Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Noah
Acouple of years ago, when the business started picking up steam, Esteban and I realized we couldn’t keep running things out of the bed of my truck and the corner of his garage.
We needed a proper space and someone to help us manage the chaos.
That’s when Eva, my sister, suggested her friend Payton.
She turned out to be a lifesaver—sharp, efficient, and somehow always two steps ahead of us.
The office is small but functional, tucked into a corner of a modest building downtown.
The scent of fresh coffee lingers in the air thanks to Payton’s perpetual supply.
She keeps everything running so smoothly that even on the rare days Esteban and I aren’t around, the place hums along like clockwork.
Today, I’m here to grab a quote I finalized for Josy’s Sweet Shop. The remodel has been on my mind nonstop, not just because it’s an important project, but because of her.
Walking toward Payton’s desk, I see her sitting with her signature no-nonsense posture, her fingers flying across the keyboard. She glances up as I approach, her expression already knowing.
“Hey, did you get a chance to print the quote for Josy’s Sweet Shop?” I ask, resting a hand on the edge of her desk.
She nods and reaches for a blue folder. “Right here. Everything’s accounted for.”
“Perfect,” I say, flipping it open to scan the contents. Each line item is carefully detailed, from the demolition costs to the sleek finishes Josy requested. As I double-check the numbers, I find myself wondering if she’ll like it. No—hoping she will.
“You’ve got a good eye for detail, Noah.” Payton’s tone come across light but approving. “Josy will appreciate that.”
I look up from the quote and give her a quick smile. “Thanks. Just want to make sure it’s exactly what she’s expecting.”
Payton arches an eyebrow. “And maybe a little more?” There’s a teasing edge to her voice that I ignore, pretending I didn’t catch the implication.
“Maybe,” I reply noncommittally, snapping the folder shut. “Thanks, Payton.”
“Anytime,” she says, already refocusing on her screen.
Grabbing my keys and the rest of my things from my office, I head out to the parking lot. The late afternoon sun glints off my truck’s hood as I climb inside, tossing the folder onto the passenger seat.
As I start the engine, my thoughts drift unintentionally to Josy. Her voice, her fiery attitude, the way she pretends I get on her last nerve when I can see the flicker of something else in her eyes. A mix of anticipation swirls in my chest, accompanied by something I can’t quite put a name to.
Gripping the steering wheel a little tighter, my gaze lingering on the folder. It’s not just the job I’m looking forward to, though. Not by a long shot.
Our last encounter was fun, and I can’t wait to rile her up again. I love when she acts all though and mad when in reality, I know she is just acting. I bet anything that she loves when we banter.
It took me four days to finally sit down and finish the quote since I’ve been busy. We’ve been swamped with other projects, and I’ve been juggling deadlines, trying to wrap up one so I can focus on renovating Josy’s new shop.
Every day this past week has been a struggle.
My mom has been pestering me about coming to visit her and Dad, but I barely have the time to breathe, let alone make a trip.
In some ways, though, I’m grateful for the constant busyness.
It means the business is thriving, which is something I never take for granted.
I never imagined I’d be doing this after not going to college.
There was a time when I thought that decision would haunt me forever.
My siblings and everyone else had their doubts, but I was determined to prove them wrong.
I worked hard, made connections, and did what needed to be done to succeed.
Now, every packed day, every job that gets added to our list, is proof that I made the right call.
But even with all this success, there’s something missing and I believe it’s Josy.
Maybe it’s the challenge, the way she keeps me on my toes, or the fact that, despite everything, I’ve never been able to fully move on from her.
I thought that we were going to be something, then she just ghosted me.
I tried to move on, dated and I slept around trying to find something meaningful but I couldn’t find a woman that I wanted to spend more than a night with.
There’s no one that I feel more connected to than Josy.
I don’t know what hold she has on me, but I want to figure that out.
As I pull into the parking spot, I take a moment to glance in the rearview mirror.
"You are not going to provoke Josy today," I tell myself out loud, hoping to set the right tone for our meeting. As much as I enjoy seeing her blush and get flustered, today I’m aiming for a more civil conversation. This is business, after all.
I step out of my truck and start walking toward the shop. A few familiar faces pass by on the sidewalk, and I nod or say a quick hello. When I push open the door to the coffee shop, the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee greets me. It’s late afternoon and the place is nearly empty.
Violet is seated at a table, focused on her laptop, but she looks up and smiles when she sees me. “Hi, Noah. How are you?”
“Hey, Vi. What’re you working on?” I ask, glancing at the screen.
“Oh, just some social media content. You know, keeping the coffee shop in everyone’s feed. Are you here to grab lunch?”
“No, I’m here to talk to Josy. Is she around?” I ask, trying to keep my tone casual.
“She’s in her office. I’ll walk you back there.” Violet stands up and I nod following her through the shop.
As we make our way to the back, I can’t help but feel a bit of tension in the air, a mix of anticipation and nerves.
