Chapter 8 Jealousy Looks Good on You
The Client Dinner
By seven thirty that evening, Noah had changed his shirt twice.
He stood in front of the mirror in the apartment bedroom, studying himself with growing irritation.
The first shirt had been too formal.
The second had looked too casual.
The third was somewhere in the middle, which was probably the point.
He adjusted the collar and stepped back.
It was only a client dinner.
Nothing more.
He wasn't dressing for Adrian.
That thought arrived without invitation.
Noah frowned at his reflection.
He absolutely wasn't dressing for Adrian.
He grabbed his jacket and left the bedroom.
Adrian was already waiting in the living room.
Noah stopped.
Adrian wore a dark navy suit with an open collar, looking less formal than usual but somehow even more put together.
His attention shifted from his phone to Noah.
For a brief moment, his eyes moved over Noah from head to toe.
Then he looked away.
Noah noticed.
Of course he noticed.
"Ready?" Adrian asked.
"Yes."
Adrian checked his watch.
"We should leave."
Noah smiled.
"Good evening to you too."
Adrian looked at him.
"Good evening."
"Better."
They left the apartment together.
The dinner was being held at an upscale restaurant near the client's regional headquarters. Several people from both teams were attending, including senior representatives from the client's marketing division.
The atmosphere was relaxed compared with their daytime meetings.
There were fewer laptops.
No presentation screens.
No schedules projected onto walls.
For once, everyone was allowed to behave like ordinary people.
Their client representative, Daniel Hayes, arrived a few minutes after them.
Daniel was in his early thirties, charismatic, confident, and clearly accustomed to being the most noticeable person in a room.
He greeted everyone warmly.
When he reached Noah, his smile became slightly more personal.
"So you're Noah."
Noah smiled.
"That's me."
"I've heard a lot about you."
"Hopefully good things."
"Very good things."
Daniel shook his hand.
His grip lingered for a second longer than necessary.
Noah noticed.
So did Adrian.
Adrian's expression didn't change.
They took their seats.
Noah ended up beside Daniel.
Adrian sat across the table.
The conversation began with the campaign.
Daniel asked about the creative framework, and Noah explained the regional adaptation strategy.
Daniel listened closely.
"I like the way you think," he said.
"Thank you."
"You don't sound like someone who's been doing this for only a few years."
Noah smiled.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"It is."
Daniel's attention remained on him.
Noah glanced across the table.
Adrian was speaking with Elena.
At least, he appeared to be.
His attention seemed to return to Noah every few moments.
Noah felt a small, wicked smile forming.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Dinner continued.
Daniel asked Noah about his background.
Where he had worked.
What kind of campaigns he enjoyed.
What he did outside work.
Noah answered politely, careful not to cross any professional boundaries.
But Daniel kept the conversation going.
"What do you do when you're not working?"
Noah laughed.
"Apparently work."
Daniel smiled.
"That's disappointing."
"Why?"
"I was hoping you'd say something more interesting."
Noah glanced toward Adrian.
Adrian was looking directly at them now.
His expression was unreadable.
Noah looked back at Daniel.
"I like exploring new places."
"Good."
Daniel smiled.
"Then you'll have to let me show you around while you're here."
Noah raised an eyebrow.
"Maybe."
Daniel's smile widened.
"That's not a no."
"No."
"Good."
Across the table, Adrian's glass touched the table with a little more force than necessary.
Noah looked at him.
Adrian had returned his attention to the conversation beside him.
Noah tried not to smile.
He failed.
Elena noticed.
She looked between Noah and Adrian.
Noah quickly looked away.
The dinner continued for another hour.
Daniel remained attentive.
He asked Noah questions.
He laughed at his jokes.
He complimented his work more than once.
None of it was inappropriate enough to require intervention.
But it was personal enough that Noah was becoming increasingly aware of Adrian's reaction.
Adrian became quieter.
His responses grew shorter.
His expression became more controlled.
If Noah hadn't been watching him carefully, he might not have noticed.
But Noah was watching.
And now he was certain.
Adrian was jealous.
The realization sent a surprising thrill through him.
Noah had spent days wondering whether he had imagined the attraction.
Now he had something much harder to dismiss.
Adrian didn't like another man paying attention to him.
When dessert arrived, Daniel leaned toward Noah.
"You should try the chocolate tart."
"I've already had too much food."
"That's not an answer."
Noah smiled.
"You sound very persistent."
"I've been told."
Daniel pushed the plate slightly toward him.
"One bite."
Noah laughed and took a small piece.
Across the table, Adrian's eyes flicked toward them.
Noah caught him.
Adrian immediately looked away.
That almost made Noah laugh again.
When dinner finally ended, everyone began standing and gathering coats.
Daniel approached Noah near the entrance.
"I meant what I said."
"About the tart?"
Daniel laughed.
"About showing you around."
Noah smiled.
"I remember."
"There's a place nearby that's much better for drinks than this restaurant."
Noah looked at him.
Daniel lowered his voice.
"Come with me."
Noah hesitated.
It was clearly an invitation that had nothing to do with work.
He wasn't sure whether he wanted to accept.
Before he could answer, Adrian appeared beside them.
"Noah."
Noah turned.
Adrian's expression was perfectly calm.
"We need to review the revised client notes before tomorrow morning."
Noah blinked.
"Tonight?"
"Yes."
Daniel looked between them.
"Is it urgent?"
"Very."
Noah knew immediately that Adrian was lying.
There were no urgent client notes.
Not tonight.
Adrian had simply created an excuse.
Noah looked at him.
"You couldn't wait until tomorrow?"
"No."
Daniel smiled politely.
"Of course."
He turned toward Noah.
