Page 39 of Resisting You
Then the line went dead.
If I hadn’t been so emotionally exhausted and drained, I could have cried. I buried my face in my hands and heard footsteps on the gazebo.
When I opened my eyes, Noah was there, his face was soft in the midday sunlight, his dark hair falling perfectly across his forehead. Tints of auburn I’d never seen before glistened in his hair. His broad palm fell to my back, circling in reassuring strokes.
"I think I know what you need," he said.
“Really? That’s weird sinceIdon’t even know what I need.”
His hand dragged down my back, landing on the gentle swell of my hip with a tender squeeze that made my breath latch in my throat. I swallowed hard and closed my eyes. “That’s a husband’s job, isn’t it?” he asked.
I managed a nod and a half smile. “I guess. I wouldn’t really know since you’re my first.” The warm sun beat down on our skin, filtering in through the open gazebo and a soft breeze caught my hair, blowing it around. “So enlighten me… what do I need?”
He extended his hand forward for me to take. His eyes were filled with a quiet intensity that made my heart throb and I swallowed hard in anticipation. “You’ll just have to trust me,” he said, a playful glimmer in his eyes.
“Trust you to know me better than I know myself?”
There was a glint in his eyes. “That’s right.”
I swallowed and placed my hand in his, the warmth of his palm familiar yet comforting. I smiled, knowing that this time, I wouldn't have to convince myself before taking the leap of faith. “Okay.”
What did I have to lose?
Chapter 14
Rosa
Noah brought me back to the same cupcake bakery I'd bought the half dozen from yesterday—and dropped every single one in the elevators. It was a little hole in the wall spot, set back from the town center called Beefcakes where I was served cupcakes by shirtless men in aprons.
Not too shabby if you asked me.
We stepped inside and my eyes immediately drew towards the massive tiered cake display front and center against the back wall of the shop which had been decorated with tiny pink twinkle lights woven through sheer white tulle fabric draped above it.
The smell of baked goods filled my nose making my mouth water, instantly hungry for something sweet.
Whereas yesterday, the bakery had been packed with people and I had to wait in a line twenty-five people deep, today there was no one else in the store, despite it being noon on a Sunday.
From behind the counter, one of the shirtless men smiled at Noah. Coming out from behind, they hugged and greeted each other like brothers might.
Noah smacked his hand to the guy's bare chest, barely covered by the white apron. "C'mon, put a shirt on. You're putting my measly two hours a day in the gym to shame."
The guy rolled his eyes. "Oh please. You could run circles around me. Literally. Miles and miles of circles. Maybe that's why I'm so surprised to see you here. Can't believe that trainer of yours would allow you to eat cupcakes."
Noah shrugged. "I heard you had sugar free ones?"
"We do. But they still have superfluous calories."
"Well," Noah said, sliding his hand around my waist. "They're not just for me. Neil, meet Rosa... my wife."
Heat flamed my cheeks. Every time he introduced me to someone as his wife, I hated to admit how it made butterflies launch in my stomach.
"Wife," Neil repeated, taking my hand slowly. "No kidding."
I looked over my shoulder, glancing around for any photographers or anyone who might be lingering with their phone cameras out and pointed at us.
But Noah shook his head, alleviating my concerns. "Neil's an old friend. When I told him we were coming, he offered to shut the place down to the public until we were done."
I blinked, surprised as I turned to look back at Neil. "Well that explains why the place is uncharacteristically empty compared to yesterday."
