Page 76 of Cluelessly Yours

“Thank you, Noah. Thank you for everything you did tonight.”

“Trust me, Sammy. You and your boys are always worth it.” I press a gentle kiss to her lips, and even though every cell inside my body wants to deepen the kiss, I rise to my feet. “I’m going to take off now and let you guys get more rest.”

“Okay.” She rises from the couch to walk me to the door.

But when I turn to face her again to say goodbye, she catches me off guard by covering my lips with hers and wrapping her arms around my shoulders. She’s on her tiptoes now, and my arms wrap around her back all on their own.

My God, she feels so fucking good.

She deepens the kiss enough to give me just a taste of her tongue before she pulls away, her eyes dilated and her mouth flushed from the contact.

“When do I get to see you again, Noah?” she asks, and her lips form the cutest little pout. “I feel like this shouldn’t count since I slept the whole dang time you were here.”

“Whenever you want,” I tell her, and she glances down at her bare feet before meeting my eyes again.

“Are you working tomorrow? I might have some free time.”

“My day is open.”

“Grant will be at school, and Zoe is going to stay home with Seth while I run some errands. I’ll call you?”

“And I’ll answer.” I touch my lips to hers one last time and then grab the knob behind my back to head out the door. If I don’t leave now, I’m liable to stay all night. And I don’t think those kids are ready to see what I’d like to do with the time.

Back to the life of bachelorhood.Too bad the instant I’m heading out of her building, I miss the feeling of family.

Monday, May 23rd

Kendall does her victory dance after beating Dale and me again, and I swear a tear starts to form in the corner of my dude’s eye.

“What’s wrong, Dale? Getting tired of your wife always kicking your ass on our runs?”

“She kicks your ass too, Philips.”

“Yeah, but I’m secure in my manhood,” I tease. “So, it’s not as big of a hit to the gonads for me, you know?”

He flips me off, and I laugh as I sink to a nearby bench to catch my breath while Dolly circles the ground in front of me. My phone pings in my pocket, and I pull it out to find a message that makes me smile.

Sammy: I’m here. Where are you?

I turn to look over my shoulder just in time to catch a glimpse of her on the path behind me, and I quickly type out a response.

Me: Keep walking. I see you.

I hop up from the bench, trying to grab her attention, and Dale’s nosy ass follows my gaze toward the path Sammy is walking down.

“Well, look who it is,” he says, and a giant, shit-eating grin covers his mouth. “Your favorite lady meeting you for a little afternoon delight?”

I don’t dignify him with a response, but that doesn’t stop him from continuing.

“You planning on introducing me this time? Or are you going to run away before I can say hello?”

“Say hello?” Kendall chimes in. “To whom?”

“Noah’s lady love.” Dale waggles his brows. “Sammy Sweetheart.”

I roll my eyes at the Jersey Shore reference. And Kendall takes it upon herself to grab Chanandler’s leash and jog straight over to Sammy. Her never-out-of-energy Lab follows dutifully at her side, apparently fully recovered from the five miles we just ran.

Dolly sits up, her eyes bouncing around as she tries to understand what’s happening, and I just stand there in semi-shock as Kendall runs straight up to Sammy and starts talking.

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