I’m about to walk into Josy’s space, and I want this meeting to go differently.
I want to break through whatever wall she’s built between us, even if it’s just a small crack.
Violet stops at a door and gestures for me to go ahead.
“Good luck,” she whispers with a teasing smile before heading back to her table.
I take a deep breath, then knock lightly before opening the door.
“Come in,” I hear Josy say from inside.
I open the door slowly, stepping into the small but tidy office.
Josy is sitting behind her desk, her curly hair cascading down her shoulders, and for a moment, I’m distracted by the intense urge to cross the room, pull her into my arms, and kiss her senseless.
The image of my fingers threading through her dark curls and making her moan flashes in my mind, but I shake my head slightly, trying to clear it away. Not the time or place, Noah.
I force a smile as she looks up and finds me standing at her door. Josy looks startled, her surprise evident before she quickly masks it. Before she can say anything, I step fully into her office, closing the door behind me.
“Hi, Josy. I came to talk about the quote I promised,” I say, holding up the blue folder as evidence.
She narrows her eyes slightly, clearly not letting me off the hook so easily. “I thought you said you’d be here three days ago.”
I shrug, offering her a sheepish grin. “I was planning to, but I got stuck at work. I wanted to finish one of our other projects before I started yours. I didn’t want to half-ass anything, especially not for you.”
Her expression softens a bit, though she tries to keep it guarded. “I see. Well, I appreciate you making time for it now.”
“Of course. I know how important this is to you.” Moving closer to her desk, I place the folder down, sliding it toward her. “Everything’s detailed here—what we’ll do, the timeline, the cost. I’m aiming to get started as soon as possible, assuming you’re happy with it.”
Josy picks up the folder and opens it, skimming through the pages.
I watch her, noticing the way her brow furrows slightly in concentration.
God, even when she’s all business, she’s captivating.
Her beautiful lips are pursed while she peruses the quote, and her delicate finger is following the lines while she reads.
Her nails are painted a light pink and I immediately think about how it would feel for her to be using her nails to scratch my back while I take her hard or how they would look wrapped around my cock while she goes down on me.
Again with your dirty thoughts. Focus on the job, man.
As Josy flips through the pages of the quote, I can see her brows knitting together in confusion. “Noah,” she says slowly, her voice laced with suspicion, “why is the cost of this project so low? This can’t be right.”
I lean back in my chair, trying to keep my smile in check. “It’s right. I’m only charging you for the cost of materials.”
Her head snaps up, those dark eyes of hers are practically throwing daggers at me. “What? Why? I can pay for your work, Noah. I don’t need any charity.”
“It’s not charity, Josy,” I say calmly, keeping my tone even. “I wanted to give you a break on the labor costs since I’ll be the one doing the work. It’s my way of helping you out.”
“I don’t need your help!” she snaps, her voice rising in that familiar way that always gets to me. “I can afford to pay you what you’re worth, and I want to. I don’t need any special treatment just because we—”
“Just because we what?” I cut in, my voice steady but firm. “We’re friends? We have history? Look, Josy, I’m not doing this out of pity. I’m doing this because I want to. Let me help you.”
She pushes her chair back with a force that matches her frustration, standing up so quickly I almost reach out to steady her. “I don’t want your help, Noah. I want to pay you what you deserve.”
I stand, too, stepping close enough to see the fire in her eyes. “And I’m telling you, this is what I want to do. You’re not going to change my mind on this. Let me do this for you.”
We’re standing there, just a few feet apart, and I can see the anger and frustration boiling under the surface. After a long moment, she finally speaks, her voice softer but still full of tension. “Fine. But don’t think for a second that I’m okay with this.”
I let my smile soften, trying to show her that I mean what I’m saying. “No problem,” I say, leaning against the edge of her desk, trying to close the distance between us. “I’ll have a few of my guys with me, but I’ll be there most days. I want to make sure everything goes smoothly.”
Her gaze flickers, and I can see her trying to maintain that cool exterior. “I’m sure it will. You’ve always been thorough.”
I can’t help the grin that tugs at my lips. “That’s one way to describe me.”
She rolls her eyes, and for a split second, I see a hint of the old Josy, the one who wasn’t so guarded around me. But then it’s gone, replaced by that careful distance she keeps between us now.
“So, when do you plan to start?” she asks, shifting the conversation back to business.
“As soon as you’re ready. We can get materials ordered tomorrow, and if all goes well, we can begin work next week. Sound good?”
Josy nods, but I notice the slight tension in her posture. I can tell she’s still holding back, still unsure. But for now, it’s progress.
“Okay, then. I’ll leave you to it.” I push off the desk and head for the door. “I’ll be in touch tomorrow to confirm the schedule.”
“Thanks, Noah,” she says quietly, her voice softer than before.
I pause at the door, glancing back at her. “Anytime, Josy.”
With that, I step out of her office, my heart still racing from being so close to her. Today might have been about business, but I’m not giving up on breaking through that wall she’s built between us. Not yet.