Kathryn tried to focus on her readings, but she couldn’t stop thinking about yesterday. Couldn’t stop thinking about Noah. Even though he’d broken the rules by taking her up the mountain on the lift, the fact that he wanted to show her the landscape was very sweet of him. Actually, it surprised her that he would do something like that for her, considering he barely knew her. It also surprised her that he actually noticed her admiring the scenery painting in town. How observant of him.
She mulled that over and suspected there was more to the guy than met the eye. Still, she’d be wise to focus on her internship and forget all about him.
Lying on her bed, with her laptop open and the thick book on marketing in front of her, she flipped through the pages, struggling to focus. Just as she was about to nod off, her computer beeped, indicating she had a Skype call coming in.
She glanced at her laptop and, when she saw that it was her father, she sat up on her mattress and smoothed her hair back.
She pressed answer, and when her father came into view, sitting at his office desk on a Sunday afternoon, Kathryn said, “Hey, Dad, nice to hear from you.”
“Kathryn,” he said, small lines crinkling around his tired eyes. In that moment Kathryn’s heart went out to him, the sadness in his eyes making her want to please him all the more. Her mind went back to five years ago to when she’d lost her mother—and he a wife. He’d buried himself in his work after her death. His only goal now was to see his daughter succeed and join him in his firm. Her heart thudded as she considered that, and suddenly Amy’s words came back to her.
What good is living if we don’t have some fun, and cut loose once in a while?
Kathryn had loved her mom and missed her dearly, but she really wished her father would find someone else who made him happy, someone who gave him a reason to get out from behind his desk. It would also be nice to see him focus on something other than her. If he were happy again, it might take the pressure off her to please him.
“I just wanted to check in with you to see how thing were going.”
“Things are good,” she said. “I don’t start work until Monday, but I went in Friday to get a feel for things.”
That brought a smile to his face. “Good for you. That shows great initiative.”
Sitting on the bed beside her, her phone pinged, taking her by surprise.
She glanced at it, and when she saw the message, a message from Noah, her heart jumped into her throat and she couldn’t help but wonder where he got her number.
Want to go white-water rafting?
“Kathryn,” her father said. “Is everything okay?”
“Everything is fine,” she assured him, ignoring the text. But when her phone pinged again, she felt the need to explain. “It’s just one of the staff asking if I wanted to go rafting.”
Her father’s brows knit together. “Rafting? You’re not there to go rafting, Kathryn. You’re there to work.”
“Which is why I’m going to text back and say no.” She grabbed her phone and punched in the response.
“You should be taking this weekend to familiarize yourself with your new job.”
At the stern tone in her father’s voice, she dropped her phone like a hot potato and returned her full attention to him. He had braced his forearm on the desk and leaned toward the monitor, his brows lowered into a familiar countenance of displeasure.
“I am,” she assured him, snatching up the colossal book on marketing and holding it up to the screen for him to see.
“Good,” he said, nodding and leaning back in his chair again. When her phone pinged again, she could hear the displeasure in his voice when he said, “You should take care of that and get back to work.”
After ending the chat with her father, she grabbed her phone, but couldn’t help but feel a little excited to see that all the messages were from Noah.
She thumbed in the text. I’m busy.
Doing what?
Reading.
Zzzzzzz.
It’s not boring.
I told you, you needed to loosen up and have more fun.
I am having fun.
What are you reading?
Where did you get my number anyway?
Amy. Now tell me what are you reading?
Not knowing whether to be thrilled or upset that Amy had given her number out, she looked at her marketing manual. She hesitated for a moment, her glance going to the Nicholas Sparks novel on her nightstand. He already knew she was all work and no play, and not wanting him to know just how boring Kathryn Lane really was she said, “Nothing you would know.”
Try me.
Fine. Nicholas Sparks’s latest.
If I give you the Cliff Notes version, will you come rafting?
Are you trying to tell me you read Nicholas Sparks?
Yeah.
You’re not a very good liar.
And here I thought I was.
Hate to break it to you...
Now you’ve hurt my feelings. You can make it up to me by coming rafting.
I told you, I’m busy.
But you HAVE to come.
Why?
I didn’t make you smile yet today.
She laughed at the smiley face, and then clamped her hand over her mouth, wondering if he could hear her through the paper-thin walls.
If I open the door, stick my head out and smile, will you leave me alone?
Give me ten minutes first.
