Chapter 4 - The Woman He Chose
Our second date became dinner.
Dinner became walks.
Walks became late-night phone calls.
And somehow, Noah Moretti became the person I spoke to before I went to sleep.
He never demanded my time.
He simply appeared.
Coffee in the morning.
Flowers on Wednesdays.
A box of pastries when I worked late.
He remembered everything.
My favorite tea.
The fact that I hated lilies.
The exact brand of chocolate I liked.
One morning, I arrived at the shop to find a new heater installed.
I called him.
"You replaced our heater."
"Yes."
"You can't keep buying things."
"Why?"
"Because I have dignity."
"I know."
"Then stop."
"Okay."
He paused.
"Would dinner help?"
I laughed.
"No."
"Flowers?"
"No."
"One coffee?"
I smiled.
"Maybe."
He was impossible.
And sweet.
Terrifyingly sweet.
Then trouble arrived.
Vincent.
He appeared at the shop one afternoon.
Noah wasn't there.
"You know what happens to women who get close to men like Noah?"
I kept folding fabric.
"I assume you have a lecture prepared."
Vincent smiled.
"He's dangerous."
"I know."
"He'll destroy you."
"I'll take my chances."
His smile disappeared.
"You think you're special?"
"No."
I finally looked at him.
"I think Noah is."
Vincent stared.
Then he laughed.
"You have no idea what you've stepped into."
He left.
That night, Noah came to the shop.
I told him.
His face went cold.
"Did he touch you?"
"No."
"Threaten you?"
"Not exactly."
"What exactly?"
I repeated the conversation.
Noah's jaw tightened.
"I'm sorry."
"You didn't do it."
"He did it because of me."
I stepped closer.
"Noah."
He looked at me.
"I'm not afraid of you."
His expression softened.
"I know."
"That's what scares me."
He reached for my hand.
"I'm trying to become someone you don't need to fear."
My heart broke a little.
"You don't have to become someone else."
"Yes, I do."
"Why?"
"Because if I ever ask you to build a life with me, I want you to know you can."
I stared at him.
"Are you asking?"
"Not yet."
I smiled.
"Good."
He laughed.
Then he kissed my forehead.
It was gentle.
Careful.
Nothing like the man everyone feared.
May you like
I realized I was falling in love.
And I was terrified.
