Chapter Ten
Noah’s phone hummed, waking him instantly when he recognized the ringtone. He checked the clock beside the bed. Three-thirty in the morning. Leave it to Ethan to arrive before the crack of dawn.
It’d taken him forever to fall asleep, mostly because what he really wanted to do was sneak across the hall and slide into bed beside Peyton. Bad idea. Very bad. Not only was she his client, but she was Owen’s baby sister. Maybe if he repeated it often enough, he’d remember when he came face to face with her. Instead, when he gazed into her eyes, his mind blanked. The only thought was kissing her, feasting on her perfect pink lips. He knew it was a mistake to taste her because now he craved her like an addict. Maybe having his brother around would keep him on a leash.
After fumbling around for a pair of shorts, he grabbed a t-shirt, slid on running shoes and jogged downstairs.
“Everything okay?” Declan asked, poking his head out of his room.
“The other agent just arrived. I’m buzzing him in now.”
Noah unlocked the door and headed outside in the dark as Ethan parked next to Declan’s Jeep. He hopped out and stretched. He spotted Noah and opened his arms. “I’ve missed you, big brother.” He wrapped Noah in a crushing bear hug.
Noah punched him in the arm. “Cut it out. I saw you less than two days ago.”
Ethan shook his head in mock sadness. “Two days too long.”
“I take it you two are related?”
Noah glanced at Declan over his shoulder. “Declan Elliot, this is Ethan Addison, and yes, my brother.”
“You’re the one who saved Noah’s life?” Ethan yanked Declan’s outstretched hand and jerked him into a quick back-thumping hug. “Thanks, man. I owe you.”
“Damn, you’re a popular guy, Noah,” Declan mused.
He brushed the praise away, mainly because he didn’t want to tear up like a wimp. Both Ethan and Peyton had thanked Declan for saving him from a bullet.
They unloaded the gear Ethan brought with him and carried it inside the house. Peyton needed to be at the wedding in a few hours, so he sent them to get a couple more hours of shut-eye. He showed Ethan to a room at the top of the stairway, so he’d be the second defense if someone managed to sneak inside. He checked on Jamal, smiling to see him spread out on the bed, tangled in the sheets with his arms and legs akimbo. Next, he peeked in on Peyton. She was curled up under the blankets and it took great restraint to refrain from climbing beneath the covers and hugging her close. Yes, he wanted to make love to her. More than he’d ever wanted anything in his life. But he also just wanted to be close to her. To hold her, listen to her breathe. He was a step away from a stalker. With one last look, he closed the door and returned to his room.
#
Peyton woke up after a fitful night feeling like she hadn’t gotten any sleep. So many times, she almost crossed the hall to ask Noah to just hold her to keep the nightmares at bay, but she refrained. She didn’t want to seem weak in front of him. Plus, she didn’t know how he’d react. Now with dawn breaking and the wedding a few hours away, she wished she’d ignored the inner voice telling her not to go to him.
After showering and shampooing her hair, she blew it dry and found a clean t-shirt and yoga pants. She needed a shot of energy and caffeine was her goal. She wasn’t a coffee drinker, but a Diet Coke sounded wonderful.
Before she headed downstairs, she called Mrs. Benton to check on Aurora. Henry and Avery spent the night at the hospital with their daughter.
“She’s better,” Avery told her. “She’ll be released later in the morning. The doctor wants her to rest but she thinks she’ll be ready to resume practice tomorrow before school.”
Peyton assumed the hospitalization would be the end of the road. She didn’t think Aurora would be well enough to continue to swim. She also wondered if it was Aurora who was ready to resume training or if it was her parents’ idea. Nevertheless, she’d show up on Monday prepared to coach.
She jogged down the steps and after hopping off the last one, she rounded the corner and came to an abrupt stop. Three very large men were in the kitchen looking all sweaty and fit and incredible. Her mind told her there were three, but her eyes only saw one. Noah turned and spotted her, placing a bottle of water on the counter to approach her.
