“Yes, ma’am.”
“I mean it.”
“I won’t look. I swear.” I laugh and enjoy the ride, with Piper in the back talking to her bunny, telling him about our adventure, and Noel next to me.
She fits in so well with us, it’s as if she’s always been here.
I pull into the driveway, and when I open the door, she opens hers as well.
“Wait for me,” I instruct her, then walk around to the passenger side of the truck. I offer her my hand and help her down to the concrete. Before she can walk away, I pin her against the door, the way I did yesterday, in this same spot. “Come to my place tonight. Have dinner with Piper and me.”
“Reed, I want to—”
“Great.”
“But I have—”
“Work,” I finish for her. “You have to eat, and my place isn’t out of the way.”
I see her softening. I lean in closer and press my lips to her ear.
“I want to spend time with you. Say yes.”
“Yes. I’ll come.”
Hopefully, I’ll have her coming sooner rather than later.
I kiss her, just below her ear, and breathe in her citrus scent. Her hair is soft against my nose.
I want to crush her to me and devour her. God, I’ve never wanted anyone the way I want Noel.
But that’s for later.
“I’ll text you my address,” I say as I pull back.
“I’ll be there in an hour.”* * * *“How did you know that Broadway Bar & Grill is my favorite?” Noel tosses the empty to-go containers in the trash.
“I didn’t. It’s my favorite,” I reply with a smile.
“I always get the BLT,” she continues. “And you somehow knew to get that for me. Are you stalking me?”
“I don’t have time to stalk you,” I reply as I lean against the countertop, watching as she tidies the kitchen. I told her she didn’t have to do that, but she just shrugged and did it anyway.
Honestly, I’m too tired to argue. If the woman wants to clean the kitchen, I say, let her.
This time.
“I’m ready,” Piper announces as she walks into the kitchen. She’s in her jammies, ready for her nightly reading time.
“I should go,” Noel says, and my stomach tightens.
I don’t want her to go.
Not yet.
“I want Noel to read to me,” Piper says. “Please?”
“Oh, I suppose I can do that,” Noel says with a surprised smile. “Sure. Do you have a favorite book?”
“Yeah, come on,” Piper says, taking Noel’s hand and leading her to her temporary bedroom. I can hear their voices as they get settled on the bed.
I tidy up, putting Piper’s snow suit and boots in the closet, her socks in the laundry. I reach for a damp sponge and wipe down the countertops.
Once all of that is done, I walk to the bedroom and listen as Noel finishes the first story.
“You read good,” Piper says around a yawn.
“Thanks. Does your daddy read to you at bedtime?”
“Yeah, he reads good, too. I like stories. Mommy used to read to me.”
“I like to read books, as well,” Noel says.
“What kind of books do you like?”
“Hmm. Fairy tales for grown-ups, I guess.”
“I like princess stories,” Piper says and yawns again.
“I think you’re ready for sleep.”
“I’m not tired.”
It’s the same every night, and it seems it doesn’t matter who’s tucking her in.
Good to know.
“Goodnight, sweet girl.”
I walk into the kitchen and pour two glasses of wine, just as Noel returns from Piper’s room.
“She’s beautiful,” Noel says.
“Thank you.” I pass her a glass and take a sip from mine.
“I’d like to know more about both of you.”
“Well, then, let’s sit and talk for a while, shall we?”Chapter Five~Noel~The building Reed’s condo is in isn’t just down the block from mine, it’s literally next door. So, walking over for dinner wasn’t a hardship.
And staying to read to his daughter made me the most relaxed I’ve been in a long time.
These two are quickly worming their way into my heart, and it’s both exhilarating and a little scary.
“What would you like to know?” Reed asks as we settle on his plush couch. I toe off my shoes and rest my feet on the ottoman in front of me, my wine cradled in my hands. Reed shifts to face me and rests his elbow on the back cushions. “I’m an open book.”
“I am, too,” I say before taking a sip of my wine. “I feel like I know you, but I really don’t know you at all. Are you from Seattle?”
“Yes,” he replies. “I grew up in Issaquah. My dad was a firefighter, and Mom was a high school principal.”
“Siblings?” I ask.
“No,” he says. “I’m an only child, but my best friend, Elijah, has been like a brother to me since we were in grade school. He’s my business partner.”
“Wow.” I blink and shift so I’m facing him, one leg under the other. “You both decided to go into finance?”