Chapter 23
Spilling Secrets
Jules
I lay on the jewel-colored sofa in Noah’s living room, not sure if I even had the energy to lift my head.
“You okay, kitten?”
Noah’s voice came from somewhere above, but opening my eyes seemed like too much to ask of my body, so I just kept them closed and replied with what I could. “Mm-hmm.”
His laughter might irritate me if I could muster enough spirit to tell him what I really thought.
Instead, I continued to enjoy his couch, and surely at some point I’d have the verve to get up and head home.
Or maybe stay here and head upstairs because I really liked our earlier plans, which had been derailed.
But could I even make it up the staircase?
And if that was possible, would I need to convince Noah to do all the work?
I wasn’t opposed to being a pillow princess and all, but this early in a relationship, was it even something I could ask for?
Lord knows I didn’t want him to think he always needed to do the work.
“Earth to Jules,” he called, tracing a finger over my cheek. “You okay, babe? What can I get you?”
I fought my nature to blush considering where my mind had been. In my head, Lou replied the gutter to that comment with a cackle. I was clearly delusional.
“Coffee,” I said, then thought what else would help. “Or maybe a Diet Coke. Ohh, from McDonald’s because they’re the best. Or how much caffeine is in chocolate? Should I start drinking energy drinks? Are they terrible for you?”
Good grief, what had gotten into me? I had no energy but was now rambling about drinks and thinking of what my aunt would say.
Was I slaphappy? No, but I was torn between staying on this couch for the foreseeable future and raiding his kitchen.
The first whispers of hunger and a desire for something to drink were starting to make their presence known and warring with the urge to jump his bones. Decisions, decisions.
“So what took it out of you?” Noah’s voice was closer and made my busy mind calm down.
I felt the couch move with his weight as he sat near me, lifting my upper body so he could slide below and let my head rest in his lap.
Then he tugged my hair tie out and began running his fingers through my hair.
That did it. No more cares about soda, food, sex, or relatives.
I’d pay good money for someone to do this on the regular; I was never moving again.
“Hmmmm.” My slight moan was more in pleasure but also a little in response to a question that I’d already forgotten.
Noah didn’t seem bothered by my nonanswer. “Was it the sangria that has you down for the count, kitten? A less-than-ideal night of sleep? Or the fact that you and Addie squeezed a full day of activities into a span just shy of three hours?”
I raised a finger and pointed to the ceiling at that last one.
Indeed, that had been the one to send me over the edge—not that I’d change a thing.
I mean, I did start the day with a slight hangover.
But that could have been overcome. It was the fort building and the homemade cookie making and the doll playing and the O’Malley grooming and the art creating and—last but not least—the nonstop dance party.
And let’s not forget the insanity of a speed round of hide-and-seek.
I had no idea what the step count on my Apple Watch was for the day, but I surely had surpassed anything that would have been expected for a normal Saturday. And while I was exhausted, I was also happy. I hadn’t laughed like I did in… Well, I couldn’t remember the last time. Since I was a kid?
Noah grabbed my raised finger and squeezed it. “Addie had such a great time this afternoon, and it was all thanks to you.”
My eyes were still closed as I enjoyed his hand on mine, his other hand still toying with my hair. This was the best. Still, I should likely dig deep and participate in this conversation. Goddess forbid the man stop what he was doing. “I had fun too.”
“You were pretty clear about that,” he said, his voice heavy with amusement.
“Please keep up what you’re doing with my hair,” I whispered, hating to ask but willing to do so to keep it going.
Noah’s hand stilled—damn it, I shouldn’t have drawn attention to it. But then: “Want me to brush your hair?”
Holy smokes. Yes. Absolutely. Be chill, Jules. “Umm, that would be great?”
He squeezed my shoulder, oblivious to my mental cheerleader losing her darn mind. “Hold tight. Where’s your hairbrush?”
I did the mentally taxing work to remember what bag I had here.
Heck, my full name would be a big ask right now.
At the same time, I wanted to sink into this couch—one that was a style I never for a moment would have assumed Noah would own—and never leave.
I was exhausted and at peace at the same time.
Couple that with being a little horny, and my mind was not surprisingly a bit of a hot mess. “Front pocket, I think.”
