Page 11 of Beauty
I set down my fork and take a sip of wine, considering how much I want to tell him. People look at me differently when they find out who I am, and he’s a virtual stranger, so it doesn’t seem wise to give him specific details about what I’m running from. “I have a big career thing happening soon.” I lift one shoulder. “My sort-of boss told me to take a few days to relax because after next week, we’ll be nonstop for the foreseeable future.”
Noah’s lips turn down in an impressed sort of frown. “Sounds like a nice boss.”
That’s an understatement. Cat has championed me since the moment she saw my designs. And while she loves and appreciates my work, she’s also become a friend. I’m excited to spend the next few months with her in Paris. I only hope I make her proud. “She’s incredible. Truly.”
“There isn’t someone back home you wanted to invite on this celebratory vacation?” The question is innocent enough, but he’s definitely digging for information.
My responding smile is half relief and half sadness, really. “My brothers were supposed to come, but they had to cancel at the last minute.”
“Brothers?”
I dip my chin once and pick up a cracker. “Four of them.”
Focus averted, I wait for the typical response. The frown. The jokes. The backpedaling.
Instead, he simply nods. “Are you close?”
“Yeah, though they’ve all got busy careers, and I do too, so we don’t see each other enough. But you should see the family chat,” I tease with a grin.
He chuckles as he cuts another bite from his steak.
“So there’s no girlfriend back home to bring along on your have a day trip?”
Noah’s grin widens, though he quickly rubs a hand over his mouth, wiping it away. “No girlfriend.” His expression is serious now as he studies me. “What about you?”
“Do I have a girlfriend?” Brows arched, I point to myself.
He chuckles. “Or a boyfriend?”
I shake my head. “No on both accounts. Just me.”
“And me,” he murmurs.
Silence creeps in as we focus on our food. Though every few seconds, I can’t resist stealing a glance at him. And every time, I catch him doing the same.
The quiet isn’t uncomfortable. In fact, it’s strange how un-awkward the moment is. We eat, we sip our wine, we enjoy the view.
“How long are you here for?” Noah asks as we set the plates outside the front door to be collected.
I lean against the door, holding it open a couple of inches so I don’t get locked out as he sets the stack on the floor. “Till Tuesday.”
Crouched low, he looks up at me, surprise clear as day on his face. “Me too.”
A bolt of excitement courses through me, and I bite down on my lip to quell the sensation. “Maybe I’ll run into you again tomorrow.”
Noah stands and clutches the doorframe, his eyes blazing with heat as he stares at me, his face closer to mine than could be considered just friendly. “Thanks for having dinner with me.”
My pulse thrums, making my breaths a little ragged. “It was my pleasure.”
He’s so close I can smell the wine on his breath. I pull one corner of my lip between my teeth to temper the urge to lunge at him.
His eyes narrow on the movement, and my stomach swoops again. Is he…
Before I can finish the thought, he pushes back and gives me a cocky smile. “Night, sweet cheeks.”
I stand frozen to the spot until the door clicks shut between us. Then I throw myself onto the bed, kicking my legs and squealing like the damn romantic I am.
SIX