She listened carefully and heard him rustling inside his room. What the heck did he need ten minutes for?
She powered down her laptop, and shut her marketing book, and then looked down at the clothes she was wearing. Even if she didn’t want to go rafting, which, when she really thought about it, kind of sounded like fun, she didn’t have anything appropriate to wear. Most of her clothes were professional. She watched the minutes tick by and when her phone pinged and the text said, Ready to smile? she walked to her door, wondering what he was up to now.
She opened her door to find him standing there breathing hard, like he’d been running. With a crooked grin on his face, he held up a Nicholas Sparks movie. It wasn’t the same as the book she was reading, but it was still a great movie. “If I promise to watch this sappy shit with you, will you come?”
Unable to help herself, she smiled.
His lids fell slightly, his features softening as his glance went to her mouth. “There it is,” he said, his voice so low she had to strain to hear him.
Something in the quiet way he spoke, in the way his glance lingered on her lips when she smiled, made her knees go week. Despite thinking he looked utterly adorable, she drew a breath to center herself and said, “As much as I would enjoy watching you sit through that movie, I have work to do.”
“It’s Sunday. Work is for tomorrow.”
Just then Amy and Jared came down the hall. Amy handed a big picnic basket to Jared and planted her hands on her hips. She eyed Kathryn. “Why aren’t you dressed?”
“I’m not...I don’t...”
Amy looked up at the ceiling and sighed. “Come on.” She grabbed Kathryn’s hand and practically dragged her down the hall.
When they reached her room, they began the “let’s dress Kathryn” process again. Amy rifled through her dresser and pulled out a pair of shorts and a cute tank top. She held them out to Kathryn who reluctantly accepted them.
“I wasn’t planning on going.”
Amy cast her a pleading look. “Will you at least do this for me?” She grabbed Kathryn’s hands. “Come on, I’m really into Jared, and want to spend some time with him. But I’m not going to go if you don’t.”
Kathryn didn’t really know girlfriend protocol, considering she had only acquaintances at school. There hadn’t been time to form friendships. A part of her suddenly resented having been deprived of such a common part of her girlhood. “Why do you need me there?”
“Because,” Amy said, drawing out that one word. “It makes it more fun and I don’t want to be a third wheel. Besides, I think Noah is into you.”
A secret thrill moved through her. “Well, I’m not—”
“I know, I know, but please do this for me. I would do it for you.”
God, how could she say no when Amy was always so nice to her? It was the closest she’d ever come to having a best friend. “Fine, I’ll go.”
Amy squealed. “Thanks, Kat. I’ll make it up to you. I promise.”
She was about to tell her it was Kathryn, but stopped herself. The nickname was actually growing on her.
When she walked back to her room with Amy’s clothes in hand, Noah leaned against the wall, and crossed his legs at his ankles. He cocked his head, laugher in his eyes when they met hers. “Told you so.”
“And what exactly did you tell me?” She grabbed the movie from him.
His grin widened. “That I could get you to do a lot of things.”
She shook the movie case. “Well let’s see if you’re still smiling when I make you watch this tonight.”
“Is it going to hurt?” he teased.
“Yes, it is.”
“If it hurts, you’ll have to kiss it and make it better.”
Rolling her eyes, Kathryn shut the door on him. She leaned against it for a moment and thought about what it would be like kissing Noah. Everything about Noah and his teasing did the strangest things to her insides. She sucked in a couple of quick breaths, then quickly changed her clothes and met the three of them in the hall. They took the stairs to the bottom floor. A mountain breeze rushed over her when she stepped outside. Noah came close and warmth invaded her stomach, but it had nothing to do with the hot summer afternoon and everything to do with the boy standing next to her.
“Are we taking the shuttle?” Kathryn asked.
Noah drove his hands into his pockets, pulling his swim trunks low on his hips. “I’d rather take my bike.”
She looked at Amy, who nodded toward the garage. “You might as well go with Noah.” She lifted the picnic basket like it explained everything. “I’m going with Jared in his car.”
With that they all walked to the garage, and five minutes later, Kathryn had her arms wrapped tightly around Noah’s chest as he negotiated his bike through the streets. She relaxed into him, and could feel a little bubble of excitement in her stomach as she breathed in his scent. God, he smelled so good, like leather, the beach and something uniquely Noah.
