Slightly irritated, he says, “This is Noah.”
“Noah! It’s Eva.” My voice shakes. I clear my throat, trying to buy time to settle my nerves. He remains silent and my nerves grow. “I’m so sorry I gave you the wrong number Sunday.”
I wait for a response, but there isn’t one, just more silence. This is going worse than I thought. I wouldn’t be surprised if maybe he hangs up on me. Stepping out of my car and grabbing my purse, I decide to come back later for the groceries.
“I must have accidentally hit the wrong buttons. I swear I didn’t do it on purpose. I’ve actually been waiting, hoping you’d call all week. I didn’t want to reach out to you first. I mean, it’s not that I didn’t want to, it’s more that I didn’t want you thinking I was too forward.”
I lock my car and grab the handle, jerking it twice to make sure it’s secure.
Worried he’s hung up, I ask, “Are you still there?”
I start walking towards my house and am taken aback to see Noah standing on my front porch. I stumble through my next few steps. My gaze locks on his hands. Three single-stemmed roses are clutched in one, in his other he’s holding his phone up to his ear.
He doesn’t hang up. He doesn’t move any closer. After a moment, he smiles.
“You’re fucking adorable when you’re flustered!”
He ends the call and starts to close the distance between us. With each step he takes, my body’s temperature rises. Breathing. Breathing would be a good thing right now. Would it look ridiculous if I started fanning myself? Yeah, it would look. Taking a deep breath, I watch with anticipation as he comes closer.
“How did you know where to find me?” I ask eventually, returning my phone to my purse.
The three days apart have done nothing to lessen the effect he’s had on me. It’s only the opposite, in fact.
My heart beats faster, making me dizzy, as I take in his fitted blue jeans, black boots, black t-shirt that hugs his body perfectly. His signature ball cap is pulled down low. He looks like he’s been working hard outside all morning but still manages to be put together nicely. His woodsy smell engulfs me as he comes to a stop in front of me, and I wish I could drown myself in it.
“When I finally realized I had the wrong number,” he says, “I debated all the reasons why that might actually be.” Smiling, he tilts his hat back a little on his head. “I finally decided it couldn’t have been on purpose, so I asked Rex for not only your right number but your address. You can’t get away from me that easily,” he winks, then holds out the roses for me to take.
“Thank you,” I say as I accept them, and inhale their beautiful fragrance. Shifting my weight on one foot, I try to think of a response. “Should I be concerned that you seem to be stalking me? First the bar, then my parents’ house, now my doorstep?” I joke.
Disregarding the question and gesturing towards the flowers, he says, “One rose for each day I haven’t been able to be with you.”
My heart skips a beat at such an insanely romantic gesture. Is he for real? This is the kind of stuff that you only read about or see in the movies. It’s not what actually happens in real life. At least not to me.
“I was going to leave them with your landlord,” he continues. “Or in front of your door. But, I realized the landlord doesn’t exist, and I have no clue what door is yours. You coming home was perfect timing.”
“I really am sorry. I didn’t mean for any of this to have to happen,” I try to apologize.
Shaking his head, he cuts me off. “No worries. It gave me an excuse to see you before Friday.” Smiling, he turns and looks back at my place. “So, are you going to invite me in?” he asks, not missing a beat.
The question is a little surprising. Although, I guess it should have dawned on me. The idea of Noah alone with me in my house instantly takes my mind to a place where only naughty thoughts live, being able to contain myself might be impossible.
I decide, instead, to take this as the perfect opportunity to have a little fun and find out a little more about him. If he wants to get invited up, he’s first going to have to offer up some info.
“You haven’t broken the law recently, have you? Any warrants I should know about?” I begin to teasingly question him.
Noah looks shocked as his gaze immediately swings back my way. “No, not at all. Why?”
“Any drug addictions? Ex-wives? Psycho ex-girlfriends? STDs? Insanely annoying OCD habits? Recent aliments or sicknesses I should be aware of?” I proceed, halfway joking and half totally giving him the third degree.
Laughing and shaking his head, he answers, “Nope, I’m clean.” Holding his hands up in surrender for extra emphasis, he flashes me that insanely gorgeous smile of his, and I almost melt at his feet like a silly fan girl for her boy band dream.
Faltering for only a moment, I bounce back quickly. “Then, yes, Noah, I’d be delighted if you would come in.” Batting my eyelashes for emphasis, I smile and lead the way
Fumbling with my keys at the door, I take extra time to go over the way I left my apartment in my head, and try to remember if I had left anything out that might be embarrassing. Fully confident there are no bras hanging over the couch or boxes of tampons on the kitchen counter, I open the front door to my apartment complex.
Chapter Eleven
Noah
