Chapter 265

Chapter 265
Emma

A shadow crossed his face. "Not sure. Could be a few more weeks." His expression softened slightly. "How's Mike doing?"

At the mention of our son, I couldn't help but smile, my entire face lighting up. "Growing like crazy. He misses his uncle, though. He keeps pointing at that stuffed bear you got him." I mimed our son's grabbing motion, making Marcus smile.

"When this is over," Marcus said, his voice thick with emotion, "I'm going to spend a whole day just holding that little guy. Promise him that for me?"

"Of course," I whispered, feeling unexpected tears prick my eyes. I blinked rapidly, trying to clear them away.

Noah placed a hand on my shoulder, squeezing gently, a silent show of support. "Stay safe out there, Reid," he said firmly. "We're all waiting for you to come home."

Marcus nodded, his expression grateful. "I will. Take care of each other." With that, the call ended, leaving the screen dark.

I set the phone down, feeling the familiar mixture of worry and gratitude that came with having a brother who risked his life to protect others. My shoulders sagged slightly as I exhaled a shaky breath. Noah's arms encircled me from behind, his chin resting on my shoulder, his warmth enveloping me like a security blanket.

"He'll be okay," he murmured against my ear, his breath sending a shiver down my spine. "He's the best at what he does."

I leaned back into his embrace, drawing comfort from his solid presence, my hands coming up to rest on his forearms. "I know. I just wish he didn't have to do it alone."

Noah turned me in his arms until we were face to face. His eyes were serious as they searched mine, one hand coming up to cup my cheek. "That's what makes you special, Emma. You always want to take care of everyone."

Before I could respond, he bent his head and kissed me, soft and sweet. When he pulled away, his expression had changed to something more playful, his hands sliding down to my waist, pulling me closer against him.

I laughed and pushed against his chest, though not very convincingly. "It's the middle of the day! What are you thinking?" My eyes belied my protest, already darkening with desire.

Noah leaned closer, his breath warm against my ear, sending goosebumps across my skin. "What does the time of day have to do with anything?" His lips traced a path down my neck, making me shiver despite the warm air, my head tilting automatically to give him better access. "Besides, everyone's gone. We should make the most of our time alone."

He reached past me to draw the curtains, plunging the room into a soft, golden dimness. "See?" he whispered, his mouth curving into that mischievous smile I'd come to adore, his fingers tangling in my hair. "Now it's dark."

I couldn't argue with that logic—especially not when his hands were moving so persuasively beneath my robe. With a contented sigh, I surrendered to the moment, rising on my tiptoes to meet his kiss, letting the world outside fade away.

---

The next day, we ventured into the charming seaside town with Lucas and Tara, who had joined us for the last few days of our vacation. The four of us wandered through narrow streets lined with weathered buildings painted in faded blues and sun-washed yellows. Noah's hand remained firmly entwined with mine, his thumb occasionally stroking my palm in a gesture that felt both casual and intimate.

"This place is straight out of a postcard," Tara commented, her eyes bright with excitement as she snapped photos of the colorful fishing boats bobbing in the harbor. She twirled around, her sundress flaring, the embodiment of carefree joy.

Lucas nodded in agreement, his arm casually draped around her shoulders. I caught Noah watching them with a hint of amusement in his eyes. The romance between our two friends had been unexpected but somehow perfect.

"So," I said, falling into step beside them, a mischievous grin playing on my lips, "one bed last night. How did that work out for you two?"

Tara's cheeks flushed pink, her hand flying up to cover her face as she laughed nervously. "Emma!" she protested, shooting me a look that was half embarrassment, half amusement.

Lucas just grinned, pulling Tara closer to his side. "I'm a gentleman, Emma. I'll have you know I slept on the floor."

"For about twenty minutes," Tara muttered, making us all laugh. She playfully swatted his chest, her eyes sparkling with happiness.

We continued our exploration, stopping to admire handcrafted jewelry in a tiny shop and sampling local seafood at a restaurant overlooking the water. Noah kept finding excuses to touch me—brushing back my hair, wiping a drop of sauce from the corner of my mouth, wrapping his arm around my waist as we walked. Each touch felt like a silent affirmation that we belonged to each other.

Somewhere along the way, we naturally separated into pairs—Noah and I lingering at a bookstore while Lucas and Tara wandered ahead toward a market square.

"Should we catch up with them?" Noah asked, his fingers laced comfortably through mine, his expression soft in a way only I got to see.

I shook my head, watching our friends disappear around a corner. "Let's give them some space. Besides, I want to look at those paintings in the gallery we passed." I leaned into him, resting my head briefly against his shoulder.

Noah squeezed my hand, bringing it to his lips for a quick kiss. "Lead the way, Mrs. York."

The title still sent a pleasant shiver through me, especially now that it represented something real and chosen, not just a business arrangement. I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face, my heart feeling full to bursting.

As we turned back toward the gallery, I caught a glimpse of Tara's bright sundress in the distance. She had stopped in front of a young girl selling flowers, her head bent in conversation, her posture radiating compassion. I smiled, knowing Tara's soft heart would never let her pass by a child without stopping to chat.