Annabelle put her fingers to Julia’s lips. “Shh…”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. We just want to get past that precarious first three months before we let the secret out.”
“Of course,” Julia said, trying to keep track of the conversation between the men.
“Seeing Julia again is all Annabelle could talk about today,” Linc told Noah.
“How do they know each other?”
“Swimming. They were both—”
“Noah.” She turned to the men. “This is my friend Annabelle. And it looks like you’ve already met her better half, Linc.”
While Noah shook Annabelle’s hand, Julia moved around her friend to give Linc a hug and whispered, “Congratulations, Daddy.”
He laughed in that big bellowing way of his and kissed her cheek. “Thanks, Jules.”
The three members of the Epic staff Julia had met in Noah’s living room approached the group. They nodded a hello to Julia, then surrounded Noah and peppered him with questions.
Which gave Julia the perfect opportunity to escape into the club.
Over two hours into the posh cocktail party, and Noah had schmoozed with Guru and Epic executives, bullshitted with previous teammates, been approached by half a dozen different sponsors and received twice as many offers to hook up tonight, some by women he’d bedded before.
In fact, he currently stood in a circle of people that included two previous hookups, the women now on the arms of other athletes while still flashing Noah that I-want-to-fuck-you look. One of whom had already slipped her room key into his pocket. Just how she thought that would ever work with the six-foot-seven, three-hundred-pound linebacker wrapping an arm around her waist, Noah had no idea. Nor did he want one.
While a cyclist in the group entertained everyone with the harrowing story of losing a wheel on the final climb of last year’s Tour de France, Noah glanced through the crowd, seeking out Julia again. He’d been giving her the space she seemed hell-bent on getting tonight, which was ironic considering he was usually the one wanting space from women.
He found her not far from the location he’d seen her last, now talking with one Portuguese soccer star who raked in fifty million a season and was renowned for his skill at getting women into bed. But by the way Julia had control of his arm, rotating it and pointing out areas of his shoulder, Noah doubted the guy was getting far in the womanizing department with her.
He pulled his phone from his pocket and sent her a text: He’s a dog.
After a moment, she released the soccer player’s arm and drew her phone from her purse. A smile lifted her mouth, and she tapped on her phone, then slid it away and continued her conversation with the group.
His phone buzzed with the return message: I know. I rehabbed his shoulder.
Noah glanced her way again, and his gaze snapped to hers. Her g
rin widened, and electricity zinged through his gut, making a smile creep across his own face.
“You’re gonna break your neck if you don’t stop craning it to look at her.” Finn’s voice came from his left, and Noah dragged his gaze away from Julia, just as she and the soccer hunk started laughing at something she’d said. “Are you going to go for her, or what? I’ve never seen you wait so long on a woman you wanted.”
“She has rules,” he said with a sigh. “Won’t sleep with me because we’re working together.”
“Smart girl.” Finn looked past Noah in Julia’s direction again. “I’m impressed at the way she’s holding her own in this crowd. I’ve checked in on her twice, and she seems to have this party by the tail.”
“I know. I’ve wandered past a couple of times too. Didn’t have the time of day for me.”
Finn chuckled and slapped Noah on the shoulder. “Having to work for it builds character, my friend. That’s why I’m so fucking awesome.”
“Right.” Noah’s gaze scanned the crowd again. “I can’t believe how many people she knows here.”
“Who?” A woman strolled up to Finn’s side, her appraising gaze on Noah.
“Our friend Julia,” Finn said, lifting his glass in Julia’s direction. “In the pink, purple, whatever hot color that is.”
“Fuchsia,” the woman said and offered her hand to Noah. “I’m Tiffany.”