“Did you get any sleep?”
She had to focus on his face and not the biceps that were bulging from a recent workout and glistening with sweat. Hitching a shoulder, she said, “A couple of hours here and there.”
“Damn,” he murmured, running a thumb beneath her eyes. She probably had dark smudges from lack of sleep.
“Uh-uhm.”
Noah dropped his hand at the sound of someone purposefully clearing his throat. She glanced around him and gaped at the man standing behind him. It was as if she was looking at two Noahs.
“This is my brother, Ethan.”
“Twins?”
Ethan looked aghast. “Please tell me you haven’t put your contacts in this morning or something. He’s way older than me.”
“Thirteen months,” Noah growled.
“See. Way older.” Ethan picked up her hand and kissed it. “It’s such a pleasure to meet you, Peyton Durant. That poster of you emerging from the water like Venus, well, I admit to having stared at it for many long hours. Of course, it was in Noah’s room—oof.”
Ethan doubled over when Noah socked him in the gut.
“Ignore him. He thinks he’s funny.”
Peyton smiled, charmed by the brothers. They might tease and joke with each other, but it was obvious they loved each other very much.
Ethan abruptly straightened and his face sobered. “Please don’t pretend to be all sweet and nice to me and then ditch me like a bad habit at the first opportunity.”
Peyton quirked a brow. “Bad experience with a girlfriend?”
“Yeah, but not mine. My last case. The woman was all kindness and smiles when she asked me to do her a favor and when I did, bam!” He slapped his hands together, making her jump back. “She took off like a fired rocket, leaving me in the dust looking like an idiot.”
“Oh, well, I’m sorry she did that to you. I promise I’ll try not to manipulate you, Ethan.”
“Thank you, Peyton. That’s all I’m asking.”
Jamal came bounding down the steps and screeched to a halt. He sniffed the air dramatically. “Do I smell bacon?”
Peyton checked out the empty stove. “No.”
He batted his lashes. “Can I?”
She laughed and hugged him close. “I should be able to manage bacon if there’s any in the fridge.”
“Woah,” Jamal said, his head bobbing between Noah and Ethan. “You two have to be brothers.”
“We are,” Noah confirmed.
“You look just alike. Are you twins?”
Ethan scoffed again. “Twins? Please. He’s way older.”
Jamal scrunched up his face. “You two get along?”
Noah seemed to sense how important the question was to Jamal. “Yes, we do. We argue sometimes, but we love each other.”
Jamal turned to Ethan. “You’re the younger brother, right?” At Ethan’s nod, he said, “If he asked you to do something that you knew was wrong, would you do it just because he’s your brother?”
Ethan shot a panicked look at Noah, who looked equally panicked. Heck, she was as well.
Ethan crouched down until he was eye level with Jamal. “If I knew it was wrong, and it made me uncomfortable, then no, I wouldn’t do it just because he’s my brother.” He patted his chest. “I’d do what I thought was right in here.”
Jamal released a breath and nodded. “Good.”
Peyton blinked away tears. Jamal had such a good heart. Despite his rough home life, his inner light shined brightly. “Let me see if I can find some bacon.” She opened the refrigerator, surprised to find it fully stocked.
“Our office manager,” Noah said, making her gasp. She hadn’t heard him come up behind her. “She took care of everything.”
Peyton wasn’t much of a cook. She could make a mean protein smoothie and she knew how to grill delicious chicken, but that was pretty much the extent of her culinary talents. How hard could it be to crack a few eggs and fry up some bacon?
After the sixth egg slithered half in the bowl, half out, the part in the bowl swimming among tiny fractures of shell, she was about to give up.
“Let me help.” Noah grabbed another bowl and proceeded to expertly crack the eggs without getting any shell inside. Then he wielded a whisk like a pro, blending the yolks like an Iron Chef.
“You can cook?”
“A little. Had to learn so Ethan and Maggie didn’t go hungry.”
“Your parents didn’t cook?”
