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She stares down at my hand on her thigh and covers it with her own. Her expression is somber, and it makes my heart ache. “What’s wrong?”

She shakes her head with a heavy sigh. “It’s dumb. I’m probably just tired.”

“Tell me anyway,” I urge, needing to know her every thought. Wanting her to share everything with me, to be her soft place to land.

She hesitates, mindlessly running her finger over my hand, outlining my fingers and my palm. It makes it hard to think, but I persevere. “Seeing him just brought back many painful memories. The heartbreak of someone you love failing you in such a monstrous way, I’ll never forget it. I’ve moved forward, and I don’t care about him anymore, but that hurt is still there. And what I feel for you is so much stronger than what I felt for Travis. You have the power to obliterate me, Colby. If you hurt me, I don’t know how I’d move on.”

Her admission is honest and vulnerable. I have to take a few seconds to let it wash over me. I love that she feels this strongly about me, it gives me hope she could feel a fraction of what I feel for her. But I hate that she thinks I could hurt her. Hurting her would obliterate me. But how can I make her see that?

“Noel, there’s nothing I can say that will make you trust me. I think you have to choose to trust me. But I will earn your trust with my actions, it might take time, but that’s okay. I’ll prove to you that I would never, ever hurt you the way Travis did.”

“But—” she begins and then stops. “What if you get bored with me? You could have anyone. There are more exciting options to be sure. You travel a lot; you’ll meet other women.”

I angle myself so we’re face to face, forcing her to look me in the eyes. “I don’t want any other woman. I haven’t from the moment I saw you. I want a woman who stands up for what she believes in, who makes even the most stubborn students complete their assignments. A woman who will volunteer to take a little girl she just met to the restroom, so she won’t have to go into the men’s bathroom with her big brother. A woman who is so intelligent it makes me want to keep learning. I want someone who challenges me, someone who looks past what I do for a living, someone who wants me for more than my bank account. Noel, you’re the only one who fits the bill. I’m afraid you’re stuck with me.”

A watery laugh bubbles out of her and she wraps me in a hug.

We stay like that for a long time, embracing each other. It could be minutes, or hours, not a clue. When I finally look at the time on her oven, I see it’s three in the morning. “It’s late, I should head home.”

I move to get up, but she stops me, reaching out and grabbing my hand. “Stay.”

“Noel,” I start, but she cuts me off.

“It’s practically morning already, Colby. Let’s just go to sleep.” Her sleepy smile is so soft and so enticing, I can’t say no.

“Okay.”

CHAPTER 35

NOEL

Waking up in Colby’s arms is the best feeling. I never thought about how divine it would be to sleep next to someone all night and then wake up knowing they’d still be there. Well, half the night in this case. But it was so warm and comfortable. I never want to leave this bed. I can only imagine how much more satisfying this would be if we didn’t have clothing on.

I push the thought from my mind, because the hard planes of Colby’s muscular body curled around me is almost too tempting. Colby stretches and I can see a queen size bed isn’t nearly big enough for him. When he’s stretched out his feet go off the bed completely. He wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me into him, spooning me from behind. “Good morning, angel. That was the best four hours of sleep I’ve ever had.”

I sigh contentedly. “Me too.” Flipping over to face him, I try to give him a kiss, but he stops me with his hand.

“Do you have a spare toothbrush?”

I laugh, probably spreading my own awful morning breath. “Yes, I keep a pack of them here for Helen. Top drawer of the bathroom.”

He slides out of bed and disappears into the hallway where the only bathroom is. It’s small, like the rest of my apartment, so he won’t have any trouble finding the toothbrushes. He’s back after a few minutes and slips back under the covers. “Sleepovers are fun.” He’s grinning and wiggly and it dawns on me that Colby is a morning person. Because, of course, he’s a morning person.

“No dimples until I’ve had coffee.” I cover my eyes with my hands. “They’re too bright.”

He yanks the covers off me and bounces on the bed. “Get up, sleepyhead. Let’s make some coffee only to fill it with sugary creamer.”

I groan. This was more fun before he woke up.

By the time I slide my fuzzy slippers on and brush my own teeth, Colby has the coffee brewing. I walk toward him, aiming for a morning kiss, when a knock comes from my door.

“Is it your creepy neighbor?” Colby asks in a hushed whisper.

I slap my palm to my forehead. “No. I wish. It’s the girls. I totally forgot they were coming over for tea this morning.”

“Tea?” He wrinkles his nose.

“We say tea, but Mel is the only one who drinks tea. But that’s beside the point!”