No Strings Attached

Chapter Twenty Six

The drive out of White Pine Bay felt like a dream. The air between them was warm and buzzing, a soft anticipation settling over the quiet hum of the car's engine. Alex's hand rested casually on the center console, his fingers occasionally brushing Norma's thigh. Each touch sent a thrill through her, her heart fluttering in response.
She couldn't help herself, reaching out to rest her hand on his that rested on her thigh, her thumb stroking softly over his knuckles. "How was work today?" she asked, her voice light and curious as her other hand absentmindedly toyed with a strand of his hair at the nape of his neck.
He smirked, giving her thigh a gentle squeeze. "Quiet. For once."
"Quiet is good," she murmured, leaning closer as she studied him. The soft glow of the dashboard illuminated his face, highlighting the strong line of his jaw and the curve of his lips. "You look so handsome," she said softly, her voice almost teasing, but there was sincerity beneath it.
Alex glanced at her, his expression melting into a smile. "You're impossible, you know that?"
"Impossible?" she repeated, feigning offense.
He chuckled, shaking his head. "You're trying to distract me while I'm driving."
She laughed softly, leaning in to press a kiss to his cheek. "Is it working?"
"Yes," he admitted without hesitation, turning to look at her for a split second, his eyes flicking to her lips that were all too close to his, before returning his focus to the road. "Stop it, or I'll have to pull over."
Norma's laugh filled the car, light and carefree, and she sat back slightly, though her fingers never left his hand. "Don't tempt me, Sheriff," she whispered, her tone a mix of playfulness and seduction.
He gave her an almost pleading look as his hand tightened slightly on her thigh before he shook his head slightly, a smirk playing on his lips as he stared back at the road.
The landscape outside the car began to shift, the dense trees giving way to the open expanse of the coastline. The salty tang of the ocean air seeped into the car, and Norma inhaled deeply, letting the scent soothe her.
She noticed Alex's hand tighten slightly on her thigh again as he turned the car onto a small gravel turnout. The car slowed to a stop near the edge of a cliff, and she realized they were perched high above the ocean, the waves crashing against the rocks far below.
Alex killed the engine and turned to look at her, a soft smile on his face. "We're here."
Norma's breath hitched as she took in the view. The horizon stretched endlessly, the sky painted in vivid hues of orange, pink, and gold as the sun dipped lower. The sight was breathtaking, and for a moment, she was at a loss for words.
Alex stepped out of the car, walking around to open her door. He offered her his hand, helping her out as she stared at the ocean, her lips parted in quiet awe.
"It's beautiful," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of the waves.
He smiled at her reaction, leaning in to press a quick kiss to her temple before grabbing the blanket and cooler from the back. "Come on," he said, nodding toward the back of the car.
Norma followed him, her heart swelling as she realized this wasn't just a spur-of-the-moment plan. He'd thought this through, he'd planned this for her. For them.
Alex set the blanket on the ground near the edge of the cliff, smoothing it out as soft music spilled from the car's speakers, setting a peaceful atmosphere. The playlist was unmistakably tailored to her tastes. Melodies she loved, songs she'd hummed absentmindedly around him. She smiled, marveling at how much thought he had put into this moment.
He opened the cooler and began unpacking the food. Everything was her favorite: sandwiches made just the way she liked, a small container of fresh fruit, and, to top it off, a couple of bottles of her favorite green tea. Norma's chest tightened with emotion as she watched him carefully arrange everything.
"I don't even remember telling you I liked half of this," she said softly, her voice tinged with a mix of shock and awe as she glanced up at him.
Alex chuckled and shrugged slightly, sitting down beside her. "I'm a cop. Observing and taking notes is part of the job."
She laughed at that, shaking her head, but her heart swelled. He noticed everything about her, even the smallest details she thought no one would catch.
They settled in together, the horizon bathed in warm colors as the sun began its slow descent. The sound of the ocean mingled with the music, creating a serene backdrop as they ate and talked. Alex leaned back on one arm, his other hand occasionally brushing hers as they passed food back and forth.
As they finished their sandwiches, Alex leaned closer, his voice soft. "So, what happened after I left this morning?"
Norma chuckled, immediately knowing what he was referring to. "Oh, you mean after you ran off and left me to fend for myself?" she asked with an eyebrow raise, making him laugh and shake his head.
"Sorry, I didn't know what to do. I didn't know what to say," he says, as he looks back at her apologetically.
"Mmhmm," she hummed, her eyebrow raised as she dabbed at her mouth with a napkin. "I told them we were together."
Alex's expression was a mixture of shock and laughter. "You told them?"
She shrugged, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. "I had no choice. They saw us, Alex. In Dylan's words, you were eating my face. What could I have said?"
Alex let out a deep laugh, tilting his head back as the sound echoed in the open air. "That's quite the visual," he said, shaking his head. "How did they take it?"
Norma grinned, her laughter mixing with his before she continued. "Emma was overjoyed, of course."
"Of course she was," Alex said with a chuckle, shaking his head affectionately.
"And Dylan..." Norma paused, her smile softening. "He was surprised. I could tell he didn't know how to feel about it. But they both agreed to keep it quiet."
Alex was silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on the horizon as the sun dipped lower, painting the water in golden light. "That's good," he said finally, nodding slowly.
Then he turned back to her, his tone thoughtful. "I should probably get to know Dylan more. Give him a chance to get to know me, too."
Norma tilted her head, curious.
"I don't blame him for being hesitant," Alex continued. "Norman too, of course, when we decide to tell him. You're their mother. I know how important you are to them, and I need to prove to them that I'm worthy of loving you."
