Page 149 of Double Fault

“I think you’re falling into a food coma.” With a hand at her back, I usher her inside.

She sits on the end of the bed and tugs her boots off. “I’m going to shower and don’t even try to sweet talk your way into joining. My body is too sore.”

I hold my hands up innocently, wiggling my fingers. “Keeping these to myself for the rest of the night. Got it.”

She shuts the bathroom door, and when the lock clicks, I can’t help but laugh.

While I wait, I strip down and climb into the bed. I wasn’t feeling sleepy before, but now that I’m unwinding, exhaustion seeps into me. I turn on the TV, determined to wait up for Sabrina, and flip through channels.

The shower turns off, but she doesn’t emerge for another fifteen minutes.

When she does, she stops dead in her tracks. “Whoa.” She gives me a once-over, her dark eyes melting. “How do you expect me to hold you to your promise to keep your hands to yourselfwhen you look at that?” She waves her hands wildly at me. “I want to lick your abs.”

I burst into laughter.

She slaps a hand over her mouth. “I didn’t mean to say that out loud. I’m just really tired and I think I’m a little tipsy.”

“Please.” I gesture to my torso. “Help yourself.”

“No, no,” she chants, flapping her hands. “I know where that will lead and I’m telling you my body needs a break.”

Chuckling, I pat the empty space beside me. “Then get your ass over here and go to bed.”

With a small frown, she eyes her laptop. “I should check my email again. Lucy has been sending nursery ideas, and I’ve been terrible about checking my inbox.”

She settles on the opposite side of the bed, too far away for my liking, so I slide an arm around her back and scoot her over so we’re touching.

“I think your love language is physical touch.”

I scoff. “What the fuck is a love language?”

She pokes my nose. “Stop scrunching your nose at me. It’s cute and makes me want to kiss you.”

With a hum of approval, I kiss her.

“Noah.” She giggles, pushing me away.

“What?” I ask, blinking innocently. “You can’t tell me you want to kiss me and not expect me to give you what you want.”

She rolls her eyes.

She doesn’t have the first clue just how tightly she’s got me wrapped around her finger. More than almost anything, I want her to be happy.

Propped up against the pillows, she sighs and scrolls through her emails.

When she stops at one from Lucy, I point at the screen. “Circus theme?” I shudder. “Really?”

“You don’t think it’s cute?”

I cringe. “I mean… I guess. I just hate clowns.”

Her jaw drops. “Noah Baker, are you afraid of clowns?”

“Maybe,” I grumble.

Her laughter fills the whole room. “Oh, man. I can’t believe you’re afraid of clowns.”

Arms crossed, I narrow my eyes on her. “Why is that so weird? Lots of people don’t like clowns.”

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