Noel grimaced and tucked his phone away, then drove back to his hotel. He made sure no one followed him. But just to be on the safe side, he switched to his backup hotel, registered under an alias, and rested up for the following day.
He’d need his wits about him to deal with the real danger at hand—AdelineRose and a shared suite with one big-ass bed.
Addy continuedto call herself all kindsof stupid for agreeing to a date with a man who made her lose all control. He’d honest to goodness seduced her into sex on the first date without even trying. And then to forego a condom? It was like a sexual Darwin Award for most idiotic or desperate female of the decade.
She sighed, trying not to be too hard on herself. Addy was only human, and she’d had a crush on Noel for years. Addto that she hadn’t had sex in over a year and she’d been primed to detonate near Sexy Cavanaugh.
But now that she’d taken the edge off—so to speak—she could better handle herself with him. She liked Noel. When he’d let go of those emotional shields holding him back, he’d showed fascinating layers of complexity. But it was getting through those shields to the core of the man beneath thatmotivated her to see where her relationship with Noel would go.
As Solene had said, it wasn’t like Addy had men breaking down her door. Sure, Brent had called for another dinner date, but she’d pretended to miss seeing the message, returning the call to his business when she’d known he’d be at home.
Brent. Such a nice man. Such a boring man. He owned his own accounting firm on theisland. He had steady work, but not many interests outside that of a tax break or football.
Addyloathedfootball.
Talk with Brent had her mind wandering in minutes. As annoyed as she’d been with Noel, she’d never been bored with him. Disappointed, attracted, annoyed, but never bored.
She walked off the ferry with her roller bag by her side and found Noel waiting patientlyfor her in the terminal. He seemed so still, blending into his environment so well that a few people nearly bumped into him when the crowd coming off the ferry swelled.
He saw her and nodded. A tilt to his head, no smile, but she swore his eyes warmed.
A few ladies near her gave him second and third looks, and she knew what they saw. A handsome, if reserved, man. That look of take-it-or-leave-it-I-don’t-give-a-damn that intrigued a girl to pry under that icy exterior.
Down, girl. Remember, you’re in control of your hormones now.
She gave him a small smile and took his arm, allowing him to walk her to the parking lot. He put her bag in the trunk of his car and held the door open for her. A gentleman, and she didn’t think he was putting on an act. This was the real Noel behavingas he normally would.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
She caught another hint of a smile. Not in his lips so much, but in the slight crinkle of his eyes and the tilt of his head. She should have thought it odd to be able to read him so well, but she found it a challenge to keep up with his near-invisible tells.
“Did your week go well?” he asked, all politeness as hedrove them to the hotel.
“Fine, if you don’t count one of the boys daring four others to eat their glue sticks. Mind you, these are eight- and nine-year-olds. But three of them ate the glue and got tummy aches. Then there was the parent incensed that her daughter comes home covered in marker every day. Well, I can’t control what Becky Crowder does on her walk home. At least she uses temporarymarkers.”
He coughed, to cover a laugh, most likely. “Well. That sounds…interesting.”
“What about you? How did your meetings go?”
He sighed. “About as well as your week went. I made very little progress. But at least I was saved from having to change some very dirty diapers.”
“Oh, yes, about that. Deacon came over last night in terror. I think Noel Jr.—ah, I mean, thebaby,” she corrected when he gave her a look, “is teething and not sleeping. Deacon was at the end of his rope. So I introduced him to Solene’s daycare. I think he’s going to use her for a little break. But don’t worry.” She hurried to forestall the question following his frown. For all that Noel insisted he wasn’t the father, he acted protective at the oddest times. “Solene’s an expert. Kids loveher, and she has a soft spot for babies.”
“Solene Hansen? I think I met her once in town.”
“Yes. Blonde, beautiful, with an attitude? That’s her.” And what did Noel think of the ex-model?
He snorted. “Oh right. The attitude. I remember her now. Good. She and Deacon can work things out.” He gave her a quick assessment without revealing his thoughts. “You and I have a date nightplanned.”
She felt tingly as she envisioned their date getting carnal. Because as much as she wanted to prove to herself she was above sex with an almost stranger, she’d never been so pleasured by a man in her life. Already, she felt addicted to Noel’s touch. Not good when he’d probably be getting ready to head out again soon.
He patted her on the knee. “Don’t worry, Addy. I’ll goeasy on you.”
She ignored the heat left by his touch and placed his large hand back on the steering wheel. “Whatever, Noel. I think we both knowyou’rethe one with the control problem.”
“Is that so?” He shot her a grin that melted her panties right off. Or at least, that’s what her lady parts told her. She felt exposed, aroused, and downright hostile that he could make her wanthim so easily.Damn.
“Yeah, neighbor. That’s so,” she growled. “Now let’s enjoy this platonic date night of ours. That’sifyou can keep it in your pants.”
He blinked at her. “Funny, but that phrase has been going around a lot lately.”
