Page 24 of Masked

Jim grinned and pulled her into a bear hug. “None of that, Mr. Perkins shit. We’re family here. Call me Jim.”

She recovered from the shock and returned the bug. “You got it Jim. I’ll see you on Monday.”

Noah was silent as they walked toward his car. It was a sleek black thing that had to cost a fortune, but it suited him more than Parker’s ostentatious cars ever suited him.

Noah opened her door and waited until she was buckled before he shut the door and came around the driver’s side.

“Most women are gushing over this car before I even start the engine.”

Reva chuckled. “If you want to impress me with a vehicle, it better be a taco truck.”

Noah’s head fell back, and laughter shook him. It was a full-bodied laugh, and the sound of it warmed Reva. They’d seen each other a few times in the last five years, but in all that time, she couldn’t ever remember him laughing like that.

“I’m afraid our reservations are for Italian, but if it’s tacos you want I can make it happen.”

Reva laughed. “Italian is fine, Noah. You don’t have to take me to dinner. I’m sure you have other things you would much rather be doing.”

“If I did, I would tell you.”

Darci’s words rang in her ears again.

“What is this, Noah?”

He inhaled through his nose and his knuckles turned white as he gripped the steering wheel tighter.

“I don’t know,” he admitted when he blew out a long breath. “You fascinate me, Reva. I haven’t been fascinated by a woman since Elise.”

His revelation was shocking and heartbreaking.

“I know how inappropriate it is for me to be attracted to you. So, hear me now when I say I have no intention of taking this farther than dinner.”

Her shoulders relaxed. She believed him. It didn’t matter how hot he was, there was no way she was dating her ex-boyfriend’s dad.

“That said,” he continued, “I do intend to see my promise to help you through to the end.”

“And where exactly is that end?”

He chuckled. “I’ll know it when I see it. For now, it’s making sure you get your PhD.”

“That could take years, Noah.”

“Then I guess you’re stuck with me.”

Chapter 7

Noah

“It’ssogoodtosee you again, Noah,” Olivia Harrigan said, opening her arms for a hug.

Noah accepted and kissed the top of the girl’s head.

“Good to see you too, sweetie. I hear you’ve been gone awhile, too.”

It was his first night back at Club Exposure in a few months at Gage’s urging.

Olivia blushed. “Yeah. Life got weird for a little while.”

Gage approached and kissed Olivia’s cheek. “Give us a sec, will you?”

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