23. Noah #4
“I can’t… Greyson already knows I’m staying with him. I don’t think he’d take it very well if I told him I’d rather stay with you.” She finally gazes back up at him with a sad smile. “I’m sorry, Shane.”
He nods, looking a bit defeated. “No need to apologize, I completely understand. It was simply an offer, one that stays if you ever change your mind. You’ll always be welcome in my home, Aubrey.”
She blushes and smiles at him. Actually, they’re both just smiling at each other now. I almost feel like I’m interrupting something magical just by sitting here.
“By the way, you looked beautiful on your vacation trip.” Something close to desire flicks through his eyes. “The tropical sun really suits you, I… I really liked your bathing suit.”
Oh God! Shane, no! Why would you say that?!
Aubrey practically melts at the compliment, leaning slightly toward him. “Oh, thank you, Shane.” But then she straightens, catching on to the last part. Her brows furrow. “Wait, how did you see my swimsuit? I haven’t posted any pictures of it.”
Shane’s eyes shoot up to me, then over to Emma, before returning to Aubrey. She tracks their movements, quickly putting the puzzle pieces together. She shifts in her seat toward me with a nervous look.
“What did you do?” she hisses through gritted teeth.
I catch Shane’s apologetic smile over Aubrey’s shoulder. “It’s nothing, we just sent him a few pictures of you while in Fiji.” I shrug like it’s no big deal. But the look of horror on her face tells me it is.
“Who’s we?” she questions.
“Just me and Em…” I give her a strained smile.
“Oh my God!” She hides her face behind her hands, then sticks one out toward me. “Show me them. Show me the pictures.” Shit! I was hoping she wouldn’t ask that.
“Umm… we sort of deleted the pictures after sending them so you wouldn’t find out…” I giggle nervously. “Sorry. But I’m sure Shane still has them. Don’t you?” I look over and find him staring like a deer caught in headlights.
“I… uhhh… maybe… yes, yes… just… give me a minute.” He pulls his phone out quickly, fumbling a little as he opens it.
He tilts the phone slightly so that we can’t make out what’s on the screen, then passes it over to Aubrey. His eyes bounce between her and the phone, an anxious look in them as if she might fall on something she’s not supposed to see.
After a few seconds and fifteen pictures later, Aubrey gasps, shutting the phone and pushing it back into Shane’s hand. “Oh, God! I’m so mortified!” she whispers behind her hands that cover her face once again. She’s now practically red from head to toe with embarrassment.
“Don’t be.” Shane grabs her wrist gently, tugging it down to her lap. He then peeks over at Grey, making sure we still don’t have his attention. “You looked absolutely gorgeous in every single one of them.” He smiles and releases her wrist.
She brings her second hand down and breathes out, as if she’d been holding her breath the whole time his hand was on her. “Still, I’m sorry my friends bothered you with that.”
“I’m glad they did, I really enjoyed them.” A tiny speck of pink appears on his cheekbones.
I snort, then mumble, “I’m sure you did.”
“Ronnie!” Aubrey hisses at me.
“Well, gentlemen.” Julian rises from his seat, gathering all our attention. “And ladies.” He graces us with a small, tight smile. “It has been a delightful evening, but I am afraid we must get going. Some of us do not have the luxury of only working half the year.”
“Yes, thank you for the invite. We should do this again. Ladies, I wish you all a good night.” Jessie beams as he stands as well, following behind his older brother.
“Goodnight, Jessie,” us girls all call at once, gaining a choir of groans.
Jason walks behind, wishing us goodnight with a nod. He doesn’t seem like much of a talker. Shane stands with a sigh, a regretful smile on his face as he looks down at the woman he longs for.
“Goodnight, Aubrey,” he says softly as his fingertips skim over her knees.
Her breath catches, lips parting, pupils slightly dilating at the small intimate touch of affection. “Goodnight, Shane,” she whispers breathlessly.
They smile at each other for a moment until Jessie’s voice snaps him out of his daze.
“You coming, Shay?”
He looks up, nodding. “Yeah, I’ll be right there.” Then he turns to wave goodbye to everyone. “Goodnight, guys.” He gives one last lingering look at the pretty blonde before walking away, through the house and out the front door with the Storm brothers.
“You two are so hot together. Jesus, I think my panties might be wet just from watching you both.” I giggle. “By the way, that was a good start to a conversation with him.”
Aubrey quickly grabs hold of my arm, forcing me to look into her huge eyes. “He saved them. The pictures. They’re saved into his phone, in a file named ‘My Angel’!”
Wow, he really has it as bad as she does.
I take both her hands in mine as we sit sideways to face each other. “I told you he liked you.”
A breathtaking smile splits over her face, lighting it up like a thousand fireflies floating through the air on a warm summer night.