Chapter 5 Sienna #2
After that’s taken care of, I give myself a quick assessment in the mirror. My shoulder-length hair is pulled back in a stubby ponytail and my cheeks are rosy from spending the afternoon in the sun—and from the wine—and my boobs look fantastic in my bikini top.
I should probably change. The bottoms are little more than a couple of strings tied together. Even with the skirt, my cute ass is out there for the world to see. Telling him it was nice was one thing; mooning him is another.
I toss my suitcase open and pull out a red dress packed near the top.
The fabric is loosely woven, leaving the tiniest of holes.
It’s meant to be a cover-up. Perfect. Still flirty, still me, but a little less revealing.
I tug it over my head, then shuffle back to the mirror and pull my hair out of its ponytail and give it a quick fluff.
I grimace at my reflection. Nope. Now I look like I’m trying too hard.
A knock sounds on the door, the sharp noise pulling a squeal from me. Bouncing on my toes, I eye the door in the mirror, then focus on myself again.
Up or down? Make up your mind, woman.
With a fortifying breath, I back away. I march to the door. But apprehension stops me an instant before I can pull it open. With a quiet groan, I scoop my hair back into the elastic. Then, shoulders pulled back, I throw the door open. “Hi, sorry. I was—”
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?”
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.