“Interesting,” he murmured.
Shrugging, Jane sighed. “Or there’s something wrong with him.”
Noah chuckled, drawing her attention again.
“What?” she demanded.
“Just because this guy doesn’t show up to charity events?”
She arched a brow. “Gee, I don’t know, Noah,” she said with mild sarcasm. “What do you think? The guy starts up a charity and then chooses to hide who he is? What kind of person does that? A shady one, that’s who.” Jane wasn’t sure, but she thought she saw his amusement fade slightly. She blushed. Normally, she wouldn’t have voiced this opinion to anyone. Quieter, she murmured, “People in general want recognition for their works. I see it a lot in my field.”
He shifted closer, his voice growing husky. “And you? Do you want to be noticed for your good deeds?”
“No.”
His amusement returned as if to point out just how hypocritical she was being.
Jane scoffed. “That’s different. I’m not the one funding the whole thing. I’m an underling who prefers to stay out of the limelight.”
He tilted his head at her, his attention seeming to plunge right into her heart. “And if you had the money to do some good?”
She shook her head. “Wouldn’t happen.” She eyed him, feeling compelled to explain. “Meaning I would never have that kind of money. So it’s a non-issue.”
He smirked. “I wasn’t aware I was in front of an all-seeing being who could predict the future. Go on, do me.”
This time, Jane snorted. This was the banter she enjoyed from him. Noah could keep her on her toes and point out the things about her that made her who she was. “Seeing as I would never marry into that sort of situation, the only way for that to happen is for me to win the lottery.” She gave him a side-eyed smirk. “And we all know the odds of that happening. Practically zero.”
“But not entirely impossible,” he whispered, far too close.
She shifted her weight from one foot to the other and moved to brush hair behind her ear, but it was all pulled up, and her movements likely looked ridiculous. “No, I guess not,” she rasped.
It wasn’t the conversation that had her on edge. It was his nearness. She could smell his musky cologne. She could practically feel the heat coming off him. Everything about him exuded desire, and she couldn’t help but think back to last night. What would have happened if she’d given in?
Jane shivered. Then, without warning, something heavy and warm draped around her shoulders. She stared in surprise as Noah returned to his place after he’d removed his suit jacket. It smelled like him, which only made her shiver more. Jane wasn’t even cold, but it felt too late to refuse his offering.
“What are you doing over here all alone?” Noah mused, his focus back on those dancing.
“Just taking a break.”
He didn’t glance in her direction when he said, “You looked like you were upset. Did my cousin say something?”
She stiffened. “Reese? No.” There was no use in asking if Noah had been watching them. She’d felt his eyes on her more times than not during the evening. “He was sweet.”
Noah nodded, his jaw flexing. “So, what’s bothering you?”
Her eyes narrowed. “What makes you think something’s wrong?”
This time, he turned his head, and those eyes drilled into her, delving so deep she wasn’t entirely sure he couldn’t see every secret she had hidden. His lips quirked upward, and he lifted a hand but then dropped it as if thinking better of himself. “You’re not that hard to read.”
She huffed.
“So are you going to tell me what’s got you upset? Or will I have to find a way to drag it out of you?”
Jane shook her head, amusement mingling with frustration. “It’s really nothing.”
“I’ve got nothing better to do.”
She rolled her eyes. “It’s probably nothing you haven’t heard before.”
