Page 14 of Stay With Me
I can give her the space she needs to process her sister showing up and help her figure out how to get all the documents she needs.
I want to make sure she knows she doesn’t have to do this all alone. But I’m also going to make sure she knows that I want more than friendship.
Luna starts to clean up the dishes, and I tell them, “I’m going to go grab some shorts and T-shirts for you two to wear for bed tonight. In the morning, we’ll head to the store and get you some clothes, Jess, and then we’ll swing by your place, Luna, to get whatever you need. How does that sound?”
They both just nod.
I head to my room and grab two pairs of basketball shorts and two shirts. Walking back toward the kitchen, I hear voices coming from the spare bathroom, and I stop to see them brushing their teeth.
“Knock, knock,” I say so I don’t startle them and set my clothes on the counter. “Here is something to sleep in. It’s going to be super big for both of you, but that’s all I have. I’m going to put my work stuff up while you finish getting ready for bed. There are water bottles in the refrigerator if you’d like them, and I showed you where my room is, so if either of you need anything at all, just let me know, okay?”
“Thank you, Mr. Noah,” Jess says.
“It’s just Noah, squirt, and it’s my absolute pleasure.” Looking up at Luna, I smile and walk away.
I walk to my belt, which is hanging up, and pull out my gun and Taser. I set them on the counter out of habit, but I freeze with my hand in midair when I remember I’m not alone. I grab them and walk toward one of the wall safes I had put in when I first moved in. After typing in the code and using my thumb to unlock it, I put my gun and Taser in the safe, close it, and check the handle to make sure it’s locked.
Once I’m sure it’s secure, I grab my belt, unclip my walkie, and walk back to the kitchen counter, where I put the walkie on the charger. Looking around, I’m satisfied I have everything put away that a child shouldn’t be around, and I untuck my shirt and start to unbutton it when one of the doors squeaks closed.
I turn around and fight a groan, discreetly adjusting myself as Luna walks barefoot toward me.
She’s always been a beautiful woman, but wearing my clothes? She’s like a walking wet dream. With my shorts rolled several times to fit her waist, showing off her toned legs. My shirt is several sizes too big, and her blond hair hangs loose around her shoulders.
She tucks a piece of hair behind her ear and moves her eyes down my body and back up again.
It makes me want to puff my chest out with pride that she’s checking me out. When our eyes meet, her cheeks turn a pretty shade of pink as she likely realizes she was caught.
“Thanks again for all you’re doing, Noah. I will never be able to repay you.”
Walking up to her, I grab her hand that’s fiddling with the hem of the shirt. “I don’t expect any kind of repayment.”
“This is a lot. I feel like we’re invading your space,” she says and looks around the kitchen.
“If I didn’t want you guys here, I wouldn’t have offered to do this. Plus, this house is far too big for just me. It’ll be nice having other people here with me.”
Dropping her chin to her chest, she murmurs, “I’m so afraid of what is happening. What if they take her away from me?”
Using my other hand, I bring it to her chin and tilt it up so she’s looking at me again. “I don’t know what the future holds, but I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure that doesn’t happen. Together, we’ll figure everything out. We’ll start with what food we need to buy at the store tomorrow because I’m sure Jess has never had processed food, and I don’t want her to get sick. We’ll also work to figure out how to get your identification sorted out, and even us.”
“Us?” she questions as that blush makes an appearance again, and I want to know how far down it goes.
“Mmhmm, but we’ll talk about that after we get Jess settled.”
“Okay,” she whispers, and her eyes drop to my lips.
This time I don’t fight the groan that comes out, and I pull her against my chest and kiss the top of her head. “Soon, Luna. Now, do you want a water bottle before I head off to bed?”
“Yes, please,” she says.
“Off you go, then. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow,” I say as I reluctantly pull away from her.
After grabbing a water, she walks around the other side of the island and toward the hall. Pausing and looking over her shoulder, she says with a smile, “Good night, Noah.”
“Good night, Luna. I’ll see you both in the morning.”
She nods and heads back to the room we set Jess up in. I don’t blame her for wanting to be close to her sister, but if I had my way, she would be in my room with me. But she isn’t ready for that.
Shaking my head, knowing that morning will quickly be here, I finish locking up and take off my shoes before heading to my room to shower and try to get some sleep.
