Page 102 of The King Contract
“Anything else I can do before I head off?” Noah leans against the coffee counter. Two hours have flown by and suddenly it’s time to wrap up. “Callum said I have to train before the event and has called three times asking where I am.”
I laugh softly. “I love how you’ve gone from not listening toanybodyto dodging phone calls from your friends who you’ve asked to keep you in line.”
“The irony is not lost on me, I promise. You can see why I’m in no rush to charge my phone.” Noah walks around the counter and wraps his arms around my waist. A thrill shoots through me at his touch, his willingness to be so affectionate in public. That it’s because he wants to, not because he has to.
“Good luck getting set up for the show,” he murmurs. “I’ll do my best to get back for the start, but it depends on how quickly I can get out of there.”
“Good luck with Salt Skin.”
We hold each other’s gazes for a few beats before Noah utters, “I wish I could stay.”
“Me too.” I lean in and he wraps his arms around me tighter, my cheek pressed to his chest. “But I’ll see you later. Focus on what you need to get done today. Just be yourself and Salt Skin won’t be able to resist.”
“You think so?”
I lean back to look at him. “Okay, maybe don’t be yourself too much.”
He snickers and plants a soft kiss on my mouth. I melt into him, my body becoming goo. “I’ll see you tonight,” he promises.
40
NOAH
I nearly crossed you off the guest list
“They gaveyou one of the best spots in this place,” Callum muses, as we lounge in a velvet-covered booth. The warehouse has transformed into a multi-level club, complete with hanging silk partitions, a raised dance floor and scattered booths housing different invitees. The DJ kicked off with a remix of the latest hit songs blasting from the speakers, and free booze and canapes are already flowing around on trays.
“I’m just grateful to have a seat and that they opted for an indoor venue with air-conditioning,” I admit. “So many people have to stand.”
The unpredictability of summer storms was certainly a key factor in choosing an indoor venue for this festival. When I checked the surf this morning, the swell was set to be huge by tonight thanks to an incoming super cell, and an approaching storm means the humidity is making me sweat when sitting still.
“You going to talk to the Salt Skin boys?” Callum nods to the biggest booth in the entire warehouse. The focal point of the party, where the founders and staff of Salt Skin sit around, laughing and drinking.
“Mack will kill me if I don’t.” I glance at the zero-alcohol beer in my hand. “I hope this has a placebo effect and gives me a bit of courage.”
“You don’t need it.” Callum leans over and claps me on the knee. “They invited you here.”
“Theydidn’t,” I correct him. “Mack got me the invite by doing whatever voodoo he does on the event organisers.”
“They would’ve had final say over the guest list.” Callum looks at the booth again. “They look like a bunch of normal dudes. Hell, they look like us. Let’s go talk to them. Once we do that, we can mingle a bit more, then head back for Millie’s show.”
I nod in agreement, taking a swig of beer. Callum makes a valid point. The sooner I rip the Band-Aid off with the brand guys, the sooner I can get back to Millie.
“Look at your face.” I glance at Callum, who’s grinning. “You can’t wait to get back to her.”
I grin. “Guilty.”
“What’s happening between the two of you?”
“We’re talking after her show tonight,” I reply.
“About?”
“That we’re into each other.”
Callum chuckles. “Good. Millie’s cool.”
“She’s the best,” I agree. “But I don’t know how it’ll work out. I’m travelling all year and there’s no way I can give her my undivided attention when I go days without looking at my phone to stay focused.”
