Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77717 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77717 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
I knew he and Colin went to the same college. My brother got a degree in marketing, and I kind of assumed Noah just floated along, posing as a TA to get in girls’ pants. And now I’m starting to feel guilty for assuming anything about him.
“Why photography?”
He shrugs. “Being honest … I had to pick a major. Photography seemed easy and was a good excuse to take those basement photos you were referring to, which led to hookups in college. Then I got my first photography job and realized I could make a decent living doing something that had no set hours. Plus I’m good at it, I guess. Win for me.”
“What kind of photos do you take?”
“Whatever I get hired to do, really. I worked for a magazine for a while before starting my own business. I can show you sometime.”
“So do you have a studio?”
“I do. On Washington street.”
I know exactly where that is. It’s the historic district of this town, located near the heart of the business center. It’s a busy place, ideal for any sort of shop or store, and rent isn’t cheap on that street. He must do pretty well.
“And you work at…?”
“Banfield Animal Hospital. I’m a vet tech.”
“You like it?”
“Oh, I love it. It’s what always wanted to do.”
“I remember. It was one of the first things you ever told me,” he says then looks almost embarrassed. “In Mrs. Jefferson’s office.”
I have to think back for a second. “Oh right. You were in trouble or something. Why?”
He shrugs. “I don’t even remember.”
Curls fall over my shoulder when I shake my head. “I never would have thought we’d be here, in this situation.”
“Yeah … things have gone off course of what I expected too.” He reaches across the table, fingertips touching mine. “It doesn’t mean it’s bad, though.”
He locks eyes with me, holding steady as if looking away would be the death of him. My heart flutters and suddenly I’m looking at a whole new Noah, one that holds a promise of a future.
Maybe this can work after all.
“So,” I say and pull my hand back, afraid of how intense my feelings are becoming. “If this was a normal first date, what would we do after dinner?”
“I’d take you back to my apartment and we’d have sex.”
“You’re very certain about that.”
He gives me that smartass smirk I remember from years back. “I am. It’s almost a shame you don’t remember anything from that night.”
“Almost. So, then what? You part ways and that’s that?”
“Yes, I wasn’t interested in dating anyone. But that was then.”
I smile back. That was then.
And this is now.
Chapter 10
NOAH
I LOOK AT Lauren, who fell asleep while we were watching Harry Potter after our first date, and feel something I haven’t felt in a long time. Is that my heart swelling … with happiness? The movie ends and Lauren is still sleeping. Carefully, I move away and make sure she’s comfortable, covering her with a blanket. Should I leave? I don’t want to, as odd as that is.
The recliner chair is good enough for the night. I turn the TV off , sit, and close my eyes, not falling deep asleep but dozing off. Around midnight, Lauren wakes up.
“I didn’t mean to fall asleep,” she says groggily. Her eyes meet mine and I can’t help but smile.
“It’s okay. I can only assume you’re tired. You’re growing a person and all.”
“Yeah, no big deal, just creating life.” She sits up. “You didn’t have to stay.”
“I didn’t want to leave you,” I blurt. “I can’t lock the door behind me. That’s not safe.”
“Oh, right. Thanks. Do you want to stay the night?”
Stay the night? With her? Hells yes. “I thought you said no sex.”
“I did, and I didn’t mean it that way. It’s late, and you’re here…” She looks into my eyes again.
“Then yeah.”
She leads the way to her bedroom. “I have an extra toothbrush. I’ll set it out for you.”
“Thanks,” I tell her and get ready for bed, stripping down to just my boxers. Lauren is in bed when I come into her room. Her eyes widen as she looks at me, eyes slowly trailing over my body. Then she closes her eyes and looks away. Trying to resist temptation, is she?
I won’t tempt her—because really I’d be tempting myself. She’s tired and needs extra rest, right? Shit.
Before I know it, I’m in bed with Lauren Winters. Again. Though, this time nothing is going to happen. My leg touches Lauren’s as I try to get comfortable. Her skin is soft and warm and instantly turns me on. I want to feel more of it, to run my hand up that smooth calf, past her thigh and—stop. Dealing with an erection while next to Lauren in bed isn’t something I want to do right now. With a huff, I roll over, moving as far away from Lauren as I can without falling off the bed.