Norma stared at him, her heart swelling with a mix of emotions she couldn't quite articulate. She hadn't expected him to say that, to care so much about what her sons thought, to make it a priority.
"You mean a lot to me, Norma," Alex said, his voice low as he looked back at the ocean. "And I know this isn't just about you and me. It's about your family, too. I get that."
Her throat tightened as she watched him. No one had ever cared enough to think about the whole picture before. No one had ever acknowledged that being with her meant being with her family. But Alex did, and it meant everything.
She reached over, resting her hand over his where it lay on the blanket. He looked down at their hands, then back at her, his eyes warm and steady.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice filled with gratitude and love.
He smiled softly, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "For what?"
"For being you," she said simply.
The sun slipped below the horizon, leaving behind streaks of pink and purple as the first stars began to appear in the darkening sky. And for the first time in a long time, Norma felt at peace.
They sat in the comforting quiet, staring up at the stars as they began to sprinkle the night sky, the ocean waves below providing a soothing soundtrack. Norma's head tilted back, her gaze lost in the constellations. But suddenly, she straightened, a spark of excitement lighting up her face.
"I forgot to tell you," she said, turning toward him abruptly.
Alex blinked at her, surprised by her tone. "What?" he asked, curious, his eyebrows raised.
"Dylan and Emma," she said, her voice filled with a delighted incredulity. "They're together."
He sat up straighter, looking at her with genuine surprise. "Really?"
She nodded, her smile widening. "Yeah. Isn't that funny? How two people can be just... not together at all. And then one day, out of nowhere... they are."
Her voice grew softer toward the end, her gaze drifting back to the stars as if the universe itself had provided some clarity on the matter. The wonder in her tone made Alex pause, and when she finally looked back at him, she found him already watching her.
The sincerity in his expression stole her breath. She realized then just how much their own story mirrored what she'd just described. One day, they weren't together. And then, suddenly, they were.
Her lips curved into a tender smile as she leaned toward him, watching his face closely, delighting in the faint nervousness that always flickered in his eyes when she got this close. His confidence as a man, a sheriff, always seemed to soften when it came to her, and she loved that.
The distance between them disappeared, and she kissed him softly, a featherlight touch full of emotion, full of her heart. Alex felt his pulse quicken as warmth spread through his chest. He could feel every ounce of her care, her trust, her love in that one moment.
But before he could let himself fall completely into her, he pulled back, his breath catching as he took her in. The way her eyes stayed closed for just a second longer, the soft confusion in her expression as her lips parted slightly.
Alex gazed at her with an intensity that made Norma's breath catch, the corner of his mouth lifting in a small, secretive smile. "Do you want to dance?" he asked softly, his voice almost reverent against the gentle hum of the waves and the distant music playing from the car.
Norma blinked, pulling back just enough to study his face, searching for some sign of teasing, some hint that he wasn't serious. "You want to dance?" she asked in surprise, her brows lifting slightly. "I thought you didn't like to dance."
His smile widened as he gave a small shrug. "I like dancing with you," he admitted, his voice soft and warm, as though sharing a private secret just for her.
Her heart fluttered at his words, and she found herself smiling despite the slight blush rising to her cheeks. She didn't have time to overthink it, though, because his hand was already reaching for hers, his fingers curling around hers with an unspoken confidence that sent a thrill through her.
He rose, gently tugging her to her feet. She let him guide her, stepping closer as he pulled her into his arms. One hand rested lightly on her waist, his thumb brushing over the fabric of her dress in soft circles, while the other still held her hand. He kept her close, close enough that she could feel his warmth, close enough that the faint scent of his cologne mixed with the salt air was intoxicating.
The world around them seemed to disappear, leaving only the sound of the waves, the distant hum of music, and the beating of their hearts. Alex's eyes never left hers, and the way he looked at her, like she was the most precious thing in the world, made her chest ache in the most beautiful way.
His thumb brushed her cheek, a tender, almost hesitant caress that made her breath hitch. "You're so beautiful," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, as if the words weren't meant for anyone else but her.
Her lips parted slightly, her fingers stroking the back of his neck in a soothing rhythm, though her touch trembled just enough to betray the storm of emotions within her. She didn't know how to respond to his words. She felt raw and exposed under his gaze, but in the best possible way.
As they swayed together, Norma felt a warmth bloom deep in her chest, spreading through her like a quiet revelation. She'd never felt this before. This all-consuming, heart-racing, soul-binding feeling. She'd thought she'd been in love before, but now she realized she hadn't. Not like this.
This was something else entirely.
It wasn't just about the way he held her or the way he looked at her. It was the way he knew her, the way he understood her in ways no one else ever had. The way he wanted her, flaws and all, and the way he made her feel like she didn't have to hide any part of herself.
She realized, for the first time, she wasn't afraid of this feeling. She wasn't afraid of what it meant to be tied to someone like this, to have her life completely changed by him. For once, she wasn't scared of the unknown. She was excited.
She smiled up at him, her hand tightening slightly on his shoulder as their slow dance brought her closer, her forehead brushing against his. "I've never felt this way before," she whispered, her voice soft but firm, like a confession she wasn't afraid to make.
Alex's gaze softened, his hand lifting to cradle her cheek. "Neither have I," he said, his words carrying the weight of his truth.
Norma's heart soared at his reply, and she let herself lean into him, her lips brushing his in a soft, lingering kiss that felt like a promise. When they pulled apart, she rested her head against his chest, letting herself get lost in the steady rhythm of his heartbeat as they continued to sway under the stars.
She knew her life would never be the same. And she'd never been happier about that.