“Noah, you don’t have?—”
He reached for her hand, weaving his fingers within hers before lifting it to his lips. “You worry too much, honey. Relax. It’s only one night.”
She narrowed her eyes at him and pressed her lips together firmly. This was his way of getting back at her. He was going togo along with anything and everything that her mother said just to toy with her.
“See? Noah’s fine with it. I’ll let the two of you get settled. We’ll have breakfast ready before you leave in the morning.”
As if to punctuate their decision to stay, the thunder rumbled outside the bedroom window.
Jane sighed. There was no other option that she could see before her. She watched her mother head down the hallway and disappear before she spun to face Noah. She gave him a little shove. “What are you doing?” She was smiling, and her voice was light, but she wasn’t messing around with him. He’d helped them get into this mess.
Noah effortlessly captured both of her wrists in his own. “I dunno. What are we doing? What was that back there?”
She tugged her arms from him, but his gentle grip remained firm. Heat seeped into her bones from his touch, and her heart skipped as she forced herself to meet his eyes. “Noah…”
His face moved closer, and he smirked at her. “From what I remember, you were the one who put a label on us.”
“I… She…” Jane closed her eyes and forced her erratic heart to slow. She took in a few deep breaths then let out a sigh. “I knew she’d go easy on me if I said that.” Risking a look at him, she wasn’t surprised to discover his expression wasn’t readable. He was hiding how he felt about what was happening.
His eyes darted from her eyes to her lips then back again. That stare, it was as if it was capable of delving deep inside her soul; capable of sniffing out any secret she held; capable of finding the truth about the attraction she’d started to have toward him.
Jane cleared her throat. “I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable.” He was still holding her wrists, and her voice was barely above a whisper. “I should have asked you first.”
He released her, and for some unknown reason, a part of her broke at their lack of contact. Noah shoved his hands into his pockets and shrugged. A knowing smile stole across his face. He jerked his chin toward the room. “I should have known better than to think you wouldn’t have some kind of plan. That’s just the kind of person you are.” He leaned forward again, pressing his forehead to hers. “And I wouldn’t change you for anything in the world.”
The blush that filled her face probably made her look like a ripe fruit. Apparently, no one knew Jane as well as Noah did. And the weird thing was that he had made her feel seen for the first time in her life.
Jane lifted a hand and placed it against Noah’s chest. Her fingers trailed a line down the buttons of his shirt, and she nodded. “Let’s get ready for bed. It’s getting late.”
Sleep hadn’t come easy.Jane tossed and turned, unable to put Noah’s words out of her head. Then, when her lids started to flutter closed, she’d hear Noah’s soft snore, and she’d be wide awake again.
At one point, she sat up in her bed and stared across the dark room toward him. She wrapped her arms around her knees and let her thoughts run wild. What if she could let him in? Would it be so bad? What was keeping her from letting him get close to her?
Maybe it was the fact that she’d been alone for so long. It was hard to depend on someone to that extent. It seemed to come so easily to Noah. He hadn’t said it, but he did want something more with her.
Trust.
That was what held her back.
She’d been so independent for so long that she didn’t want to put her trust in another person. But Noah had the potential to be someone who could earn it.
A smile tugged at her lips, and she rubbed her face in her knees. It was late. She needed to get some sleep if she didn’t want to look like a complete zombie in the morning.
Lightning flashed outside, but it wasn’t as close. The thunder was only a slight rumbling now, and even the rain had subsided somewhat. She scooted beneath her covers and stared at the ceiling for a moment before closing her eyes and letting sleep take her.
“You two drive safe.”
“We will, Mrs. Ashley,” Noah assured her. “It’s not that bad of a drive, and the skies are clear.”
Jane nodded. “I’ll call you when I get home.” She’d be late to work today by several hours, but she’d be able to make up for it by staying late. Noah had already spoken to his cousin about when he’d get home.
They headed for the front door, and Noah pulled it open as he waited for Jane to give her mother a hug goodbye.
Jane held onto her tight then released her. This Sunday dinner had been tolerable. Noah’s presence had helped, but the fact that Jane had said she was officially dating him had likely tipped the scales in her favor. She was definitely going to owe him when they got home. Maybe she’d bake him a cake or something.
She turned, catching his eye. He was staring at her that way again—the one that had her heart racing. Jane smiled then waved at her mother. “I’ll call.”
“Wait.” Her mother stepped forward.
