“It’ll only take a minute.” Noah led her to the office, then opened the door and nudged her inside.
“Surely people will have seen us coming in here. What do you want, Noah?”
“You.” He wrapped a hand around her neck and kissed her. Kissed her with everything he felt but hadn’t said. “You’ve been avoiding me, and I missed you,” he rasped as they came up for air.
“I’ve been busy.”
“No, you’ve been avoiding me because Faith threatened you so you’d stay away from me. She told me everything.”
“She’s your sister, Noah, and right. It’s better this way. Faith was only looking out for you.”
“I know she was, and no, she’s not right. I want you, and I’m not sure where this is going but I know I want it to go somewhere.”
He saw the hope as she looked up at him. “I don’t know if I have the right to want more.”
“But you do want it like I do?”
“Katie asked some questions today, and I answered a few of them, and I realized one thing.” She sounded uncertain, so he kissed the curve of her jaw.
“What?”
“That I can’t keep running, but as yet I don’t know how to stop.”
“Let me help you.”
“I don’t want you hurt.”
Noah wondered if she knew she’d placed a hand on his chest.
“I don’t want you hurt either.”
She sighed as he eased her closer and felt all resistance leave her body as she rested one cheek on his chest. To Noah, it felt like she was coming home… home to him.
“Don’t run from me, Lani.” He felt the need to say the words again.
“I promised you I wouldn’t and that I’d come to you if I felt the need.”
“I know, I was just checking. You smell nice.”
“Katie is really forceful.”
“Detective.”
“I can see why. I was just passing her house, walking to think things through, and she dragged me in.”
“The effort was worth it; you look sensational.”
“Clothes aren’t everything, Noah, and thinking they are makes you sound shallow.”
He liked that she was telling him off, because it sounded like something someone in a couple would say.
“I didn’t say you don’t always look good, Lani. Even in those jeans that could fit me in there with you I know how hot you are. I just wanted you to know that you look extra sexy as hell in that dress and with your hair like that. In fact, I’m thinking we skip the auction and I take you upstairs—”
“Stop that!” She moved back and slapped his chest. “Besides, Mrs. C said you’re likely to raise the most money because she’s buying you.”
“Think that’s funny, do you?”
“Hilarious.” She gave him a cheeky smile, so he kissed her again.
