I dropped my hands to her hips and kissed her full on the lips.
A sudden stiffness that had entered her body relaxed by degrees as I held her there, kissing her slowly and thoroughly.
I grinned and raised my head. “Hi.”
“Well. Um. Wow.” She fanned her face with one hand.
“That’s some greeting. We should do that more often.” She patted my chest, her grin widening to a full smile that crinkled her eyes.
“I have a few hours.” I tipped my head toward the stairs.
A blush reddened her cheeks, and she held both hands in the air while walking backward to the hall closet. “Would if I could, but I need to run out for a bit.”
“Really?” Curiosity and uncertainty spiked my pulse. “You didn’t mention any errands.”
Her lips puckered in a familiar way. “Rafe, you’re running a motorcycle club, a Christmas toy drive, and who knows what else I have no idea about. I’m just heading to the office for a bit. My editor wants to meet with me.”
The way she said it, the strange curl to her lip and the way she said editor like it tasted foul, raised my suspicious nature.
“How is the next piece coming?” I’d read her first article with a critical eye.
The club needed a certain amount of exposure, but not at the cost of putting us in danger.
She raised one shoulder, her other hand reaching into the closet. “It’s fine. I like the first one better, but you know how things are with the news. The more sensationalized, the better.” She took out her long overcoat and flung it over her shoulders. “I wish you’d give me more information to print. I have so many great stories from your crew.”
“No.” I left it at that, my resolve and tone absolute.
She paused in the process of pulling her hair free from the back of her coat.
Her collar stood up, framing her face as she frowned. “Okay. Guess that answers my next question.”
“What’s that?” I couldn’t help it.
She made me so damned curious, I barely managed to restrain myself from interrogating her.
She finished with her hair and worked her way up the coat buttons, fastening them one by one.
“My plan was to find some people who can help me enhance the stories. You’ve read and approved my rough draft, but I can guarantee that my editor will think it’s too dry. He’ll demand I make changes.”
“Sensationalize.” I hated that word.
I’d heard it more in the last few weeks than in my whole life. “I still need to approve whatever changes you make.”
I couldn’t risk her emotions coming through the pages.
Trust was the one thing I gave to Ash and Bishop and no one else.
A prickle of unease lifted the hair on the back of my neck.
I ignored it but focused on Noelle.
She finished the buttons and slung a small bag over her shoulder. “Of course.”
Was it me or did she sound too… perky?
I couldn’t put my finger onwhythe strange sensation appeared.
My lack of ability to trust, probably.
