Page 10 of Beauty
Noah shakes his head. “I have a sister. I get it.” He put on a shirt, like maybe he was having the same dilemma I was. Those damn glasses that make his blue eyes extra bright are in place, and he’s got his plate in one hand and a bottle of wine under his arm.
I hold out my hands. “Can I take something for you?”
He shakes his head. “Just lead the way.”
With another breath I hope will settle my nerves, I lead him inside. As I pass my suitcase, I slam it shut. Then I kick the sheer black skirt into the corner.
Beside me, his lips quirk up a bit, putting me at ease.
“So a sister, huh?” I hold open the turquoise curtains.
With a nod, he steps out onto the deck.
He sets his plate next to mine and holds up the bottle, though he nods at my already open Sirah. “Want me to open this too?”
I wave away the question and back toward the door. “Don’t be silly. There’s no way I’d finish this entire bottle on my own. Let me get another glass.”
When both our glasses are full and he’s cut a slice of his steak he insists I eat—because he’s obviously a gentleman like that—he holds up his wine. “To the persistence of the universe.”
I huff a laugh. “You’re making fun of me.”
Eyes widening, he rears back. “I would never. I take this universe business very seriously.” He taps his glass against mine.
“How else could all this be explained?” I tease. “We ended up next to one another on the plane, only to then discover that not only are we staying at the same resort, but that our villas are side by side.” I keep up with the light tone, even if, as I’m putting it all together, it sounds sort of romantic. Like fate keeps bringing him my way.
A little like serendipity.
My heart lifts at that thought.
Noah shrugs. “A bunch of happy coincidences?”
“So you’re saying it’s a good thing you keep running into me?”
He takes a slow sip of wine, his head tipped back enough to show off the lines of his thick neck. The way his Adam’s apple moves is mesmerizing. So much so that when he dips his chin and holds my gaze, my breath catches. “A very good thing.”
Sparks ignite inside me, dancing all the way down to my toes. I love the way he looks at me. And I really enjoy looking at him.
Needing a distraction from the overwhelming sensation, I cut into the steak he’s set on my plate. The moment the flavor registers, I hum. It’s the perfect temperature, and for room service, the taste is impressive.
“So what brings you to the Bahamas?” I ask.
His smile is subdued. “My sister wanted me to have a day.”
“Have a day?”
He sighs like he’s not really sure how to explain the concept. “She does this thing for the people she cares about. When one of us is having a bad day…” He rakes a hand through his hair. “Or several of them,” he says, as if that’s the case for him, “she forces us to have a day. A day where the focus is fixed on us only. You know, splurging, self-care, that sort of stuff.”
A genuine affection for this woman I’ve never met blossoms inside me. “She sounds incredible. So she sent you here?”
He nods, attention drifting to the table.
“Which means you were having a bad day before you got here?” My heart aches a little at the thought.
He shrugs. “Seems things are looking up now.”
A thrill zips through me. Is he flirting?
“How ’bout you?” he asks, straightening in his seat. “Why are you here?”