Honestly, as she thought more about these new friends she had made, friends who accepted her for who she was, she couldn’t help but feel a part of something special, and maybe even a little flattered by Noah’s attention. Girls flocked to him, yet he asked her, boring Kathryn Lane, to go rafting. And for some odd reason, she was the girl he wanted to see smile every day. None of it made sense to her, but she wasn’t going to dwell on it like she normally would. Today she was just going to enjoy the outdoors, Noah, and being part of a crowd. Tomorrow she’d buckle down and get serious for the rest of the summer.
Noah pulled his bike into a parking space at Canyon Run, and they both climbed off. Jared squeezed his car in beside them. Kathryn took in the boathouse and all the boats chained up outside. Her stomach moved into her throat.
“It looks scary,” she said to Noah as she wrapped her arms around herself.
“Ah, a rafting virgin,” Jared said coming up beside them. “Don’t worry, it’s safe.”
She pointed to the bruise still slightly visible under his eyes. “Isn’t that how you got that?”
Jared scrubbed his chin and exchanged a look with Noah. “Yeah, something like that,” he said, but Kathryn was smart enough to know it was a lie.
“Come on, it’s going to be fun,” Amy said, skipping past her. She walked up to the shop window that rented wetsuits and grabbed two, along with water shoes. “Let’s get changed.”
She followed Amy into the female changing area, and keeping only her bra and underwear on, she climbed into the tight wetsuit. Afterward, they locked their valuables in lockers provided. Then they met they guys, who were already suited up outside.
Kathryn stood at the water’s edge and shaded her eyes. Equal amounts of excitement and nervousness moved through her. Good God, she could hardly believe she was about to go careening down a river with her life in Noah’s hands. She thought about her first bike ride with him and his comment about breaking her cherry. It occurred to her that he was true to his word, that he could get her to do a lot of things she’d never done before. His hard muscles flexed as he went to work inflating the boat and putting it into the water. As she watched him, her body tingled, and she couldn’t help but wonder what else he could get her to do...what else she would put in those capable hands of his hands.
Noah stood in the boat and tried not to rock it as he reached for her hand.
She held it back. “You’re not going to do anything to scare me, are you?”
He held his hand over his chest and gave her, what she assumed, was his best innocent face. “I wouldn’t dream of it. Scout’s honor.”
Kathryn pursed her lips. “Why do I have a hard time believing you were a scout?”
Amy climbed in and handed the picnic basket to Jared. He strapped it down.
Noah reached for her. “Come on, Kat.”
Putting her hand in his, she let him help her into the boat. She pulled on a helmet and tied her life jacket as tightly as she could.
“All set?” Noah asked, grinning as she took a seat near him at the back of the boat while Amy and Jared moved to the front.
She grabbed her oar with one hand and held the rope going down the center of the boat with the other. A few minutes later they were going down a lazy river and she relaxed. She tilted her face to the sky, drinking in the sun. “This isn’t so bad,” she said, but a few minutes later, the river split. Noah went left, and the waves started picking up. “Oh God, maybe I spoke too soon.”
“Start paddling,” Noah said.
With Noah at the rear of the boat, guiding the way, she began paddling furiously, even though she had no clue if she was making things better or worse. The boat rocked, and her legs went up in the air. Her head practically landed on Noah’s lap. When she squealed, Noah laughed, his blue eyes glistening as he helped her up.
She paddled like her life depended on it, but it was all downhill from there. The rapids grew strong and they bounced off rocks. Water splashed up and soaked her. Amy and Jared laughed from the front of the boat.
They bumped the shore, and the fast running water carried them along the river. With her heart racing she looked over her shoulder to see Noah, who gave her an adorable smile. She turned back around and a half laugh, half cry crawled out of her throat when a cold wave splashed over her. A few minutes later the waves slowed, and they reached a quiet area of the river. Noah tapped her shoulder and pointed to the shore up ahead.
“That’s where we’re going,” he said.
She nodded and tried to paddle toward it, but she was pretty sure Noah and Jared were doing all the work. When they were close, Jared jumped from the front of the boat and guided them in.
Still breathing hard, she set her paddle down and slumped in her seat, working to catch her breath. “That was...that was crazy,” Kathryn said laughing.
She jumped from the boat and followed Amy, who held the wet picnic basket.
“Fun, right?” Amy asked as the two guys secured the boat.
“I’m still processing,” Kathryn said.
“Let’s go,” Jared said, taking the basket from Amy. “I’m starving.”
