Chapter 22 Sasha
Chapter Twenty-Two
SASHA
I came to a conclusion during dinner that night with Noah: foreplay didn’t require touching.
It was bad enough already with my response to Noah.
I constantly felt as if my body was an engine being revved.
One look from him, not even purposeful, and it was like a heavy foot on the gas pedal, sending my desire hurtling forward.
He took me to a small café, nothing fancy.
He said they had delicious pot pies. Quinn’s faith in his ability to choose restaurants was well placed because the pot pies were heavenly.
It was, as he put it, really an English pub tucked in a corner of Boston.
The food was absolutely delicious and perfect for a brisk, clear night in February.
“How was work?” he asked after the server, a matronly woman who clearly knew Noah, had checked with us.
With her warm gaze and questions, I felt as if I were being appraised, but I didn’t really mind. Noah was worth having friends who protected him.
I shrugged. “Work was busy, but I like it that way. She’s kind of protective of you,” I observed as the server paused by the next table.
“Norma?” Noah returned, his brows hitching up in surprise.
“Yes, in a good way. It’s obvious she cares and doesn’t want anyone to take advantage of you.” I chuckled to myself.
“What’s so funny?” Noah prompted.
“As if I would be slick enough to take advantage.” I rolled my eyes.
“You underestimate yourself.” His low tone sent heat skating over my skin.
“What do you mean? I’m barely treading water in this, you know? I haven’t had much of a social life, and even less of a dating life.”
“Because you’ve been busy being a mom.” He dipped his chin. “As you should be. Quinn is delightful, and it’s obvious she loves you.”
Many men didn’t know all you had to do to get a single mother to swoon was say something like that. My pride for Quinn ran deep. I loved her fiercely and wanted nothing more than for her to be happy. To have someone notice what a great kid she was, well, it warmed my heart in the best possible way.
I swallowed. “Thank you. Obviously, I love her to pieces.” Anxiety suddenly struck a discordant chord in my heart. “How worried do we need to be about whatever this investigation is?”
He reached across the table, curling his hand over mine.
“I want to tell you that you don’t need to worry, but that would be a lie.
I can tell you the investigation has nothing to do with violence.
White collar crime is rather mundane. It can ruin lives, but only by screwing with people’s financial stability.
I’m mostly worried about making sure no one steals her identity.
Separate from that, I’m obviously worried that her father doesn’t hurt her, emotionally speaking. ”
I took a quick breath and nodded. “Okay. Dallas will keep you up to speed?”
Noah had already explained he couldn’t stay on the investigation because of his connection to Quinn. “Of course. I’ll be there tomorrow when you two come by the office.”
“Good.”
Just then, Norma arrived with our check. Her eyes dropped to where our hands were joined and resting on the table. “You be good to her, Noah,” she said with a kind smile.
I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing when Noah looked up at her. “Sasha told me she thought you were protective. You know I wouldn’t bring anyone here who I didn’t completely trust. We grew up together in Haven’s Bay in Maine. It’s been a while, but you don’t need to worry.”
Norma’s cheeks plumped up with her smile when she looked at me. “I had a good feeling about you, and I told my Norm I thought Noah had a tendre for you.”
I smiled, ignoring the heat flaring in my cheeks. “Well, thank you. That’s good to know,” I finally said.
Norma set the check down on the table. “I hope the food was good.”
“It was delicious. I’m so glad Noah brought me here.” She set down a paper bag containing the takeout we had ordered for Quinn. “I hope your daughter enjoys it too. Noah, you come back soon.” She squeezed his shoulder before she hurried off.
I looked over at him. “Norma and Norm?”
He flashed a quick grin. “Yup. Go figure. I guess it was meant to be.”
A few minutes later, we were back in the car, and he was deftly navigating through the late evening traffic when he spoke. “I hope you know how much you mean to me.”
His eyes flicked to mine briefly, the look there hot enough to singe me.
It also held an intensity of emotion I didn’t know how to interpret.
My heart thrashed inside my chest, and my mouth went dry.
I swallowed, taking the moment to absorb his profile, the clean strong lines.
I loved him. The pure truth struck me. It felt as if a bracing gust of wind lifted me, and my feet slammed to the ground as I stumbled from the force.
“What do you mean?” I finally asked, my voice coming out a little ragged.
His hand reached across the console, lacing his fingers into mine. “I mean, Sasha, that I’m falling for you. I already told you that, but I don’t think you believed me.”
“It feels rushed like it doesn’t make sense. I told you my life isn’t all fun and games. I don’t know how you can know that until there’s been at least a few teenage meltdowns, and I’m stressing about bills.”
His gaze slid to mine again, and he shook his head just slightly.
“Sasha, we’ve known each other for years.
Maybe we lost touch, but it’s not like this is fresh.
I get it. We don’t have to hurry. I’ll wait for a few teenage meltdowns, and you can stress about bills.
Although I wish you wouldn’t. If you need help—”
I cut him off fast. “I don’t need you to ride into my life and make it easy. It’s important to me that I can support Quinn and myself.”
“I know.” His fingers squeezed mine.
My heart kept pounding as we rode the rest of the way home in silence. It wasn’t an uncomfortable silence, more of a potent silence.
When Noah approached the house, I said, “You could park in the driveway behind my car if you want.”
