Ten minutes later we parked in town and I rang Noah.
“Hey,” she answered on the third ring. “Where are you?”
“Hey, gorgeous, just got into town.”
“I’m in the town centre where you told me to meet you. I got off work a bit earlier.”
“I’ll be right there, don’t move.”
I hung up as Bailey spotted her.
“She’s there,” she squealed. “Right there.”
I looked to where Bailey was pointing. Noah was standing outside H&M, looking at the outfits on display in the window.
“Sit here on this bench,” I said to my sister as we got out of the car. “I’ll bring her across usin’ the pedestrian crossin’, so point your phone that way. Make sure ye start recordin’, okay?”
She saluted me. “On it, boss!”
I nodded, turned and jogged across the road, after checking for cars.
“Noah,” I called.
She heard me and turned around. When she spotted me, she smiled, and for a moment my breath caught in my throat. She was beautiful with her long, wavy blonde hair, her huge green eyes and her thin but delicate pink lips.
“How did I get to be so lucky to have a girlfriend like you?” I asked her when she reached me and slid her arms around my waist.
“You’re Irish.” She grinned up at me. “That’s all the luck you need.”
Amused, I kissed her forehead. “How was work?”
“Not so good.” Her smile faltered. “I thought Helen was gonna discuss the manager position with me, but she gave Lesley the promotion instead.”
I blinked. “But ye’ve been workin’ at her shop for two years; you’re her best worker.”
Noah shrugged. “Lesley’s older than me by ten years and has more experience.”
“That’s bollocks,” I stated. “Ye came up with fifteen new arrangements for Helen since ye started workin’ there. The pieces ye did at that funeral last month were gorgeous, and ye did them by yourself because Lesley was off sick.”
Noah smiled up at me. “You’re my champion.”
“I’m pissed off is what I am.” I tucked her hair behind her ear. “Stick it out at the place for a few more years. I’ve saved up a few grand and I’ll save up some more. I’m gonna buy ye your own flower shop one day, one that you’ll run and call the shots in.”
Noah leaned up on her tiptoes and puckered her lips, so I lowered my head the rest of the way and kissed her. She relaxed against me as I deepened our kiss ever so slightly. When I pulled back, I grinned down at her. Her eyes were closed, and she looked happy. That was my Noah – even if she’d had a shitty day, she didn’t dwell on it.
“Are ye ready for your surprise?”
Her eyes popped open. “Yes, sir, I am.”
“Three years already,” I whistled as I took her hand and led her towards the crossing. The light was with us so we crossed the road, and I stood on Noah’s left so she wouldn’t have a full view of Bailey. “Where has the time gone?”
“I know,” Noah chuckled. “I swear it was yesterday when you told me you loved me for the first time.”
“Ah,” I mused. “The very day ye broke up with me before I even asked ye to be me missus, if I remember correctly.”
Noah’s cheeks heated as she playfully shoved me. “Don’t bring it up.”
Smiling, I moved behind her and turned her to face the dance studio.
“Happy anniversary, sasanach.”
There was a prolonged moment of silence that I wasn’t sure was a good or a bad thing.
“We’re going to watch a dance?”
“Nope, we’re takin’ salsa lessons.”
“Salsa lessons?” Noah looked over her shoulder and blinked. “Of all things to do on our anniversary, you picked salsa lessons?”
I felt my smile drop away and my gut churn.
“But . . . but didn’t ye tell Bailey that ye’d love it if we took lessons together but ye never asked because ye figured I’d say no?”
Noah shook her head. “No, never.”
I furrowed my brow in confusion, then widened my eyes to the point of pain.
“Bailey McKenna!”
I spun to face her and found her still sitting on the bench a few metres away, her phone pointed in my and Noah’s direction.
“Bailey’s here?”
“Ye filthy liar!” I shouted at my sister. “Ye stitched me up!”
“Oh,” Noah giggled as she moved to my side. “The little devil!”
My sister laughed so hard she fell off the bench and on to her behind, which concerned me for only a