Page 45 of Before We Fell

But he was certainly acting like nothing more than a friendly neighbor now.

When I still didn’t say anything, he continued. “My old firm needs my help with a case and they want me to be there Friday. I won’t be back until late, and I can’t take Riley. I’m wondering if you could watch her.”

I couldn’t with this man. This was why he stalked to my back door. God, had I really imagined that kiss? My hand went to my neck and pressed against where his lips and teeth had been.

His eyes narrowed on me as I did. And no…I hadn’t imagined it. Not based on the quick flare of lust I saw in his eyes.

Oh God. He was really crazy. Or maybe I was.

“Your parents can help.”

“Busy, out of town Saturday. Some horse thing.”

My eyes narrowed. I had no reason to call him a liar. Maybe slightly less reason to trust him. He’d somehow, so quickly, thrust me into playing a game I didn’t know the rules of, much less the name.

“You need my help with Riley.” Doubt clouded my tone, thickening it. I managed to loosen my death grip on the couch and matched his stance.

“Friday night. I’ll be back late.”

“How late?”

“Late late.”

“So you want her to sleep here?”

“I’ll come get her when I get back if that’s too much for you.”

I didn’t believe him. Didn’t trust him. His entire demeanor from the moment I saw them at the restaurant to now was off.

But damn I wanted to find out why. And I wanted to kick my own butt for still feeling his skin against my throat.

He also knew my weakness. Riley would always be it. “Fine,” I said, my shoulders heaving with a sigh. “I can help her.”

“Thank you. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”

“It’s not necessary.”

“Yes, it is. I made a promise, and I intend to keep it.” His voice went wicked smooth. Maybe he was a magician, able to pull me into a trance with his voice. It was the only explanation why I was responding to him, hating myself for it.

He stepped toward me then, arms uncurling and resting at my hips. His touch was so light, I barely felt him, yet a tortured heat twisted in my blood. “Thank you, Lauren, goodnight.” Before I could step away from him, his lips were at my cheek, sliding to my ear. “Sleep well,” he rumbled and stepped back.

I stood in my living room, frozen to my spot, as he strolled toward my back door, smooth and casual like he hadn’t just rocked my world and thrown my entire night into a tailspin, heading straight toward the sea.

“Lock up behind me,” he said, and before I could do anything, he was on the other side of the door, closing it behind him and disappearing into the darkness of my yard.

It was several moments before I moved, flicking the latch down and re-settling the wood stick in the track.

It was several more minutes before it occurred to me both men had said the same things to me right before they left.

Lock the door behind me.

Sleep well.

And that it was only Noah’s voice that ignited my senses when they were spoken.

Fifteen

Noah

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