He glanced at her with a smile. “Oh, they did. Both of them and really well. But only organic plant-based food that they grew themselves. What kid wants a kale, jicama and bean sprout casserole instead of a hot dog?”
She laughed. “You’re kidding.”
He chuckled as he added bacon to an iron skillet. “Wish I was. We stayed with our grandparents a lot and my grandmother fed us the good stuff—mac and cheese, cheeseburgers—and taught us how to cook.”
“Your parents sound interesting.” He’d given her glimpses, but she wanted to know more about him. She wanted to know everything.
“Interesting they are. But they love us unconditionally.” He flipped the sizzling bacon and scooped the scrambled eggs onto a platter. Ethan had toasted bread while she stood enthralled by Noah’s cooking skills. She took the platter from his hands and placed it on the table that was set with plates and silverware, courtesy of Declan. Even Jamal pitched in, digging out the butter, jam, milk and orange juice from the fridge. Noah placed a steaming plate of bacon on the table and they all sat down to enjoy a delicious breakfast.
#
Noah wasn’t crazy about taking Jamal with them to the wedding, but they couldn’t leave him alone, either. He was too young to be left unattended, and he didn’t trust that the boy wouldn’t jump into the pool without supervision. The only option was to take him along and keep him inside the SUV. He would be happy playing video games on Ethan’s computer while Ethan and Declan kept watch. Noah would accompany Peyton to the ceremony.
Peyton easily agreed to wearing the Kevlar vest this time. Ethan had brought another smaller one with him, so they strapped one on Jamal, much to his excitement.
“Does this mean I’m an agent?” he asked hopefully.
“More like our mascot,” Ethan teased.
“Hey, I’m not a mascot,” he pouted, trying to sound offended but the smile as he ran his hands over the vest gave him away.
Peyton looked incredible in a ruffled blue top that brought out the color of her eyes and long skirt decorated with flowers. He wore an Emporio Armani long-sleeved sport shirt in dark blue with charcoal pants that Ethan brought for him since the suit he packed was ruined after the near-miss with a bullet. He left the shirt untucked to cover his weapon. Good thing the wedding was informal.
Ethan drove with Declan riding shotgun so he could give directions since he was familiar with the area, having grown up in Chicago. Noah sat in the back with Peyton, Jamal in the middle between them. He kept scanning for any threats. He wished he could’ve talked her out of attending, but this was important to her. The bride-to-be was her good friend and former teammate. It would’ve upset her to miss her friend’s big day and he understood. He didn’t like it, but he understood.
Traffic was light on Sunday morning, and they arrived at the park where the wedding would be held without incident. Ethan found a space in the front row, explaining to Declan that they always backed in to park in case they needed to get away quickly. The few seconds it took to reverse and then switch directions could mean the difference.
“That’s why,” Peyton mumbled.
She reached for her door but he stopped her, instructing her to wait until he came around to get her. He scanned the perimeter as he slid outside. He’d accessed satellite maps on his computer, so he knew there were no tall buildings nearby to accommodate a sniper. The area was open, so unless an attack came at close range, they should be able to spot any incoming trouble. The only covered area was a white tent constructed on the beach, most likely for the reception.
Opening Peyton’s door, he held out a hand to help her down. She smiled at him and he took a step back. A sudden image flashed in his mind of a different wedding—theirs. She was wearing a beaded white gown threaded with gold. Her flaxen hair was artfully arranged on top of her head and covered with a veil and she was most beautiful woman on the planet. She placed her hand in his and a diamond winked from her ring finger. Maggie stood beside her while Ethan and Carter flanked him. The visual had been so vivid, emotions clogged his throat.
“Noah?”
He blinked back to reality to see her staring at him with concern. He realized he was holding her hand but hadn’t made a move to help her down, so he did.
“Sorry.”
She looked up at him, her luminous blue eyes gazing into his. The daydream had seemed so real, he could practically feel Ethan slapping his back in congratulations.
