“Maybe she’ll get bored with you,” I’d suggested, but there was an uneasy, hollow feeling in my stomach. I had to remind myself that Noah and I hadn’t made any promises to each other. We’d had a night of crazy sex, and that was great, but I didn’t have any right to expect him to stop texting pretty young rich girls with powerful daddies.
“Maybe.” Noah had tucked his phone back into his pocket. “But let’s forget about Juliet.” He’d caught my hand and tugged me closer to him until my body was trapped between him and the car. “I wish I could invite you inside, but the team driver will be here in about fifteen minutes. I have to get changed and ready to go.”
“Oh, I know. I didn’t expect a grand tour.” I’d tried for light and breezy, as if I were the kind of woman who was used to having no-strings sex and then saying good-bye without any angst.
“Yeah, but still.” He’d nuzzled my neck. “I’d much rather give you that grand tour, which would wind up in my bedroom, and we’d spend the rest of the day in bed watching football and eating wings.”
“Eating wings in bed, huh?” I’d laughed. “That sounds messy.”
“But see, that’s the fun part. Because after we got messy, we’d take a shower to clean up.” His hand had run down my back to give my ass a quick squeeze. “And now, with that image in my mind, I really wish you could stay.”
“But I can’t.” And suddenly, I’d needed to get away. Something akin to panic had begun to take hold of me. “I’d better go and let you get ready for the game.” I’d stood on my toes to kiss Noah’s cheek. “Good luck to the team. Have fun.”
“Alison.” Noah hadn’t let go of my hand. “Are you going to watch the game?”
I’d tilted my head. “I’m really not much of a football fan.”
He’d clutched his chest in mock pain. “You’re killing me. Okay, but if you watch today, you might catch sight of a really hot dude on the sidelines.”
I’d brightened. “Oh, is Jason Mahomes playing today?”
“Heyyyyyy.” He’d skewered me with narrowed eyes. “That’s not nice. Mahomes is a megatalent, but he’s also just a kid. You need a real man, sweetheart.”
“Ha.” I’d reached for the car door. “I might happen to turn on the Tampa game today if I have time.”
“That’s better.” Noah had released my hand. “Alison . . . can I call you this week?”
We’d already exchanged numbers back at the hotel so that Noah could text me when he was down in the lobby and ready to leave. Now, though, I hesitated.
“If you don’t want me to . . .” His voice had trailed off. “I mean, I know we didn’t really talk about what this is. Or what it could be. And maybe you don’t care about seeing me again. But in case you’re wondering, I had a really good time with you this weekend—and I don’t mean just the hours we spent together in your bed. I had fun with you at the wedding, and at the bar last night, and on the ride home this morning.”
I’d ducked my head. “I did, too.”
“I never—Christ, why didn’t we talk about this earlier?” With a huff of exasperated laughter, Noah stepped back. “I didn’t expect this to happen—not this weekend or ever, if I’m being honest. I’ve expended a lot of energy in the last few years trying to convince people in my life that I’m never going to date or fall in love again.” He was quiet for a few seconds. “And maybe I’m jumping the gun here. But I’d like to see you again. I’d like to . . . explore possibilities with you.”
I’d stood perfectly still, almost afraid to move. And then I’d murmured, “I wouldn’t mind exploring those possibilities, either.”
“Good.” Noah had reached out and touched my cheek with the back of his fingers. “Then if it’s okay, I’ll text you later.”
“It’s okay with me.” I’d opened my car door, afraid if I didn’t leave then, I’d beg him to let me stay, which was absolutely ridiculous. This was crazy. It was probably just the leftover wedding vibes, the last vestiges of lingering romance after watching our friends commit themselves to each other for life. I needed to get my sappy ass home and remember all the reasons why I was a lone wolf.
But when I reached the part of Noah’s drive that curved away from the house, I’d glanced in my rearview mirror almost in spite of myself. When I saw that Noah was still standing there, watching me leave, a warm gladness swelled in my heart and refused to be dislodged all the way back to Bayerton.
I’d had a long stern talk with myself on the way home. I’d resolutely refused to wait for his text. But it hadn’t mattered, because when I saw his name flash on the screen that night, I’d given a happy little squeal and sighed like a smitten schoolgirl.
And when he’d asked me to go out to dinner with him, I hadn’t even hesitated before I’d said yes.
* * *
“I feel like such a loser,inviting you out to dinner and then having to ask you to do the driving.”
I stood on the front porch of Noah’s beautiful home, and for a long moment, I couldn’t even speak because somehow in the days since I’d last seen him, I’d managed to convince myself that he couldn’t really be as hot and handsome as I’d remembered.
It took me a few seconds to process what he’d said upon answering the doorbell, and when I did, I burst out laughing.
“What?” He spread his arms belligerently. “It’s true. I should have hired a car to come pick you up and drive us to the restaurant.”
“Noah.” I spoke his name quietly, but it was all it took for him to stop ranting and look at me. “I told you last night, I don’t mind at all. I’d rather do it this way—otherwise, we’d have a stranger playing third wheel most of the night.”