The two took off ahead, following a narrow footpath. Noah peeled open his wet suit and she tried not to stare at his chest as he walked toward her.
Kathryn jerked her thumb toward Amy and Jared. “Where are those two going?”
“Come on, I’ll show you.”
As they walked the narrow path, wildlife came to life around them and she moved in closer to Noah. His fingers brushed hers, and her pulse leapt. Working to sound casual, she asked, “You don’t think there are any bears here do you?”
“Of course. You’re in the middle of the woods. There are bears everywhere.”
She made a tortured sound, and he laughed and pointed down the path. “Don’t worry, they’re carrying the picnic basket.” He grabbed her hand and tugged. “Which means if we don’t hurry, either the bear will get the food, or they’ll eat it all first.”
They took off down the path and when they came to a clearing, Kathryn’s breath caught. “I read about this spot in the brochure, but I had no idea we could get to it from the river.” She spun around to take in. “This place is gorgeous.”
Private picnic areas, tables and barbecue pits were set up in a lovely area with a view of the mountains off in the distance. They found Jared and Amy at a table under an umbrella. They’d spread out the food and drinks and waved her and Noah over when they entered the lush area. Mature trees and flowers fringed the picnic grounds, and off in the distance a hanging wooden bridge had been erected so guests could walk from one mountain peak to the other.
She breathed in the fresh floral scents around her. “Do people come here?”
Noah nodded. “The resort does lots of activities here, but today we have it to ourselves.”
Kathryn slid onto the picnic table across from Amy, and Noah moved in close beside her, his warm wet body distracting her in sinful way. She dug into the sandwich, realizing how hungry she was after all that rafting, and swallowed the food down with a soda.
They made small talk as they ate, and when they finished, they put all their wrappers back into the basket. “Are we heading back now?” Kathryn asked.
Amy looked at her, then at Jared. She crinkled her nose and said, “I think we’ll take a walk.”
“Oh, okay.” Kathryn made a move to get up, but Noah’s strong hand came down on her lap. His big fingers splayed over her thigh, and her body instantly flared hot as he anchored her in place. She turned to him and when she caught the look in his eyes, understanding dawned. “Oh,” she said again, feeling slightly embarrassed. “Right.”
Amy squeezed her hand. “We’ll be back in a bit. You’ll be okay?”
“Sure,” Kathryn said, breezily, trying to hide her discomfort.
Once they were out of earshot, Noah grabbed her hand and hauled her up. “Let’s go.”
She hesitated for a moment and inched back down. “Noah, I don’t think…” God, did he expect her to go off into the woods and have sex too? She might seriously want to lose her cursed virginity, but this was all happening rather fast for her.
He stood over her and gave her one of his adorable crooked grins. “Don’t worry, Kat. I’m not going to jump you.”
She nodded, and for a minute couldn’t tell whether the lump in her gut was from relief or disappointment.
“I just want to show you something.”
“Like what?” she asked cautiously.
“You’ll have to follow me and find out.” She stood up, and Noah blocked her path. “Unless, of course, you want me to jump you.”
“No!” she said.
Well, maybe…
He laughed and turned toward the woods. “Follow close.”
She hurried after him, not wanting to get lost out here where wild animals roamed. Keeping close to his back, they traipsed through the woods, and she grew breathless the higher they climbed.
After a while they came to a small clearing, and steam rose up from a water hole in the rocks.
“It’s a hot springs,” he said. “Not too many people know about this place.”
“Wow, it’s amazing.”
“Come on, let’s get in.” He shrugged out of his wet suit and then kicked it away, standing before her in nothing but a pair of boxer briefs that left little to the imagination. She felt a blush move into her cheeks and tried not to look, but how could she tear her gaze away? The guy was smoking hot, and everything about him reduced her to a giddy schoolgirl. Feeling a little breathless and a little dizzy, heat pooled low in her belly, and it took two locked knees to keep herself upright.
He slicked his wet hair from his forehead and his mouth curved. “Are you coming?”
Before she could answer, he jumped onto the rocks jutting out behind the hot springs. He climbed higher until he stood on a cliff, his arms wide. Sunlight streamed through the trees and fell over him, and her suddenly dry throat cracked. God he was so tanned, so cut. It was cliché, she knew, but he seriously took her breath away.
“What are you doing?” she asked, heat thrumming through her at the sight of him near naked.
“Diving in.”
“That can’t be safe.”
“Do you always do everything that’s safe?”