“You going to stand there all day or get moving?” Ethan said from behind him, breaking the spell. And yes, he was slapping his back. Fantasy and reality were clashing, and he felt off-kilter.
“We’re going.”
Reluctantly, he released her hand, but she quickly wrapped it around his arm, bringing her close to his side. He felt like the luckiest man in the world.
“Enjoy your wedding,” Jamal called out.
“It’s not our…I mean, thanks.” Damn, he needed to get a grip. He had a job to do and it wasn’t planning his dream wedding in his head. He had no business even thinking along those lines.
More cars started to arrive as they made their way to the beach. Chairs had been set up in twenty rows of ten seats on each side split with an aisle covered with flower petals. A sign indicated to: Sit wherever your heart desires. He liked that idea that one person wouldn’t feel bad if they didn’t have as many friends and family to fill their section.
Peyton chose seats in the second row. He indicated for her to proceed him. He wanted to be on the end in case they needed to leave quickly. Soft music drifted from speakers placed strategically around the area as seats began to fill. Peyton greeted several people in attendance and stepped around him to hug a few. She was laughing and radiant and he hated that someone was causing her distress. He’d do everything in his power to make it stop as quickly as possible.
Noah tensed when Declan’s low voice came through the comm unit in his ear. “Got a suspicious vehicle. Black Dodge Ram driving slowly. He’s parking.” There was a pause. “He’s outside scanning the area with binoculars. Approaching from behind.”
Noah tossed an arm over Peyton’s shoulder and tucked her closer to his side, ignoring her confused look.
“False alarm,” Declan announced. “He was looking for a place for his dog to do his business.”
Noah relaxed but didn’t move his arm. It felt too damn good where it was. The groom took his spot beneath a natural wood arch covered with draping flowers and white lights. Fairy lights, Peyton called them. A woman in a colorful kaftan and headwrap shook the groom’s hand and then moved to stand in front of him. The officiant, apparently.
Instead of the traditional wedding march, Elvis Costello’s She started to play as the bride walked down the aisle in a crown made of colorful flowers and a beautiful white dress that looked like it’d been crocheted.
Peyton leaned into him. “She made the dress herself out of hemp.”
Noah glanced at the groom to see him staring at his wife-to-be, clearly besotted. Is that how Noah looked when he gazed at Peyton? The groom didn’t wait for her to reach him, stepping forward to gather her in his arms and lead her the short distance to the arch, a chorus of delighted murmurs emanating from the women in attendance.
The ceremony was blessedly short, ending with the newlyweds each releasing a white dove into the air. Apparently, it was a nod to the groom’s Filipino heritage.
The reception was held steps away in the white tent. As they walked inside, Peyton told him that it had been decorated in boho chic, whatever that meant. Paper lanterns swayed gently in the breeze, and Mason jars painted white with an array of flowers inside decorated each table. There were white lights all over and some kind of macramé decorations along the front wall. Long tables draped in white tablecloths held an assortment of finger foods and decadent-looking desserts with beverages ranging from champagne to local craft beer to soda. He stuck with water since he was on duty.
Peyton led him to a table with two couples that she knew, introducing him as her date. It was a step up from friend at least. She chatted animatedly and though he was constantly scanning for any threats, he couldn’t seem to take his eyes off her. She was just so damn stunning.
The tent erupted into a chorus of cheers as the bride and groom entered with matching wide smiles. The groom looked as if he’d hit the lottery. The bride radiated happiness. She spotted Peyton and hurried over.
“Peyton! I’m so glad you’re here.” Peyton stood and the bride threw her arms around her and hugged her tight.
“You look stunning, sweetie,” Peyton told her. “I’m so happy for you. Congratulations.”
“I’m happy for me, too.” They laughed and hugged again, and then keen eyes landed on him. “Who’s your date?”
“Lotus, this is Noah Addison.”
He shook her hand. “Congratulations. It was a beautiful ceremony.”
“Thank you.” Then she whispered to Peyton in a voice that carried. “The Noah?”
