Page 40 of Noah's Reckoning
“I’m going to take a few days off. Stay in Anchorage.”
“Oh.” Her eyes got wide and I wish to fuck I knew what she was thinking. “That’s nice.”
Nice? Did she not understand I needed her to invite me to stay with her? Unless she didn’t want that. Unless what had happened at the cabin had been an aberration for her and, now that it was over, she assumed we would go back to normal.
Back to normal?
How the hell were we supposed to do that?
Or maybe she thought I was pushing too hard. Making too many assumptions. Maybe she thought we should do something normal in our relationship for once.
“We could get dinner or something. After the meeting.”
“Yes,” she said quickly. Her hand lifting to her mouth as if she was going to bite down on the pad of her thumb but caught herself before she did. “Dinner. That would be good. I like dinner. Huge fan. Newfound love of rabbit.”
Okay, that was something. She was nervous, like I was nervous. We would go to Anchorage, far away from Dyson eyes and we would have dinner and talk.
Because while I’d never done the serious relationship thing, wasn’t sure I was capable of it, if I was going to try…it couldn’t all be about fucking. Even I knew that.
“Okay,” I said after a moment of awkward silence. “I’ve got to go.”
I turned and started to leave when she stopped me.
“Noah,” she said, rushing up to me. Reaching for my arm, before she caught herself and clasped both hands together. “Uh, I wanted to say thank you. For everything you did out there. I mean…the fire and the rabbit.”
“I made a stupid call and put you in that situation in the first place. Nothing to thank me for, Liv.”
“Wemade a stupid call,” she corrected me.
“We.” It was crazy, but I really liked the sound of that. “See you tomorrow. We’ll need to get an early start.”
She nodded. “Goodnight, Noah.”
“Night, Liv.”
I forced myself to walk away. Forced myself to close the door behind me with her on the other side. Forced every fucking step away from her to get to my own room.
I laid in bed all night staring at the ceiling, feeling like I was missing a piece of my body.
All or nothing. That’s the only way it could be between me and Olivia. I had never considered whatallmeant with a woman. My dad had had it all with my mom, until she died. Now he was a ghost of himself. My sister had it all with her husband only he was away from her six months out of the year, which had to suck. I didn’t think either one of those reasons were why I had been gun-shy when it came to relationships. I always figured it was just part of my nature. I wasn’t soft and I was cautious. Always cautious about the people in my life.
Olivia had somehow snuck in under my skin. So no, I didn’t know whatallwould look like with her.
I only knew the nothing part. That fucking blew.
* * *
Olivia
The knock came early as I expected. Doogie would fly us to Nome and from there we would catch the 10:40 to Anchorage. It was going to get us there in time for the meeting, but it was tight enough I didn’t think I could get changed at my place before being at headquarters by noon.
Which meant Noah was probably not going to be happy with me.
I opened the door and waited for his reaction.
Pencil skirt, slim pumps, silk blouse and suit coat. I was corporate boardroom ready.
He looked me up and down and practically growled at me.