“Yes.”
As she stood there staring at him, sure he was going to kill himself, he jumped. Good God, the guy was dangerous and reckless and being out here with him was probably a bad idea. But he made her blood burn hot and had her feeling things she’d never felt before. Things she liked feeling.
He finally came up from under the water, and she planted her hands on her hips and asked, “Do you have a death wish?”
He smirked. “You have three seconds to get in, or I’m coming to get you.”
She looked at her wetsuit and thought about what she had on underneath. Her bra and underwear could easily pass as a bikini, but Kathryn didn’t wear bikinis. In fact, she didn’t wear anything sexy and rarely went swimming.
Rarely had fun…
Once again Amy’s words came back to haunt her.
What good is living if we don’t have some fun, and cut loose once in a while?
She bit her bottom lip, some suppressed, reckless part of her daring her to get in, to break free and have some much needed fun. Here in the middle of the woods, out from under her father’s, her boss’s, and the scholarship committee’s eyes, maybe, just maybe, she could let her guard down.
“I don’t have a bathing suit.”
Steam rose around his body as he came closer. “You don’t need one.”
She grasped for an excuse, the reasonable, sensible side of her kicking in and warning her that getting in that water with a near naked Noah was a bad idea. “I don’t want to get wet.”
His glance moved over her wet hair and suit. “You’re already wet.”
She touched her hair and looked at her damp clothes. “Why is it that I always seem to be wet when I’m with you?” As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized how sexual they sounded. “I mean...” she began, completely mortified.
“One,” Noah said.
“Wait, just wait,” she said, kicking her water shoes off, and almost falling over as she rushed.
He swam toward her. “Two.”
As equal mixtures of nervousness and excitement raced through her veins and a laugh bubbled up inside her. Hardly able to believe what she was doing, she unzipped her suit and shrugged it from her shoulders. Lord, she never did things like this.
But you want to, some inner voice said.
“Stop it, I’m coming,” she said, feeling edgy, excited as she stripped down in front of this gorgeous guy.
Giving her no reprieve he continued to come closer. He stood up at the ends of the hot springs, and her breath caught when she watched the way the water glistened on his body. Her glance trailed one droplet, following it until it disappeared in the line of dark hair that led to his wet boxer briefs. Her eyes dropped to the hard ridges his underwear did little to hide and a tremble moved through her. Moisture grew between her thighs, and the harsh sound of her indrawn breath sent a bird into flight.
“Three,” he said, his rough voice snapping her back to reality.
She squealed when he scooped her up and carried her out. She fought against him, expecting him to dunk her, but stopped when he gently lowered her into the water. Her hands lingered on his body, her fingertips reveling in the feel of his hard muscles as she found her footing.
“It’s so warm.” He let her go, and she pushed off him, swimming away. “Noah, it’s so nice.”
He swam toward her, going under the water and coming up directly in front of her. He pushed his hair from his face, fat droplets pooling on his long lashes as his blue eye met hers. He wet his mouth, and his voice was deep, low when he said, “Now isn’t this better than sitting inside all day?”
As he crowded her, and his warm scent overwhelmed her, her brain practically shut down. Why again had she warned herself to stay away from him? He swiped his tongue over his bottom lip a second time and she spotted what appeared to be naked lust in his eyes as he dipped his head, bringing his mouth closer to hers. For a minute she thought he was going to kiss her; for a minute she wondered how she’d respond if he did.
Heat curled around her and her body trembled. “Noah?” she asked trying not to sound as breathless as she felt. Oh how she wanted to touch him. Wanted to trail her fingers over his muscles. Wanted to trace the outline of his tattoo. To ask who J was.
Apparently she wanted a lot of things.
He pushed her wet hair from her shoulders, exposing her neck. “Yeah.”
He was so close she could feel the warmth of his body. He touched her arm, lightly trailing the rough pad of his thumb down the length of it.
Sexual energy leapt between them, but she wasn’t sure what to say, how to act. She shifted on her feet, her stomach bumping against his groin. His nostrils flared and a low, animalistic sound crawled out of his throat.
“Noah,” she said again, struggling to get her brain to work as she watched his Adam’s apple bob.
“Hmmm…” he murmured, becoming strangely quiet.
She tensed. “Are you okay?”
“Don’t think so.”
“Why?” she croaked out.
She could see the hunger in his eyes, and hear it in his voice, when he answered, “Because I think I want to kiss you.”