Peyton blushed furiously and glanced at him. He pretended he didn’t hear but man, that’d been a kick to the solar plexus. She’d mentioned him to her friend? When? Wow. Just…wow.
Peyton whispered something to Lotus, who simply smiled serenely and then winked at him before she fluttered off to greet another table.
“I know you’ve been champing at the bit, so we can go now,” Peyton said, a light blush still coloring her cheeks.
He’d worked hard to keep his anxiousness from her, but she’d picked up on it anyway. “If you’re sure.”
Go was a relative term since it took another forty-five minutes before they were able to leave. He was pretty sure every single person at the wedding stopped her, even some of the servers who wanted her autograph. He almost took out a man who approached nervously, one hand suspiciously behind his back, but he only wanted her to sign one of the issues of Sports Illustrated where she’d graced the cover. The guy had four to choose from. She was gracious and accommodating—certainly more so than he was—but he tamped down his rapidly-growing impatience. Finally, blessedly, they exited the tent and made their way back to the SUV.
“That didn’t take long,” Jamal remarked as soon as they were back inside and buckled up. “I was having fun. Can I play more when we get back to the house?”
“Sure,” Declan said as Ethan started the engine. “In fact, I challenge you to a game.”
Jamal pumped his fist. “You’re on!”
They were going to have to figure out what to do with Jamal. Tomorrow was a school day, but if he attended, his brother would be able to find him—assuming he hadn’t been gravely injured in the shoot-out. Jamal told Peyton his aunt wanted to take him in. They needed to contact her to see if she was still willing to do so. He didn’t want to turn the boy over to social services, but they couldn’t keep him indefinitely, either.
“Can we go swimming when we get back, too?” Jamal asked, swinging his arms as if he were stroking through the water. “I don’t want to lose my skills.”
Peyton smiled at him as she ducked his flailing arm. “Sure, we can—”
Something slammed into the windshield, fracturing it into a thousand tiny spiderweb cracks.
“Get down,” Declan yelled at the same time Noah dove to cover Jamal and Peyton. He fumbled for Jamal’s seatbelt. As soon as the latch released, he shoved the boy to the floorboard. Then he did the same with Peyton, coming down over them both.
“Hang on tight.” Ethan executed a reverse one-eighty where he backed up and then whipped the wheel around to head in the opposite direction and floored the accelerator. Another bullet pinged off the back of the SUV before Ethan sped out of range.
“Stay down,” he told Jamal and Peyton as he moved to the seat and checked the back window, dialing Blake Caldwell at the same time. He gave the detective the information about the shooting when he answered.
“This isn’t safe,” Ethan said, struggling to peer through the shattered windshield. “We need to pull over.”
Once they were far enough down the road, Declan guided them to a spot off the road where they could take cover. It was possible the sniper could follow. From this vantage point, they’d be able to see him approach.
Noah gave Caldwell the address and he promised to send a car to retrieve the bullet embedded in the glass and to transport them back to the house.
When two police cars arrived, they unloaded everything they’d need from Ethan’s SUV and waited while a crime scene crew removed the bullet. Caldwell arrived at the same time as a tow truck to transport the SUV to a shop BeBe arranged to replace the bullet-proof glass.
Declan rode with Jamal in one police car while he climbed into Caldwell’s vehicle with Peyton. Ethan rode shotgun.
Caldwell glanced into the rear-view mirror. “Someone knew you’d be at the wedding.”
“It wouldn’t have been too hard to figure out,” Peyton rationalized. “Lotus and I were teammates for several years and we’re still good friends. It would’ve been an easy assumption that I’d attend.”
And it would’ve been a no-brainer to set up shop and wait. There was only one road leading to the beach where the ceremony was held. Still, he couldn’t help but wonder if the person knew Peyton’s schedule. First the banquet and now the wedding.
As soon as the police cars dropped them off at the house, he took Ethan and Declan aside. “That makes two instances of someone knowing where Peyton would be and when.”
