Luckily for us, it was late, and there were only a few customers inside the taproom. We were completely out of sight, and the only way they could’ve caught us was if they came searching for us.
But even now with a full cidery and band inside the barn, I still want to whisk her away and have my way with her until she’s nothing but a mess beneath me.
“All right. Fine. You win. I’ll behave,” she says. “But only for now.”
I fully believe her.
“I’m going to head back in there, but do you think you could do a mini signing session later? The last thing I need is for these guys to continue to fan over you and totally blow their set during the wedding.”
I don’t want to sign anything for these assholes, but it wouldn’t be for them. It would be for Odette, and I think I might do anything for her.
“Yeah,” I agree. “I can do that. But only if you promise to come get me if they start being even a little bit inappropriate with you, and I’m serious. I mean a glance that lingers too long or a squeeze on your arm. Anything.”
She nods, a grin curling on her lips. “I still don’t think they were flirting with me, but yes, I will let you know if the boys I’m not even remotely interested in or attracted to decide to look at me too long.”
“Not attracted to them, huh?”
She wrinkles her nose in genuine disgust. “Not even a little bit.”
“Yeah? What exactly are you attracted to then?”
“Oh, you know. Guys with deep-brown hair and eyes that match. Cute little crinkles right at the corners.” She reaches up, tracing her finger beside my eye, right over those crinkles she’s talking about. “A nose that looks like it’s maybe taken a high stick or two.”
“Or that’s been beaten up by a bathroom door,” I add, circling my hands around her waist.
She giggles. “Or a bathroom door. Somebody a little rough around the edges, but in all the best ways. Somebody who has experience. Who isn’t so green. Who has lived a life and maybe has a few gray hairs to prove it.”
Her hand dives into my hair right at my temples where the said gray hairs lie, and I lean into her touch, pressing a kiss against the palm of her hand.
We are being so damn reckless right now, yet I can’t find it in me to care.
“You know ...” she whispers. She pushes to her tiptoes, her beautiful pink, full lips ghosting over mine, then my cheek, and right to my ear. A shiver races down my spine. “Someone old.”
I drop my head back on a groan as she laughs, pulling away, leaving me missing her far too much, especially when she’s just called me old yet again.
“Oh, and hey, Noah? Remember when I said that I kind of like a grumpy, growly side of you? Well, I think I like the jealous side even more.”
She gives me a saucy smirk before turning and walking away, an extra sway in her hips as I watch her go.
Fuck. I swear this woman wants to be the death of me.
The wildest part? I’d let her be.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Odette
“Oh my gosh. You look gorgeous.”
Izzy twirls, her dress spinning out around her calves. She giggles. “Really? You think so?”
I nod. “Yes, definitely. And if you look this incredible for your rehearsal dinner, I cannot wait to see you in your gown tomorrow.”
“You’ve already seen me in it.”
Izzy was one of those lucky brides who walked into a shop and foundThe Dresswithin thirty minutes. She had it picked out before she even had a venue.
“Yeah, but this is different. This is the real thing. Hair and makeup, and then walking down the aisle toward the love of your life and absolutely beautiful future.”
