprawled majestically around us, featuring vibrant arrays of camellias, and towering stalks of bamboo that rustled softly in the breeze, creating a soundtrack that was almost as captivating as the visual feast.
I watched Stella’s reactions closely, hoping the peaceful walkways and the stunning diversity of plants—from the delicate irises to the robust hydrangeas—would speak to her landscape architect’s heart.
"Do you know that this garden used to be an agricultural research station?" she gushed.
I loved her passion—especially since it had been dormant the past few months, and I wanted to bask in its light some more. "Tell me more."
She touched a bamboo leaf gently. "The farm was designed to focus on developing new crops and farming techniques. Over the years, as public interest in horticulture grew, the educational value of this place became evident. The people running it transitioned it into a botanical garden, with the goal to preserve and showcase a diverse array of plants and flowers for both educational and aesthetic purposes."
"Is this the kind of thing you want to do with the museum project?"
She stumbled on a cobblestone as she was distracted by the Georgia Blue Veronica, a striking groundcover known for its vibrant blue flowers that bloom profusely, creating a vivid tapestry. I put a hand around her waist. She didn't shrug away, pull away, or knee me in the balls. I was making progress.
"Some of it," she admitted. "I was going to come here to do some research. We're moving ahead with the project, now that Eden has stopped coming to the meetings, and Silas stays out of my way. I've been working with the museum director, and he's easy to work with."
Jealousy sparked. Stupid, immature jealousy.
"Herb's a good guy," I managed to say. Herb Wedgeworth was, in fact, a good guy. He'd never joined the Savannah rat race; his interests were always artistic. "How is he doin'?"
I didn't care how he was doing as long as he wasn't thinking of doing my fiancée.
"Good. A museum in Atlanta is courting him. I have a feeling we may lose him soon."
Good ! "I'm sure you'll miss working with him."
"I don't work with him as much as I do with this other guy who works for him. His partner."
"Hmm."
"You can stop squeezing my waist, Noah. Herb's partner is William Fern. Herb's gay as gay can be, and is not, in fact, interested in any of my body parts."
Fucking hell!
"I'm sorry."
"You were jealous," she said smugly.
Hell, if she liked that, I could do it all day long. In fact, I was jealous of any and every man she talked to, smiled at. I didn't show it because it wasn't a particularly endearing trait. Still, considering all my abandonment and commitment issues, I wanted to hold tight to and protect, come hell or high water, what I thought was mine.
"Sweet, I'm always jealous when it's you." I stopped her under the canopy of a magnolia tree. A few of the large, fragrant flowers had dropped onto the grass below, while the others were nestled on the tree against glossy evergreen leaves.
That smell of magnolia mingled with what was quintessentially Stella assailed my senses.
I turned her so I was holding her loose, my hands at her hips. She rested her palms against my chest.
"I'm…I'm leaving after Christmas," her voice wavered, and I knew this was hard for her. She wanted me, loved me, but didn't trust me. It made her feel like she was a doormat to accept how she felt about me, considering how horrible I'd been to her.
"Why don't we agree to reach a détente until then?"
She licked her lips. "What does that mean?"
"Just be my fiancée, Sweet. Let me be yours."
"Like a real engaged couple?" she mused, her eyes wide with surprise and excitement.
"Yeah." I bent and rubbed my lips against hers. Let her feel how hard she made me. She looked around.
" Stop , we're out in public."
"There's no one here, Sweet." I ground myself against her. Months. It had been months since I had sex. My hand wasn't cutting it anymore. I wanted inside her. I wanted to taste her. Fuck! I wanted Stella.
"What do you mean?"
"Let me, baby. Let me kiss you. Fucking hell, Stella, let me taste you."
She did.
I drowned in her, letting my mouth claim her again and again. She was soft, sweet, and amazing, Stella. I savored her flavor, the texture of her lips, her cheeks, and her jawline.
I cupped a breast, and she whimpered. "Noah, we don't want this turning into a scandal."
"There's no one here, baby." Her eyes were heated. "I booked the garden."
"The whole garden?" she squeaked.
"Yeah. I wanted to be alone with you."
She giggled then, and rested her head against my chest. "Oh, Noah, you did not just rent the whole garden so you could make out with me." She raised her head. "Did you?"
"I didn't think you'd let me touch you, Sweet, so no. But I did want to be alone with you. I wanted you to enjoy the garden without anyone here. I wanted to see your face as you admired your surroundings."
She let out a deep breath. "Even when we were together; or rather when you were pretending to be with me, you had all the right moves."
"I was never pretending what was happening between us." Yeah, she was going to believe that right after a frog whistled Dixie.
"You liked me?"
The uncertainty in her voice gutted me.
"I loved you. I love you still. Let me show you, Sweet. Be with me. And when the time comes, you can leave."
I was playing my biggest gamble. I was hoping that in the next seven to eight weeks, I'd convince Stella to be with me, to be us, to give us a real chance to become a family.
"You won't stop me from leaving."
I caressed her cheek. "I have no right to stop you or make you do anything, Sweet. But I'll get on my knees to beg you for a chance."
"Would you?" Tears filled her eyes. "The proud Noah Carter?"
What did pride matter? What did any of that machismo and arrogance matter? I dropped to my knees. She went pale. I put my hands together in entreaty. "A détente for as long as you're here."
If I had any doubt about who Stella was, they were washed away. She kneeled on the soft grass as well, and pulled my hands apart. "I don't want to see you genuflecting to anyone, even me."
"I have no ego with you, Stella. I'm begging for a chance to be with you."
"Why?" she asked fearfully. "What's so special about me? I'm no one. You heard JR. Not even my family wants me, Noah. And you only wanted me because I was Senator Hunt's daughter."
I kissed her, then straightened. I gave her a hand, and she took it and stood herself up. This time, I knew she wouldn't push me away when I put an arm around her so we could be close and walk toward where dinner would be served.