“We are not flirting,” I hissed, nearly catching my fingers in the wheels, trying to roll away from the scene.
“I’m sorry. She doesn’t have good home training,” I said to Quade as he shrugged.
“For what it’s worth, neither do I.”
“Okay… Ummm,” I muttered, raising a hand like I could physically stop the embarrassment from spreading. Could this get any worse?
“How long is the ramp gonna take?” I asked, trying to redirect the conversation.
“A few weeks,” Quade said, straightening up. “But we’ll have a temporary one in by noon today.”
“Sounds good.” I nodded. I was ready to roll away. Hell, I needed to roll away.
“Well, I’m happy it’s finally getting worked on. Y’all are welcome to stay for breakfast. I’m about to cook pancakes, bacon, eggs, and grits,” Teagan said.
“I’m sure they’re busy, Teagan.” I tried to protest, but Quade was already nodding his head.
“That actually sounds good. I don’t know about the guys, but I ain’t ate shit this morning.”
“Good. Then it’s settled,” Teagan said. “I’ll add three plates to the table.”
I stared at her, speechless, and then at Quade. Could neither of them see I was trying to avoid him?
“I’m… um… going… to… um… get dressed.” I rolled backward, nearly clanking my chair on the wall on the way to my room.
“What the hell is wrong with you, Noa?”I scolded myself as I rolled into my bedroom and slammed the door shut. “You’re acting like some dumb girl with a high-school crush.” I rolled over to my bed before turning to stare at the door. I could still faintly hear Quade and Teagan talking in the front room.
“Hope I didn’t burn a bridge,” he said.
“Naw, she just stubborn. Hates people messing with her stuff. Be patient with her. We’re glad you guys are here. She needs this.”
“Don’t worry. She’s in great hands,” Quade said, and I could picture that smug smile on his face.
“See, I like you already,” she replied.
I pressed my hand to my chest, trying to still the embarrassing rhythm.
Teagan knocked lightly on my door before cracking it open without waiting for a response and walking in. “I checked, and he’s single.”
“Why would you do that?”
“Thank you, sister,is the proper response.”
I dropped my head into my hands.
“Seriously, Teagan. I don’t want to make him uncomfortable in here. This is his place of work.”
“Girl, please.” She added with a dramatic whisper, “That fine man keeps looking at you like he already knows what you taste like.”
“Teagan!” I hissed.
“I’m just saying.” She grinned, already halfway out the door. “Oh, and you better put a bra on ’cause your body is telling on you.” She pointed to my erect nipples.
“Get out!” I tossed a pillow at the door as she cackled down the hall.
The smellof bacon and syrup drifted through the air, but it wasn’t breakfast pulling me toward the kitchen table. Nah, even through the sweet and savory haze, I could still smell her. Noa was doing something to me. Her soft scent was lingering under my nose like she was still right up under me. I could barely get the way she looked at me this morning with those wide, flustered eyes and hard nipples out of my mind. Her body had already told me everything I needed to know. She felt it—the tension and the pull between us—the same way I did.
I glanced down at my watch. I should’ve already been at my other site. I should’ve left twenty minutes ago, but I wasn’t about to turn down her sister’s hospitality again. I was trying to build a good working relationship. We had to be in close proximity tothese people for a while. Besides, I damn sure wasn’t missing the chance to share more space with Noa. As much as I tried to shake it, she intrigued me, and a woman hadn’t intrigued me since I was a young nigga just getting my ears wet.
