He rolled his eyes. “Are you going to tell me you don’t notice it?” There was a quiet anger in his tone I could appreciate—it had both me and Abe wanting to purr, which was actually terrible.
“Nope. But what does that have to do with the way you move the rest of your body?” I waggled my eyebrows. “Because I’d think that’s what most people would really focus on.”
For a split second his face flared pink. His pouty mouth fell open. With a husky laugh, he shook his head. “Nothing, I guess. I’ve had two boyfriends.”
I used my pointer to snag a couple of crumbs from my plate and stuffed them into my mouth. When he stared, I only lifted a shoulder. “Two more than me.”
“No one would date you? I find that hard to believe.”
“I neverasked.”
His chin nearly hit his chest as he stared up at me with woeful eyes. “That’s sad.”
Embarrassment rolled over me with his pronouncement. “I could be shot any day. What’s the point?”
He tilted his head and beamed a smile in my direction. “So, no one wanted to put up with your ‘let’s fuck and be friends’ proposition? What do bullets have to do with the way you move your body?” he drawled.
Shaking my head, I leaned forward as amusement took me over. “You’re one of those men who likes rescues, right? You like to find people and make their lives better? I’m a sad sack with a cold heart, and only the heaven between your thighs can heal me.”
He broke down in something close to giggles, hiding his face behind his hand for about half a minute while he tried to get himself together. “I really do want a boyfriend if I’m… you know. Seeing someone. Not a quick blow ’n’ go. There are apps for that.”
“Then we probably won’t work out.”
He nodded in agreement and his smile shifted to something a little regretful. “I can’t imagine you showing up at my apartment when I’m sick to make me feel better. You’re definitely not that kind of guy.” He eyed my chest, though, like he might be hungry for a piece of my body instead of food, so I didn’t take his words to heart.
“I can’t cook for shit, so no chicken soup here. You’re right.” We nodded at each other, but I snapped my fingers. “I can change a tire.”
“No car.”
“Mow grass,” I fired back. “Bet you hate that.”
“I live in an apartment with no lawn.”
“Paint?”
“I can do that myself, even with the unhelpful hand.”
“Damn,” I grumped.
Noble laughed, and he was so beautiful it really made me wish I could offer more than taking him home for a quickie. I stared at his pretty blue eyes too long and felt Abe shifting inside me. What the fuck had I been thinking? If I actually liked this man, I would leave him alone.
Noble’s breath caught as he stared right back, nostrils flaring. It was almost as if he’d scented danger—and liked it. “I do have a light bulb I can’t reach in the bathroom. Not even if I stand on a chair.” His words were strained.
“Yeah?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Well, I’m not trying to be your man anyway,” I said and leaned back again. When had I almost doubled over the table to try to get closer to him? “You don’t already have one, do you?”
“Me? You mean a boyfriend? Why do you ask?” He squirmed on his chair, and a smile played around his lips. The asshole liked that he had me on a string, but I would play into the trap. I wanted him to catch me, even if I shouldn’t let him.
“You were with that man earlier. He hugged you.”
Noble’s smile softened, and my gut heated with jealousy. I hated losing to someone else, and Abe’s low, monstrous approval of my anger had me pulling in those feelings as much as possible. I couldn’t go on a rampage and murder men Noble knew. Killing people close to him would lead to Noble dead some dark night.
“Well?” I demanded.
“He’s a friend. His name is Journey.”
