Page 24 of The King Contract
FIRST VIDEO RELEASES ONLINE
@emilygossip:THERE’S VIDEO PROOF GUYS. People out there doing the Lord’s work and capturing Noah King shopping for dinner with a new woman. They look too close to just be friends, right? RIGHT?!
9
MILLIE
When did you last get laid?
The barbecue takesplace in a sprawling mansion, overlooking the coastline at Kirra Beach, just over the border in Queensland.
This house belongs to Lioness, a record-breaking music producer whose remixes I’ve danced to plenty of times after a couple of glasses of wine. Apparently, Noah is good enough friends with her to be invited to her afternoon soiree.
Noah said it would be casual, so I’ve worn a light, summery dress and sandals. There’s no way I could walk in heels right now, because I’m certain my feet are sweating, and my legs are trembling. Ellis ignored the casual dress code information, deciding to don black pumps and a little black dress.
The anticipation of milling about with strangers is bad enough but adding in theI’m casually seeing the professional surferpart ignites next level panic. Whilst I’m busy obsessing over morals and ethics, I imagine Noah is the opposite. He’s a naturally gifted charmer and used to the spotlight. He’s probably got no issues with lying and swaggering around like he and I are the most natural thing in the world.
“Hey, stranger.”
My spiralling thoughts come to a screaming halt as Noah’s broad frame fills my line of sight. His five o’clock shadow looks freshly shaved, his dark hair still unruly. He’s dressed in what looks to be expensive, but casual beachy brands—a khaki-green linen shirt, brown shorts—and a smile that dazzles.
“I always thought you’d be the punctual type,” Noah drawls, grinning down at me. “Turns out, Millie Schofield likes to keep a man on his toes.”
“By half an hour. It’s only two-thirty,” I argue. “I’m not going to show up at two on the dot. I’m not an animal.”
“Oh, right.” Noah’s forehead scrunches in thought as he glances at his watch. “My watch is on New South Wales time. Here I was thinking you were showing up an hour and a half late to keep me wondering.”
“I don’t play games, Noah.”
He smirks, a twinkle in his eye. “You sure?”
I ignore the flutter in my stomach as Ellis steps forward and I tear my gaze from Noah’s.
“Ellis!” Noah cries, leaning in to give her a kiss on the cheek. “Great to see you. Loving the shoes.”
Ellis purses her lips as she gives me a knowing look. She knows I tipped Noah off on what to compliment her on. Ellis is sceptical of a scandalous, sporting celebrity in our lives, and myapparentblasé attitude. She said she’d come for moral support, but I know she desperately wants a sneak peek at the celebrity world.
“Don’t suck up, it’s unbecoming,” Ellis says to Noah.
Ordinarily I’d be mortified by her rudeness, but in this instance, it makes me laugh. Noah seems to find it funny too, because his lip twitches. “I’ll win you over,” he promises.
“We’ll see.” Ellis glances between the two of us. “You don’t have to pretend not to be into each other because I’m here.”
My gaze shoots to Noah and his relaxed smile soothes some of the raging guilt erupting at lying to Ellis. “We’re taking the PDA slow,” he says.
Thank God.
She narrows her eyes in suspicion, but then again, she’s always suspicious around any man I’m dating. He holds the door open and waves her in, and she struts in like she lives here.
Noah’s gaze sweeps across my body. “You look gorgeous.”
I blink at him. “You’re wearing linen.”
The corner of his mouth lifts as he holds out his hand. “Ready?”
I stare at it, digging my nails into my palms. “No.”
“Dollar, dollar bills, y’all.” He sings the words to remind me of why I’m participating. “You still good with the things we discussed the other day?”