“Someone has insider knowledge,” Declan deduced.
“Her apartment was bugged,” Ethan guessed.
Noah nodded. “That’s what I’m thinking. We need to do a scan.” He glanced over to see Jamal dancing around Peyton, challenging her to another game of Car Clash 6000.
Declan followed his gaze. “I’ll keep Jamal occupied while you check for bugs.”
“You don’t mind?”
“Nah. He’s a great kid.”
#
Peyton couldn’t seem to stop shaking. Someone had shot at them. Again. If the glass hadn’t been bullet-proof, they could’ve died. Thankfully the encounter hadn’t fazed Jamal in the least. He was already talking smack as he settled in for a rematch with Declan. Then she remembered him saying that shootouts were a daily occurrence at his apartment and her heart hurt for the boy. To be so young and immune to gunfire was a travesty—though he might not be so immune. He didn’t want to take off the vest. He said he felt safe with it on so none of them tried to remove it. If it provided him comfort, then he could wear it all the time as far as she was concerned.
Declan returned and plopped down next to Jamal. Soon they were engaged in a lively battle complete with name calling, silly taunts and hoots of victory. Declan seemed to enjoy their competition as much as Jamal.
Noah walked towards her and the look on his face caused an overwhelming feeling of apprehension. Butterflies fluttered in her belly. Something was wrong.
“Do you still have the key to the pool house?”
“Yes. Why?”
“Someone’s been a step ahead of us. I want to check for any listening devices.”
“You think my apartment was bugged?”
“It’s a possibility I’d like to check out.”
“I’m going with you.”
He nodded. “That’s probably best so the owners don’t call the cops on us.”
She found the key in her purse. “Before we search, I’d like to check on Aurora. Her mom texted me that she’s home now.”
“Sure.”
She started to leave the house when Noah cleared his throat. She turned to see him holding up her vest. Right. She wasn’t supposed to leave the house without it. It was tempting to just put it on over her shirt, but she didn’t want to have to explain to Aurora or her parents why she was walking around wearing Kevlar.
Ducking into the bathroom off the kitchen, she removed her shirt and fastened the vest in place. Once she’d tugged her shirt back on, she checked out her reflection in the full-length mirror. It wasn’t completely unnoticeable, but it wasn’t too bulky, either. After turning off the light, she joined Noah and Ethan and with a feeling of dread, she followed them into the garage.
“It’s not too far. Can’t we walk?”
“Too out in the open,” Ethan told her.
That made sense. Besides, she did feel better inside the safety of the SUV, especially after witnessing its effectiveness earlier in the day, though that had been Ethan’s vehicle and they were now using Noah’s. She assumed they were all the same. She climbed inside and two minutes later, they were parking in her old spot next to the garage. Before getting out, she called Avery and discovered that Aurora was asleep. She needed the rest, so Peyton wouldn’t stop in and wake her. She let them know that she was retrieving a few things from her apartment in case they saw lights on. Hopefully they would be leaving empty-handed.
The smell of freshly mowed grass mingled with honeysuckle and locust for an intoxicating aroma that was at odds with the feeling of foreboding as she unlocked the door to her old apartment. She stepped back as Noah and Ethan entered with wand-like devices to scan for recording devices. Curving her arms over her torso, she fought the urge to shudder, especially when Noah’s device beeped an alert almost instantly.
“Got one.” Reaching up to the fire alarm above the entry, he removed it and opened the case to reveal a hidden camera.
“Another one over here,” Ethan said, removing the device from the other fire alarm.
“Oh. My God.” Peyton crumpled to the sofa. “He’s been watching me?” A cold chill racked her body. She felt violated and physically sick. Someone had watched and recorded her undressing, showering, using the bathroom...oh, God.
“Bathroom’s clean,” Ethan announced.