I felt his smile before I even saw it. Glancing over, I laughed when he said, “I was wondering if I still had permission. Quinn gave it to me, but you hadn’t yet.”
I was absorbing his words when he put his car in park and cut the engine. When he turned to me, the look in his eyes was fierce. My belly swooped, and need throbbed at the apex of my thighs.
He leaned over, palming my cheek as he brought his lips to mine. I literally felt electricity sizzle from that point of contact straight to my core. It pulled tight like a string as my body vibrated. His tongue glided against mine in a quick, sensual tease before he drew away.
“Quinn might be awake,” I said breathlessly.
“I can deal. Patience is a virtue,” he teased as I unbuckled my seat belt.
I laughed. “Your mom used to say that.”
I heard the click of his seatbelt buckle, and then his touch brushed against my hip. He lifted my seat belt so it didn’t tangle on my arm. The subtle gesture felt protective.
I had just gathered up my purse from the floor when the cold air washed in as he opened the door for me. Noah was that kind of man. He insisted on me getting over some things. I was so used to pushing through life and taking care of myself that it almost made me feel a little uncomfortable.
His hand rested on the curve of my spine as we walked up the stairs inside. Our footsteps echoed when we crested the landing on the second floor. The door across from mine opened, and Melanie peered out. “Oh, hi,” she said, trying to act all surprised.
I knew it was a ruse because she could see the driveway from her living room window. Melanie wasn’t very subtle and was absolutely nosy. I didn’t mind. It was good to have friends who cared.
Noah simply smiled. He had the kind of smile that put anyone at ease. It was gracious and polite with a hint of a twinkle in his eye. “Well, what a surprise to see you, Melanie.” He was going to play along.
Her eyes sparkled with her return smile, and I could tell she was enjoying it. “What did you bring Quinn tonight?” she asked, her gaze darting down to the paper bag held in Noah’s hand.
“A delicious new place. Well, it’s not new, but it’s new to me. It’s like an old British pub, and they make yummy meat pies and sandwiches. I should’ve thought to bring you something,” I commented.
“No worry, dear,” she said with an airy wave. “Next time we have lunch, why don’t we go there?”
“Perfect,” I replied.
“Good night,” she said. Just as she was about to close the door, she peered out again. “And, don’t worry, you can park there all night.” She winked at Noah before disappearing.
My cheeks were hot. I eyed him and mouthed, “Sorry.”
He smiled and pressed a kiss to my temple. A moment later, we were in my apartment. “I adore Melanie, but she’s nosy.”
“Sasha, I don’t care at all,” he said flatly. “In fact, I’m glad you have a good neighbor who checks on you.” We hung our coats and took off our shoes. “Quinn doesn’t seem up,” he observed.
I arched a brow. “Just because we can’t hear her doesn’t mean she’s asleep. Let me check and see if she’s awake.”
I walked down the short hallway, hearing the low hum of what had to be her phone or computer. She loved streaming things on her devices rather than watching television unless that was something we did together.
“Quinn,” I called through her door. “Are you hungry?”
I heard Noah’s low chuckle from the kitchen at the sound of her hopping off her bed and opening her door.
“How was dinner?” she asked cheerfully as she skipped down the hall and into the kitchen.
Following her, I offered, “Delicious.”
Noah was already opening the bag for her and handing it over. “What’s this?” She peered in and looked back up expectantly.
“A meat pie. Your mom said you like steak. It’s a British thing.
They call it a pie, but it’s sort of like a pastry sandwich.
Very old-school. They even make ones that have sweet on one side and savory on the other.
Apparently, that’s what farmers used to take out in the fields when they were working all day. ”
Quinn loved history and smiled brightly at that little nugget of information. “Thank you. Can I eat in my room?”
“Of course. Just put your plate in the sink after,” I replied.
“I’m not taking a plate,” she said with a saucy grin.
“I already have water.” She glanced at Noah.
“I’m only allowed to have water in my bedroom since I have a habit of spilling things.
This is made to eat without a plate.” Sliding on her socks over to my side with the paper bag in hand, she pecked me on the cheek. “Good night.”
At that, my teenage daughter was gone in a flash, the sound of her bedroom door closing behind her punctuating the end of that interaction.
I was suddenly and unaccountably nervous.
Although I had obviously been with Noah more than once by this point, this was the very first time I’d had a man spend the night with my daughter in the house.
My few ventures into dating hadn’t ever gotten serious.
I’d never actually brought anyone to my house. This felt oddly momentous.
When I met his gaze, his eyes softened. In another second, he was right in front of me, reaching for my hands. I was twisting my fingers tightly together, a cue to how anxious I was.
“I don’t have to stay,” he murmured.
I blinked and took a deep breath. “I don’t know why I’m freaking out.”
Tucking my forehead into the curve of his neck, I found his scent comforting.
He was always warm and smelled a little crisp with a spicy hint underneath.
As I breathed him in, I realized something.
My comfort with him and simply telling him how I felt answered all of my questions.
I didn’t know how this would play out, but my feelings were real and true.
It felt as if I had tapped into a spring deep in my being, one I’d forgotten, with emotions rushing forth.
Noah was right. We did know each other, even if we were relearning each other and forming a new connection.
Lifting my head, I met his eyes. “No. I want you to stay.”
Then I took him by the hand and led him into my bedroom, across the hallway from Quinn’s.