First Kiss Last by Sara Miller (read e book .TXT) 📗

just continued to let Cade hold her. She thought he was drifting off to sleep when he spoke again, asking her about something no one ever had. Not even Eric.

“Tell me about your baby.”

Leah told him through torrents of tears. She spoke of her tiny, perfect baby boy who was just born too soon. How he could fit in her hand. She shared what she had named him and where she paid to have a tiny remembrance plaque installed at a local park. It had her son’s first and middle name with a single date.

Cade held her as she grieved. After seven years, she grieved as if it had just happened. She grieved in a way she had not done before, maybe because true sorrow had to be shared. Cade grieved with her. She felt his hot wet tears on her bare shoulder and, finally, she did not feel alone.

Cade continued to hold her until all her tears were spent. She loved being in his arms. Loved how safe and cherished she felt with him.

That’s when it hit her.

She loved Cade.

Not her childish crush. Not their shared lustful passion. But deep down in her heart and soul, she loved him.

She twisted in his arms so she could face him. Leah opened her mouth to tell him but no words came out. She put her hand to the side of his face and just smiled, watching the man she loved gaze back at her.

“I love you,” he told her. “I loved you then and I love you now. I’ll love you forever and in between. My heart breaks every day when I wake up and you’re not in my bed. Leah, please. Please tell me you feel the same. Please tell me this is real and you want more too. That you want to be in my life 24/7.” He searched her face, waiting for her answer.

Leah struggled with her own words, so overwhelmed by the emotion of it all. She managed to nod her head, but she knew that wasn’t enough. So she kissed him over and over until she could finally speak.

“I love you too, Cade.”

Leah had never seen Cade smile or look at her the way he did right then. It was as if she had made all his dreams come true. She probably had the same sappy look on her own face. The thought made her smile even brighter. This was real, this was happening! She wished she could snap her fingers and their real life together would start instantly.

“And the . . . other stuff?” he asked nervously. She knew he meant her marriage to Eric.

“Yes,” she nodded again. “It’ll take some time but I have a plan.”

“A plan?”

“Yes.”

“Promise? ’Cause I’m all in.”

“I promise.” She kissed him hard to seal the deal.

“Does your family know?”

“They know I’m ready to leave Eric. Robert will help me find a lawyer. Lily knows there’s someone, but not who.”

“Ah, good ol’ Robert. I remember him from school. He was older than us, but a pretty good dude. But wait, so Lily can’t remember the dreams?”

Leah shook her head.

“How come I can? Not that I’m complaining . . .” He nibbled at her neck.

“I really don’t know,” she shrugged. “But I’m not complaining either.”

She didn’t want to talk about Robert or Lily right now. So when Cade opened his mouth to speak, she claimed his lips.

Cade rolled her so that she lay on top of him. She was suddenly acutely aware they were still naked from earlier. She continued to kiss him as his hands roamed over her skin. Leah moved against his body and finally broke their kisses so she could sit up and straddle him properly.

“I need . . .” she couldn’t form full sentences, but Cade understood.

“I need you too, love.”

Leah lifted herself up and used one hand to move Cade into position. She lowered herself onto him slowly with an audible groan of pleasure. She loved that Cade never tried to silence her.

“I. Love. You.” Cade managed to say a single word between each thrust.

Leah couldn’t speak. Instead, she let her body speak for her.

Chapter 26

Leah woke the next morning with a new sense of peace. She loved Cade Emerson. Loved him in a way she had never loved anyone else. And he loved her too. She could not stop smiling.

She got up, went to work and had a productive day. She practically floated, her heart felt so light. Everyone assumed it was the Christmas spirit. She did not tell them otherwise.

Over the next couple evenings she made double batches of Chex Mix and Peppermint Bark. They were her two favorite Christmas snacks so she made them every year. Leah had found festive little bags to hand out to a few friends at work. She filled each with small portions of both treats and tied them with red ribbons.

Then she set aside two large containers to take to Lily’s for Christmas. Everyone in that household was just as crazy for these two particular treats as she was. The rest went into two red and green containers for Eric to take to work. Even with their relationship time together about to officially end, Leah continued their traditions this one last time. It felt like closure.

When she showed the Christmas treats to Eric, his shrug was noncommittal.

“Smells good,” he said as he headed to bed for the night.

The next morning the packages were gone. Even if he did not seem to appreciate her efforts, she hoped his co-workers would.

In contrast, Lily was impatient to know the status of the goodies. She texted, asking if Leah had made her favorite snacks. As if Leah could possibly forget. Her phone pinged in rapid succession as Lily typed.

Did you make Chex Mix?

And the Peppermint Bark?

Is it Christmas yet?!?!

Nah. Went with figgy pudding this year instead. Hope you’ll like it!

Leah enjoyed teasing her sister and laughed at the series of sad and angry emojis that blew up her phone. She