“I saw everything.” He looked at her with lust-filled eyes. “Both times.”
Her face turned as red as a cherry, and she buried her head in her hands. “I’m mortified; no wonder you couldn’t take me seriously.”
He tilted his head and bit his lip in the most playful yet seductive way. “Not sure I’d want it to happen any other way, D.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“And for the record, I got spooked before because this”—he pointed between them—“feels like it needs to be guarded.”
He went on to tell her about Josie, how they’d been together since high school, and how she changed when they landed theHamptons Housegig together. Dahlia sat motionless and listened intently, just as any friend would.
“What part changed?’ she asked. There was a big part of her that wanted to know every last detail, and the other, smaller part of her wanted it to stay buried along with Lil’s secret.
“I got the show first, and then they brought her in the following summer. She was outgoing and kind, but the fame changed her. She started caring way too much about her image, and it was clear that my past didn’t serve her brand.”
People shuffled by, trying to find open grass for their chairs and blankets. The sounds of a nearby microphone lent static to the twilight summer air. Dahlia didn’t want Noah to feel rushed; she wanted him to feel grounded in the present with her. She leaned closer and held his hand, urging him with a warm smile to continue.
Noah talked about his best friend from college, Danny, who got the gig when he did, and how they deceived him for months. Dahlia could tell the wounds were still raw from the way he spoke down to his defeated body language. The muscles in her jaw tightened like a vice. She knew exactly how he felt. She and Spence hadn’teverbeen in a great place, but being abandoned, left, never felt good. It was like nothing you did was ever enough. Dahlia had grown to understand it was a Spence thing, and not a her thing, and she hoped eventually Noah would too.
“Looking back, there were clues. They’d always be paired together for house projects and competitions.” His breath hitched.“I often wonder if some of the producers knew and purposefully put them together. I’m a bit jaded.” He snickered.
“Nah, couldn’t tell.” She lightheartedly brushed it off while feeling pulled to watch it for herself. The show sounded interesting. An old house, one summer to get it from fixer to fabulous, sort of like Lil’s. But at the end of the day, she was remarkably protective of Noah. Seeing it would only unearth feelings that were better staying buried.
After he finished sharing, she mentioned she knew a few things from Kara, but that she’d never seen the show. Noah seemed to like that. The movie began, and it was picturesque, with the full harbor of boats clanking in the background. About halfway through, when the air had a bite to it, he wrapped her up in an extra blanket he had brought, securing her close to his chest. That was all she needed to doze off finally. After it was over, he gently woke her, never once making her feel bad. The drive home was quiet as she sank into the crook of his arm, relishing in the proximity that felt both intimate and comforting.
“Thanks for a great night.” He walked her up the front porch. “I forgot how good that movie is.”
“Sorry I missed most of it. It’s been a long few days.” She turned to face him. Plus, she’d barely slept when he was gone.
“It’s okay. It was nice just to hold you. Your heartbeat is peaceful.”
“It is?” Dahlia wrinkled her nose.
“It is. You make me peaceful, D,” he said.
“You do the same for me, Noah,” she said with a truth that felt as pure as honey. “Do you want to come in? For a nightcap?” Dahlia cringed inside. Did people still say that?
He hesitated. “I better not.”
“Okay.” Dahlia stared at her feet, wishing she hadn’t asked.
“Can I see you tomorrow night? I have to run over to the island during the day, but we could …?”
Dahlia inched closer so as not to miss a word.
“Go to dinner,” he said, now leaning on the door frame.
“Sure, I’d like that,” Dahlia said, looking up at him, yearning for one last kiss.
He caressed her face and pulled her up toward him. “Night,” he said, pecking her nose.
“Night.” Dahlia stood there, not wanting him to go. “If you change your mind, you know where to find me,” she said, slipping off her jacket and throwing it onto the banister.
“I’m goingbeforeI change my mind,” he said, walking backward.
She closed the door and dropped her aroused body onto the bench. “You’re officially driving me insane, Noah Sterling.” Dahlia leaned her head against the wall, for the first time feeling conflicted about her decision to move away soon.