A nervous laugh caught in her throat, butterflies taking flight in her stomach. “You want to kiss me?”
“Yeah.” He moved his mouth closer, so close she could taste the sweetness on his breath. She stood still, immobilized as he brushed his lips over hers, the warmth of his mouth doing mysterious things to her body. He inched back, his tortured gaze caressing her face as the muscles in his jaw rippled. “Kiss me back, Kat. Please,” he whispered.
She stifled a moan as he put one arm around her back, hauled her hard against him and crashed his mouth to hers. As she kissed him back, his burning mouth pressed hungrily, his tongue fierce, demanding as it tangled with hers. Her body came to life as he splayed his fingers over her flesh. Her nipples tightened against his chest as he crushed her body to his.
Overwhelmed with the sensations racing through her, she wrapped her arms around him, but he grabbed them and anchored them to her sides.
She could feel his erection against her stomach, and she grew slick between her legs. Noah held her hands behind her back with one of his, while the other slid down her side, brushing along the outer edges of her breasts. She’d never been kissed like this before, touched like this, but she couldn’t deny that it felt good, that she wanted more.
They stayed like that for a long time, exchanging long, heated kisses. She tried to loosen her hands, to touch him in return, but his grip was too tight, too strong. The sound in the nearby distance had them breaking apart. Noah inched back, and something conflicting moved over his eyes as they stared at each other for a minute. A moment later, his playful side returned.
“So, uh…have you changed your mind on me jumping you?”
She opened her mouth to answer, but had no idea what words were going to come out. Honestly, she couldn’t believe that he kissed her, the way he seemed to want her. This guy could have his pick of girls, yet he was out here with her. It baffled her really.
“I…uh…”
Coming to her rescue he laughed and said, “Come on, I’m just kidding.”
“Hey, how’s the water?” Jared asked.
They both looked up to see Jared and Amy pushing through the trees, their hair a rumpled mess.
Amy stopped short at the edge of the water. Her glance went from Kathryn, to Noah, and back to Kathryn. “We’re not interrupting anything are we?” She smiled, her look hopeful.
Jared didn’t wait for the response. He tore off his wetsuit, jumped in and started roughhousing with Noah, each trying to take the other under the water.
Amy rolled her eyes. “Boys, they never grow up.” She stripped to her underwear, jumped in and swam up to Kathryn, curiosity backlighting her eyes. “Well?” she whispered.
“Well what?”
“Spill!”
Kathryn swallowed, and stole a quick glance at Noah who was under the water. “He kissed me.”
Amy squealed. “I knew it! I knew he was into you.”
“Amy,” she began, still unable to believe that kiss, or that a guy like Noah could be into a girl like her. “Do you think you could go shopping with me tomorrow night after work?”
Amy nodded excitedly, but before she could say more, Jared grabbed her by the waist and pulled her away.
After they all had a swim, the four made their way back to the raft. Dusk was approaching when they returned to the resort. Noah parked his bike, and together they walked back to their building. Kathryn yawned, and muscles she’d never used before groaned as she stretched her arms over her head.
“I’m beat.” Walking slowly, a warm night breezed blew over her, and Noah moved in close, the heat of his body reaching out to her in sinful ways. She shivered and hugged herself.
“I guess this means I’ll be getting out of watching a chick flick after all.”
He looked proud of himself. Too proud. Kathryn said, “I’m still going to hold you to it. Just not tonight. I need to get some reading done and rest up for tomorrow.”
As she looked up at him, she realized that for the second time in her life she’d had...fun, and Noah once again got her to do something she had no intentions of doing. So much for not running in the same circles, because he seemed to be going out of his way to spend time with her.
They reached her room and he stood outside her door, his hands braced on the overhead jamb. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”
She thought about her workday and her shopping plans with Amy later that night. “I’ll be busy.”
He grinned like he knew better. Like he was going to get what he wanted, one way or another.
“Do you always get everything you want?” she asked. Catching her by surprise, something dark and dangerous moved over his face and he went eerily quiet. Her gut tightened, and she reached for him. “Noah?”
He flinched but then the darkness disappeared as quickly as it had appeared; his playful side once again slipped back in place. “Yeah, I do,” he said, and before he disappeared to his own room, he leaned in and stole a quick good-night kiss, one that left her standing at her door in a quivering mess and wondering what it was about him that had her doing things that were so uncharacteristic for her.