She couldn’t even appreciate the small reprieve. What if those images of her undressing were leaked to the internet? She’d worked hard her entire career to stay clean of any scandals or indiscretions. She’d never been arrested or involved in a drug scandal or posed for Playboy, though she’d been offered an exorbitant fee to do so. She’d been labeled with the moniker “Golden Girl” and she didn’t want to do anything to tarnish her reputation. Now, because someone had invaded her privacy in the most depraved way, the choice might’ve been taken out of her hands.
“Hey, it’s okay,” Noah said, dropping beside her on the sofa and running a hand over her back.
She was rocking back and forth but she couldn’t stop. “They watched me undress, Noah,” she cried. “What if that footage gets out? I’ll be ruined.”
“Shh,” he said when she hiccupped a sob. Then she was being lifted into his arms. She burrowed against him, needing his strength and warmth. She was known for staying calm when faced with a challenge. She never showed weakness. She was strong and self-sufficient. She was at her best under pressure. But right now, she felt lost.
A big hand stroked down her hair. “I know someone who could obliterate the internet if necessary. If there are pictures out there, they’ll never see the light of day.”
“Really?” She blinked at him, a tear escaping to run down her cheek. He caught it with his thumb.
“Really. I won’t let anyone hurt you, Peyton.”
She sucked in a shuddering breath and collapsed against his broad chest. She needed his strength, his calm competence to center her. Otherwise, she’d float into the air and fracture into a million tiny pieces.
#
Peyton was breaking his heart. Her sobs were absolutely killing him. The thought of someone invading her privacy, watching her dress and undress, had his hand clenching into a fist. He wanted to find the person and beat the ever-loving hell out of him.
Ethan executed another thorough scan of the entire apartment, but they’d only found the two devices that looked as if they recorded both picture and sound. Then he stepped outside to try to locate where the video and audio uploaded, and, Noah suspected, to give Peyton privacy. Most devices like the ones they found had a short range. If they could find the source, they might be able to destroy any tapes that were recorded or trace the device.
He’d told her he knew someone who could obliterate the internet. He only hoped Tyler had that kind of power. He was a freaking genius, so Noah had no doubt he could.
Her sobs subsided and he lifted her chin. “Better?”
Her lip quivered. “Not really.”
He didn’t think his heart could take it if she started to cry again. He did the only thing he could think of. He pressed his lips to hers. She shuddered and melted into him. It took every bit of restraint he possessed to keep from deepening the kiss like he wanted. She was hurting and he couldn’t take advantage of her. With a herculean effort, he broke the kiss. Her eyes fluttered open, still shiny from her crying jag, but gazing at him with a look of need.
Something banged loudly outside. Peyton jumped, almost falling off his lap. His last-minute grab kept her from hitting the floor.
The door opened and Ethan stuck his head inside. “Sorry, my bad.”
Judging from the twinkle in his brother’s eye, he’d seen what happened. Freaking great. Noah would never hear the end of it.
Peyton’s phone rang. “It’s Mrs. Benton.”
She scooted off his lap and stepped away to talk. She wasn’t going to like it, but this would be her last phone call. He needed to confiscate her cell since it was ridiculously easy to trace. He had a couple of disposables in his SUV she could use, but they weren’t as sophisticated as her iPhone.
Peyton returned, her lips swollen from his kisses. “Aurora’s awake now. I’m going to check on her.”
“We’ll be here.”
As soon as she crossed the pool deck, Ethan spun around to him with a look of awe.
“Dude, you and the Golden Girl?”
“Shut the hell up, Ethan.”
His brother studied him closely and then whistled. “It’s like that, is it?”
“It’s not like anything.” He brushed by and headed out the door, hoping the blush he felt heating his cheeks wasn’t noticeable.
“Noah, wait.”
He stopped with a sigh.
“Do you know what you’re doing?” For a change, his brother’s voice was deadly serious. “She’s a client and your friend’s younger sister.”
It was the same thing he’d repeated to himself over and over. He just didn’t listen. “I know and there’s nothing happening.”
“I saw—”
“It was nothing,” he cut off. “A lapse in judgment. It won’t happen again.” He hoped.