Chapter 17
Alice
I had to hand it to him—Noah could lift almost anything in that ridiculous coat.
And looked sexy as hell as he did it…the asshole.
So I might’ve been scowling as we loaded the last few loads.
“All right.” Lark grinned. “That should do it.” Then she patted me on the shoulder and leaned down to stage whisper, “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
She danced away, so my swing at her midsection missed.
“She’s not coming with us?” Noah asked with a frown. He lifted a hand to wipe at his sweaty brow, which lifted both his coat and his shirt to expose his muscular abs.
I…kinda lost my train of thought as I stared at the wispy trail of hair marching downward under the dimple of his belly button.
“Alice?” I blinked a few times as Noah’s hand waved in front of my face. “You okay?”
“Uh, yeah?” I answered it as a question because I honestly wasn’t sure.
“Okay. So I’m guessing Lark isn’t coming with us?” He tipped his head at Lark’s retreating back. Bailey was already off the hook once she’d started making out at the bar with her winner of her own impromptu Win-A-Date contest. Bachelor number one was a tall guy with brown hair, and that was all I could tell you about him. Mostly because I’d only seen the back of his head. But also because I spent most of my time off stage talking and laughing with Noah.
Past me, from two months ago, would’ve never believed it if I could’ve told her.
I shrugged. “Lark said something about a hot bouncer while we were loading up, so it’s just me and you.”
“Sounds good. You okay if I drive? It’s not a weird masculine thing I swear, just I’m the sober one so…”
I laughed. “You say that like I’m wasted.”
I’d had exactly one drink in the last two hours, and after all the manual labor, I wasn’t even kinda buzzed.
“Well, I’ve had zero drinks. Can you say the same?”
I groaned and shoved the keys at his chest. “Whatever you say, Captain America.”
Noah was smirking as we climbed into the cab of the van.
“That’s a mighty big smile for someone who got dumped in the middle of his date.”
Noah just shrugged. “Didn’t break my heart. The only good part of the date was when she opened the door. The second she opened her mouth it all went downhill.”
“Wow. Misogynistic much?”
“What?” Noah’s head went back like I’d slapped him. “No, I’m not.”
I scoffed. “You like your women shapely and silent? That’s essentially what you just said.”
“Within the first minute she’d squealed my name, laughed at something I’d said like it was hilarious when it wasn’t even a joke, and sneered at my suggestion of the Palms like I’d invited her to Micky D’s. The night would’ve been infinitely better if she was a deaf-mute.”
“Wow.” I shook my head sadly. “It must be so hard to be you.”
“Shut up.” Noah laughed even as he shoved a hand in my face.
I would’ve batted his hand away but since he was driving, I didn’t want to screw with him too much. I valued my life, after all.
“When’s the last time you went on a date?”
The question came out of nowhere, and it took me a second to switch gears to answer. “I can’t even remember. I don’t know if I’ve ever been on a proper date, actually.”
“Seriously?” Noah shook his head. “That’s so sad.”
“Thanks.” I laughed to myself.
Noah shrugged. “I mean you’re gorgeous. Talented. Although you do have a mean right hook, so maybe that has something to do with it.”
I laughed. “Hey, I’m two for two. That’s a personal record.”
“It’s fucking sad as hell that you even have to keep track.” Noah huffed. “Have you heard from either of them? Seen them around? Texts or calls or whatever?”
I shook my head.
“Good.” Noah grunted. “Fucking kills me to remember that look on your face in the parking lot. I would’ve killed the son of a bitch if I thought I could get away with it.”
“Aww, that’s so sweet.” I clutched my hands to my chest and fluttered my eyelashes. “Like a kitty bringing his kill to his owner. I’m so flattered.”
Noah laughed. “Fuck off.”
I was grinning as I sat back in my seat, and we passed the next few miles in compatible silence. Once we pulled up to Lark’s house, we unloaded the crates into her garage. Grunts and sighs filled the silence between the two of us as we worked.
Minutes later, we were back in the van with Noah still driving as we headed to his house first.
He sighed as we idled at a light. “You guys sounded awesome tonight. I really like what you did to that Taylor Swift song with the drum cadence. Got me thinking about our next album. I’d love to try something similar for one of our songs.”
“Thanks. I’m glad you liked it.”
“So what’s the next move for you guys? Are you going to record an EP? Look for representation?”
I sighed. “EP first. That’s the plan, at least.”
“Why did you say it like that? I thought you’d be fucking stoked to record your songs. Is it the cost?”
“Nah.” I fidgeted in my seat. Talking about feelings and plans always made me so restless. Vulnerable. I hated it. Dropping my head back against the headrest, I looked out the window. I definitely didn’t want to see him when I said the next part. “Lark got this band manager guy to come to one of our shows. She was so confident he was going to sign us, but he hated everything original we’d played. Said our sound was ‘too angry woman. Overdone.’ He said we needed ‘to be poppier. Lighter .’”
Each word was a spear to my heart as I said them. I had more self-doubt than confidence most days when it came to my music, and to have that old, sleezy man say that shit had been soul crushing.
Was still soul crushing.
