Acting as if this were perfectly normal, I tuck it back in. I swear the thing is cutting so badly into my flesh, I’m getting more worried about blood stains than sweat marks at this point.
“Let me cut if off for you,” Noah says,pulling the tag back out.
I tuck it back in. “No-no-no!”
He frowns. “Is that actually part of the dress? Some trend I missed?” His lips twitch in the most irresistible smile.
Although it doesn’t look like anyone else noticed, my giddiness turns into embarrassment. I shut my eyes briefly. “Can you keep a secret?”
He smirks. “I didn’t think you knew the meaning of the word. Or does secret meanhigh value gossipto you?”
I fail to repress the laughter bubbling in my throat. “Very funny,” I concede.
“I’m sorry,” he says, surprising me. “I was out of line. Clearly, the reason you don’t take the tag off your clothes is none of my business.”
He really is clueless, isn’t he? I settle safely back against his chest and say low enough only he can hear, “I’m returning the dress on Monday.”
Then I try to hide my embarrassment by focusing on his bow tie. This shade of blue is a perfect choice as it brings out the color of his eyes. Did he choose it on purpose, to look even more attractive? And what are these little tone-on-tone shapes? I narrow my gaze, now intent on figuring out these… are theseghosts? Cute. And… what are these other…? Are these…? Ohmygod. I suppress my laughter.
“Why would you do that? It looks great on you,” he says.
My throat tightens. “Wh—?”Oh, the dress.Noah just complimented my dress. He definitelyisclueless. “I can’t affordit. And no, it wasn’t expensive. But seventy-three dollars is a week of food, so… yeah.”
He frowns, and I expect either some questioning, a pity speech, or an offer to drive me to the food bank. Something demeaning that would fit the dynamic between the Callaways and the Fontaines. But instead he mumbles, “Knew it… Not ethical but not illegal either.”
“I bought it online…” another underarm pass “from a chain store,” I add, needing to be seen in a good light.
“Ooof. Onlineandchain store? Adding insult to injury.” A discreet whiff of clean laundry and cedar emanates from him, weakening my knees. “I don’t know if I can keep talking to you.” His huge grin brings back the damn dimples.
“But I’m returning it,” I add quickly.
“Good,” he shoots back. Then with a quick frown he adds, “You do this often?”
“It’s the first time,” I confess.
He seems reassured, with a touch of concern. “Your mom?”
My breath catches in surprise, but then again, between the weight loss and the headscarf, anyone can see what’s going on. “It’s been tough,” I admit. “But she’ll get through it.” I smile at him. There’s something about beingseenby Noah Callaway that brings the happy out in me.
“Good,” he says, worry still marring his forehead.
“No, really. I mean it,” I insist.
He takes a sharp inhale, as if he’s about to ask me something, but stays quiet.
“What is it?” I prompt him.
“It’s uh… this is going to sound weird.”
I’m insanely curious now, and at the same time prepared to be disappointed. Weird in Noah Callaway’s world is bound to be my ordinary boring. Maybe he doesn’t know how to tell me that Wednesday before last, when he came to the bakery and I servedhim a Two Millers, I chose a sightly under-baked one and he’d really prefer, in the future, the darker, crustier ones. It’s got to be something along those lines.
He leans into me, his lips almost grazing my earlobe. “How would you feel about helping me out with… a project?”
His breath on my neck sends a ripple of desire down my spine. I try to suppress it as best as I can and jerk my head back. “Sure! What is it?”
He looks around and leans dangerously back into my space, his scent impressing itself on me like a childhood memory. “I can’t tell you here.”
Now I’mreallycurious. “Is it illegal?” I tease.
