Total pages in book: 34
Estimated words: 31257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 156(@200wpm)___ 125(@250wpm)___ 104(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 31257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 156(@200wpm)___ 125(@250wpm)___ 104(@300wpm)
"They'll sit outside," he says, trying to convince me. "I'd feel a helluva lot better leaving if I know you're not completely on your own while I'm out of town."
"Before we get carried away, can I at least see the photos Dillon dropped off?" I ask, more to buy myself time to think than anything. The more he talks, the less I like the thought of being on my own right now, and I'm not sure I really like how that feels. I've never been afraid in my own home before. I don't want to be afraid now, either.
"Shit. Yeah." He hops up from the side of the bed. "I'll go get them."
"Wait!"
He turns to look at me.
"Um, just give me a minute, and I'll come look," I mumble, not really wanting to look at them in here. This room is my sanctuary. Maybe it's silly, but I don't want to pollute it with bad memories or painful things.
Noah's expression softens as if he understands. Maybe he does. It's overwhelming how easily he sees through me. It doesn't feel as if I've known him a day. It feels as if he's been part of my life for so much longer than that. There's a sense of…fatalism, perhaps. As if we aren't learning one another for the first time, but simply relearning one another.
It's disconcerting and thrilling at the same time.
"I'll wait in the kitchen," he says, ducking out of the room.
I flop backward on the bed, pulling a pillow over my face. I don't know what happened to my life in the last twenty-four hours, but it's become a strange, strange place. And I don't entirely hate it. "You've lost your mind," I mutter to myself, tossing the pillow aside and rolling off the side of the bed. I quickly shimmy into my clothes and then scurry to the bathroom.
The woman staring back at me in the mirror doesn't even look familiar. I'm not put together or composed. My hair is a tangled mess. My lips are swollen. There's a look in my eyes I've never seen before now. It's…happiness.
Ah, crap. I'm falling in love with him.
Hard.
It's the only explanation for the buoyant feeling bubbling up from deep in my chest. Even though I should be afraid and angry, I'm not. I'm overwhelmed. I'm anxious. I don't want a bodyguard. But I'm not mad at Noah for being concerned enough to think I need one. I just…part of me can't help but wonder if he's doing it because he cares or if it's doing it because Nash would expect it.
Ask him, a little voice whispers.
I meet my gaze in the mirror, resolving to do just that. It's better to know than to keep spinning in circles, right? My stomach quivers with nerves.
I splash water on my face, brush my teeth, and then run a comb through my hair, trying to tame it. When it still doesn't lay right, I give up and scrape it into a messy bun before heading toward the kitchen to look at the photos Dillon sent over.
Noah's leaning against the counter with Brick in his arms. My cat is purring so loud, I hear him from halfway across the room. He looks perfectly content with Noah scratching his ears.
"He likes you," I murmur.
"Surprised?"
"Yes."
Noah grins.
"I mean, he doesn't like most people. He usually hides when people come over." The last time Nash visited, Brick bit him when he tried to pick him up. In Brick's defense, I'd probably bite my brother, too.
"We have an understanding."
"You have an understanding with my cat," I repeat, amused.
"Mmhmm." Noah's grin widens. "He's going to help me keep an eye on you. In exchange, I'm going to feed him extra when you aren't looking."
"Noah!" I shake my head, laughing. "He's on a diet."
"Calories don't count at my house, Dimples."
"Are we still going to your house?"
"Unless you're ready to share a room with me."
I hesitate for a moment. Am I ready?
"Can I ask you a question? And I need you to be honest with me," I say, wrapping my arms around myself as I lean against the small two-seater table.
"I won't lie to you."
"Why are you here?"
He eyes me levelly.
"I mean, if you're just here because Nash asked you to look after me, you don't have to act like this is more than that, Noah. It won't hurt my feelings. But I'd rather know now than after…"
"After what?"
"Nothing," I mumble. "I'd just rather know now."
He leans down, gently placing Brick on the floor. As he straightens, his gaze locks on mine, and my mouth goes dry. That look in his eyes… Lord. It pierces right through me, making my knees weak.
He paces toward me, moving like a leopard on the prowl.
"You think I'm here because of Nash, Aspen?"
"I don't…" I lick my lips. Now that I've said it out loud, it sounds crazy. "I don't know."