Page 95 of Double Fault

I’m so focused on not falling on the steps that lead out of the hotel that it takes a moment for me to realize that Noah is standing at the bottom.

When I do notice him, there’s no mistaking the mix of awe and lust in his expression.

And damn, does he look good. He always does. It’s annoying. Even when he’s sweating on the courts. But tonight, he’s put in the extra effort.

He’s wearing a black button-down tucked into a pair of black dress pants with a (shocking) black belt. His hair is still damp from a shower, the ends curling at his nape. I ball my free hand into a loose fist so that I don’t reach out and tug on the strands.

“You’re stunning.”

The praise warms me from the inside out.

With a hand low on my waist, he pulls me close, and I inhale a lungful of his heady scent. “You have no idea how fucking beautiful you are.” His words are pure gravel.

I certainlyfeelbeautiful when he looks at me like he is.

The driver opens the car door, and Noah guides me into the back seat. He waits until I’m settled before he rounds the vehicle and gets in on the opposite side.

As we pull away from the curb, I can’t help but drink in the sights. What has my life become? I’m inLondon, going on a date with my boss, who happens to be an incredible tennis player and adorable father.

A year ago, I couldn’t have imagined this scenario. This kind of luxury is so foreign to me. Five-star hotels and private planes don’t exist in my universe, but they do in Noah’s, and now, for some wild reason, I’m a part of that.

“What are you thinking?” he asks, pulling me out of my thoughts.

“Nothing.” I give him a small smile and shake of my head. “Just taking it all in.”

With a hum, he sits back against the plush leather seat. “It’s a beautiful city.”

Nerves skittering, I shift to face him. “I wouldn’t be experiencing this if it weren’t for you. Thank you.”

He chuckles, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “Don’t get all soft on me now, Curls. I like it when you give me hell.”

“It’s true, though.” I lace my fingers in my lap and squeeze them tight. “If you hadn’t given me this job, I wouldn’t be… I never would have seen any of these places. It’s a privilege to travel like this, and I don’t take it for granted. I want you to know that.”

He dips his head in response. “I was kind of forced to give you the job, you know.”

Laughing, I duck my head. “Maddie or Fisher? Both?”

“Neither.” His expression softens. “It was you. You were the most deserving of it.”

My heart stutters, making it suddenly hard to take in a full breath. The acknowledgment that he saw even on that first day that I was suited for this job, means so much. Most days I feel like an impostor. Even though I hadn’t considered a position as a nanny until this landed in my lap, it’s turned out to be one of the best experiences of my life. Spending time with Maddie is far more rewarding than I could’ve ever thought it would be.

“At least you finally admit it,” I joke, giving his hand a small squeeze.

He laces his fingers with mine and rests our hands on his thigh.

“That you needed me,” I finish, my treacherous heart accelerating like it’s caught up in a high-speed race to see how quickly it can fly out of my chest.

He rubs his thumb gently over the tops of my fingers. “I don’t think you realize how much I do need you.” His words are so quiet they’re almost impossible to hear. “It’s terrifying.”

He holds my gaze, and I see it there. He feels this too. The tether connecting the two of us. It’s scary. I’ve never met a man who affected me the way Noah does.

I didn’t know feelings this intense were possible.

Before Maddie—the little mastermind—orchestrated this date, it would have been easy to put on the brakes, to stop things before they even get started. And maybe we should have, because knowing that she likes the idea of her dad and me together makes the pressure of trying and failing at a relationship all the more frightening.

Noah and I aren’t the only ones at risk of being hurt if this all goes up in flames.

But based on what I’ve experienced, the risk is worth the reward. And if I end up hurt? Well, I’m used to that.

---