Page 4 of Marrying a Spy
Chapter Two
Noah stood in the parking lot of Gentle Dentists, leaning against his car. His mind was racing from his interaction with Sophia.
When he’d walked in there, knowing that he was going to see her, he thought he’d been prepared. Ha. What a joke.
Noah leaned against the dark green Nissan that the agency had rented for him. He tipped his head toward the sky and took a deep breath.
He had known it was going to be strange, approaching Sophia after so many years. But her familiar dark-brown eyes and pale skin surrounded by her thick, curly hair had startled him, and all his preparation went straight out the window.
Just thinking about it made his stomach clench.
He closed his eyes and cleared his mind; he needed to get a grip. He’d negotiated with terrorists and driven the back roads of Afghanistan, but none of it prepared him for facing his ex—the girl he’d been trying to convince himself he didn’t care for.
And yet, here he was, a hundred feet away from her, and she was still unreachable.
“Hey, Noah?”
Noah’s eyes flew open. The light tones of a woman’s voice caused a spark of hope to grow in his chest. He allowed the thought that, perhaps, it was Sophia coming after him. But when he lifted his head, he saw Kari, the dental hygienist.
He forced a calm smile. One he’d gotten pretty used to over the years. “Yeah? I didn’t forget my license. Or did you just miss me?” he asked with a wink.
Kari held up her left hand, the diamond flashing. “Married. And no.”
He studied her. He hadn’t been serious; flirting was just part of his persona. The lie he wore to cover his wounds. “Got it,” he said. He rubbed the back of his neck. “So, what do you need?”
She reached into her back pocket and pulled out a slip of paper. “This is Sophia’s number,” she said. A worried look passed over her face, but then she shook it off and waved the paper in front of him.
Realizing that she wasn’t going to leave until he took it, Noah let her drop it into his palm. “Sophia’s number?” He glanced down at the note. “Did she ask you to give it to me?”
Kari’s cheeks reddened. “Well…no. But that girl needs to get out. You’re good looking, and I could tell by the way she was reacting to you that she thought so as well.” Kari shrugged. “I figured you two might hit it off if you called her. I’m always looking for men to set her up with. Help her get over her perpetual single status.”
Noah’s stomach lightened at her words. Sophia was single? Deep down, he knew he shouldn’t be happy about that.
Kari’s forehead furrowed. “Please don’t tell her that I gave you this. She’d kill me if she knew that her best friend was just passing her number out to every hot stranger—which I don’t,” she hurried to add.
Noah snorted. Stranger. Kari though he was a stranger? He most definitely was not. But he didn’t want to delve into his and sophia’s complicated past, so he nodded. “It’ll be our little secret.” He slipped the paper into his pocket and nodded toward Kari. “I’ll give her a call.”
Kari was studying him. “Good.” Then she winced. “You’re not a serial killer, are you?”
Noah smiled. “Nope. Not a serial killer.” Then he leaned in. “But that’s probably something you should ask before giving out your best friend’s number.”
Kari’s skin flushed red again as her lips parted. He hadn’t meant to embarrass her. She was just trying to help out her friend. It was an occupational hazard for him, always assuming that people had questionable intentions.
He smiled as he patted her arm. “But you’re lucky. I’m one of the good guys.” That was stretching the truth a bit. But compared to the guys he helped track down, he qualified.
Relief flooded her face as she nodded. “Sounds good.” Then she took a few steps back. “I should get back in there. Sophia’s going to wonder where I went.”
Noah nodded. “It was nice to meet you, Kari.”
She smiled. “You too, Noah.” Just before she turned around, she glanced over at him. “Promise to be nice to her? She’s my best friend, and she’s dealt with some real jerks in the past.”
Noah winced at her words. She didn’t know it, but she was talking about him. He should probably tell her. But he was enjoying that Kari seemed to think he and Sophia were perfect for each other. Was that so bad?
“Got it. I’ll be good,” he said, raising two fingers in a salute.
Kari nodded and then turned and headed back into the building, leaving Noah alone again.
He reached into his pocket and felt for the note. He already had Sophia’s number, home address, even her college GPA. That’s what happened when your father’s wanted by the CIA. They had to follow every potential lead.