He was gone and back in minutes, resuming his spot and… Sweet goddess above, he was brushing my hair. “I didn’t mean to leave so much of the responsibility of Addie to you this afternoon,” he said as he gently detangled my hair.
Noah had gotten a call from the company he hired to prepare his parents’ estate for auction shortly after Ivy left.
He’d just gotten that handled only to then field calls from the real estate agent, then Mary, then someone from his office in Springfield, and finally someone who was handling his parents’ financial portfolio.
I felt bad for the guy—he clearly was trying to get off the phone to be with us, only to get waylaid time and time again.
I cracked an eye and looked up to see him staring down at me. “I know that all evidence points to the contrary right now, but I loved the entire afternoon.”
He tapped my nose. “You sure about that?”
“Addie is awesome.” It was the only answer needed honestly.
Judging by the movement near my feet, O’Malley was joining us on the couch because of course I had followed through and brought him over to hang out with Ms. Addie.
I did not have a cat who was aloof and removed from humans.
O’Malley was the lowest-maintenance cat ever.
If I was out of town, he was happy on his own as long as someone took care of the basic daily needs.
But if people were around, he wanted to cuddle.
And it felt like… Yep, there he was, walking around to lie on my belly. My own personal weighted blanket.
Noah was still on his mission to make my hair the smoothest it had ever been, and I wasn’t complaining.
“Addie is amazing,” he said in reply to my earlier sentiment. “And I do appreciate all you did today.”
“You contributed when you could.” Truly, I loved how he was in the mix with Addie.
He’d been ridiculous creative when we played dolls, doing accents for different voices.
It was next level. I was already adding to my mental notes for future books.
I’d never written a single dad before, but Noah was inspiring so many ideas for my writing—both the current novel and future stories.
It made me itch to get back to my computer.
To cover my need to moan as he worked to unknot my hair, I focused on my surroundings.
“This couch is interesting,” I murmured randomly as I rubbed the fabric and, quite possibly, a little moan might have escaped at the end.
Sue me. People paid top dollar for head massages, and I was getting this one for free and by a guy who was sexy as hell.
He chuckled. “You surprised by my jewel-colored couch and pillows?”
“Not what I expected,” I mumbled as I rolled my head to the right so he could get some brushing done at the nape of my neck.
“Ivy’s,” he replied as he lifted my head in one hand and ran the brush all the way from the bottom of my head up.
“Ahhh.” I couldn’t help it. Then I refocused. “Ivy’s?”
“This house, some of the furniture.”
“Ah, the couch is Ivy’s.” I gave a small nod so as to not disrupt the brushing. This couch fit Ivy. Noah? Not so much.
“Mm-hmm,” he replied. “I started the conversation about moving here right as she and Jake got together. They moved in together and I took over her place because Addie already knew it and it was only a few blocks from Jake’s.
” He put the brush down and buried both hands in my hair as he began rubbing my head in a circular motion with the tips of his fingers. Jesus. This could be his job.
“Makes sense,” I replied as I felt my whole body relax. The exhaustion was abating as the peaceful feeling filled me up.
“Can I ask you a question?” he said as he rolled my head to one side and continued to use his goddess-given talent.
“Sure.”
“Why accounting?” His voice was quiet, but the question made my eyes open, only to look up and see him looking down at me.
I wanted to reply and just say something like I was good with numbers or there were lots of jobs available in the field.
Both of which were true. However, if we were headed where I wanted, I needed to share myself with this man, which required being vulnerable and spilling my secrets, such as they were.
And in all honesty, I hadn’t done a whole lot of that so far while he had no choice with everything that had happened over the past week.
Attempting to dig deep and find some courage, I kept my gaze locked on his. “My parents are really great people.”
He nodded but didn’t say anything. Maybe he sensed that I needed to get this out.
“They aren’t the most organized.”
He nodded again.
“Their love is big—for each other, for me. I’ve never doubted that. What I did worry about as a kid was if they remembered to pay the electric bills or if they’d budgeted for groceries that week, much less remembered to go get them.”
He gave my shoulder a squeeze, almost like he was urging me to continue. Since he kept on toying with my hair, I did.