“Well, that’s fucking stupid.”
I jumped at Noah’s spitting tone. “What?”
“You guys are awesome. Your sound is clear. Unique. You have bops and you have soul. That asshole doesn’t know what he was talking about. Who was he again?”
A warmth spread through my chest at Noah’s unexpected defense of my band. “Joe Fisher.”
“Who?”
I cackled. “That’s exactly what I said! And Bailey too. But Lark was all ga-ga over him. I guess he repped Kind Justice and Those 3 Guys back in the day.”
“Exactly. ‘ Back in the day .’ That fool wouldn’t know true talent if it hit him over the head. Clearly.” He paused and cocked his head. “Wait, you didn’t actually hit him, did you?”
I reached over and slapped Noah’s firm abs as I giggled. “No, you fool. Although I really wanted to. His eyes crawled all over me when we met. And I don’t even have to ask to know that he’s a breast man.” I shuddered and blew out a quick breath, remembering feeling his gaze on my body. “Ugh.”
“I take it back—you should’ve hit him.”
I grinned the rest of the drive to Noah’s house.
When we pulled up to the gate at the Lakes Las Vegas, all I could do was stare. He lived in a neighborhood with a gate?
I was silent when we pulled through. Even though it was dark, I could see the houses were huge here. Way bigger than my one-bedroom, 700 square-foot apartment I had to walk up two flights of stairs to reach.
“Are you on the water?” My voice was a croak.
“Nah, but I think Chase nabbed one of those. Seemed OTT, ya know? I have a pool, though.”
“Right. OTT.” My laugh sounded only a little hysterical as it bubbled out. “Did you all buy houses here?”
“Yeah. We like to be close. Although I don’t see much of the guys since they’re all busy playing house with their wives. But I’ve been to Xander’s and Chase’s places. They’re pretty decent. It’s great that real estate is more affordable here than in LA.”
“Affordable,” I whispered to myself. I guess that was one word for it.
When he pulled into his driveway, I almost swallowed my tongue. It was lush, with palm trees and small succulents everywhere, but it was the paver stone driveway that about did me in. Concrete wasn’t good enough. He had interlocking, smooth stones for his circular driveway. It was so pretty.
And the house.
It probably looked like a regular stucco house to anyone else, but I could see from the van that it had that extra sparkle. I bet he’d spent over a million on it, easily.
“Hey…” I had to pause and clear my throat, as talking was suddenly difficult. “Thanks again for coming out and showing your support. And for being our roadie. It would’ve taken me forever to load and unload it all on my own.”
“No problem. And I really meant what I said. You guys are awesome. Don’t let some old fogey who doesn’t have a fucking clue make you doubt yourself.”
“Thanks.” I smiled slightly. “And I’m sorry your date ruined your night with her power of speech.”
“Eh, I’m not. My night ended on a pretty good note, I think. I’m starting to think this whole Win-A-Date thing isn’t going to work out.”
“Maybe it’d help if you stopped bringing them to my shows.” I laughed wryly. “Your type doesn’t seem to align with our demographic.”
“Anyone who can’t appreciate your sound isn’t the person for me.”
I held my breath for a second. Something about the way he’d said that felt so profound. Paradigm shifting.
Nah, that was crazy thinking.
Right?
I darted a glance at Noah, and he stared placidly back at me like he hadn’t just rocked my whole foundation.
“Hey, do you want to come in?” He tipped his head toward his house. “We could watch a movie. Hang out. I have like three extra guest rooms. Nothing shady, I swear.”
“Nah, I should get home. Need to shower the night off me.”
“Right. Okay.”
I tipped my head and looked at him since he hadn’t climbed out of the van yet. “Have you given any more thought to adopting a dog? Might be nice to have someone to come home to, ya know?”
He laughed softly. “And here I thought I’d hidden what a sad sack I was.” He shook his head. “I don’t know. I’m away from the house for long stretches with shows and appearances. Doesn’t seem fair.”
“There’s always doggie daycares. Or you’re rich enough—you could hire a dog sitter. Oh! And my favorite suggestion—you could always adopt two. You know, so they keep each other company?”
Noah laughed. His head rocked back and forth on his headrest as he thought over what I’d said. “Maybe. I’m still thinking about it.”
“Sure, sure.” We sat there for another minute. “Okay. Get out. I wanna go home and shower.”
And obsess about what’d just happened.
Noah groaned, but he opened his door and swung out. I did the same on my side, closing the passenger door behind me. I walked around the front of the van, but Noah was still standing in the doorway on the driver’s side.
He looked down at me for a long minute that had me catching my breath.
Then he stepped away and patted the hood on his way by. “Drive safe.”
“Yeah,” I answered weakly. I stood there stupidly for a moment before I shook my head and climbed into the van.
I waited for him to get inside before I pulled away.
The whole drive back to Henderson all I could think about was that whole exchange.
What did it mean?
Was I seriously thinking about Noah like that?
Was he thinking about me like that?
Was I projecting?
Had he really been going to kiss me?
I wanted him to.
And that thought alone was enough to make me almost swallow my tongue.
I liked Noah Hawker.
How the hell had that happened?