"Another time, then."
"Sure."
Daniel walked away.
Noah watched him go.
Then he looked back at Adrian.
"What was that?"
Adrian frowned.
"What was what?"
"You just interrupted me."
"We have work."
"Do we?"
"Yes."
Noah crossed his arms.
"What exactly needs reviewing?"
Adrian held his gaze.
"The client notes."
"Which notes?"
"The notes from dinner."
"You mean the notes we already reviewed this afternoon?"
Adrian said nothing.
Noah's smile slowly appeared.
"Right."
Adrian's expression tightened.
"We should go."
Noah stepped closer.
"Did you just deliberately separate me from Daniel?"
"No."
"You're a terrible liar."
"I'm not lying."
"You are."
Adrian looked toward the restaurant entrance.
"Noah."
"Adrian."
They stared at each other.
Noah could see the tension in Adrian's jaw.
He almost felt sorry for him.
Almost.
"So," Noah said, "you really didn't like him asking me out."
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"I didn't say that."
"You didn't have to."
Noah picked up his jacket.
"Come on."
Adrian frowned.
"Where?"
"Back to the apartment."
"I thought you wanted to review the notes."
Noah smiled.
"I think you've had enough work for one night."
Adrian stared at him.
Noah turned toward the waiting car.
He couldn't stop smiling.
Adrian Cole had spent days pretending he barely noticed Noah.
Tonight, he had finally given himself away.
And Noah had never been more interested in finding out what Adrian was trying so hard to hide.
The Question
The apartment was quiet when they returned.
Adrian closed the door behind them and placed his keys on the small table near the entrance. He removed his jacket and hung it neatly beside the door before turning toward Noah.
Noah was still smiling.
That bothered Adrian more than it should have.
"What?" Adrian asked.
Noah shrugged.
"Nothing."
"You've been smiling since we left the restaurant."
"I had a good evening."
"So did everyone."
"Not everyone."
Adrian studied him.
Noah walked toward the kitchen and opened the refrigerator.
Adrian followed.
"We need to review the client notes."
Noah glanced over his shoulder.
"Do we?"
"Yes."
"Right now?"
"Yes."
Noah closed the refrigerator.
"You already know there aren't any urgent notes."
Adrian remained silent.
Noah leaned against the counter.
"You made that up."
"I didn't."
"You did."
Adrian's voice hardened slightly.
"The client meeting raised several issues."
"None of which require immediate attention."
"That's your opinion."
"It's the truth."
Adrian looked away.
He had known this conversation was coming the moment he had interrupted Daniel at the restaurant.
He simply hadn't expected Noah to be so amused by it.
"I was protecting the project," Adrian said.
Noah stared at him.
"From what?"
"The possibility of an unnecessary distraction."
Noah smiled.
"Daniel?"
"Yes."
"How exactly was he a threat to the project?"
"He wasn't."
"Then what were you protecting it from?"
Adrian didn't answer.
Noah pushed away from the counter.
"You know, you're really bad at explaining yourself when you don't want to admit something."
"I've explained enough."
"No."
Noah walked into the living room.
Adrian followed.
Noah turned around.
"Were you jealous?"
The question was so direct that Adrian almost laughed.
Instead, he stared at him.
"No."
Noah waited.
Adrian held his expression steady.
"No."
"That was quick."
"Because the answer is obvious."
"Is it?"
"Yes."
Noah folded his arms.
"You interrupted Daniel before I could answer him."
"Because we have work."
"We didn't."
"I thought we did."
"You lied."
"I made a judgment."
"You made a jealous judgment."
Adrian's jaw tightened.
"I wasn't jealous."
Noah smiled.
"You're doing it again."
"Doing what?"
"Getting defensive."
"I'm not defensive."
"You are."
Adrian took a slow breath.
"Noah, whatever you think you saw tonight, you're wrong."
"Am I?"
"Yes."
Noah studied him.
There was no anger in his expression.
That would have been easier.
Instead, he looked curious.
Almost amused.
Adrian wished he would stop looking at him that way.
"Then why did you interrupt?"
"I told you."
"You were protecting the project."
"Yes."
"From a drink?"
"From an unnecessary complication."
Noah's smile faded slightly.
"That's interesting."
Adrian frowned.
"What is?"
"You keep talking about complications."
"I have good reason."
"Do you?"
"Yes."
Noah stepped closer.
Adrian stayed where he was.
The distance between them narrowed.
Noah's voice became quieter.
"Because it sounds like you're worried about something else."
Adrian's pulse changed.
"You're imagining things."
"Maybe."
Noah took another step.
Adrian could feel the familiar tension beginning to build.
It was the same tension he'd felt in the office.
The same feeling he'd tried to dismiss.
Except this time there was no computer screen between them.
No conference table.
No coworkers.
No excuse.
Noah stopped only a few feet away.
"You know what I think?"
Adrian didn't answer.
"I think you didn't like seeing Daniel interested in me."
Adrian looked directly at him.
"You're wrong."
Noah's mouth curved.
"That would be interesting."
Adrian's expression hardened.
"Stop playing games."
Noah's smile disappeared.
"What if I'm not?"
The question hit harder than Adrian expected.
He had no answer.
Noah held his gaze.
Adrian could see the uncertainty beneath Noah's confidence now.
He wasn't teasing anymore.
He was genuinely asking.
That made it worse.
Adrian should have stepped away.
He didn't.
For several seconds, neither man moved.
Then Noah looked away.
"Good night, Adrian."
He walked toward his bedroom.
Adrian remained in the living room.
The bedroom door closed.
Silence returned.
Adrian stared at the door.
His mind replayed the evening.
Daniel leaning toward Noah.
The invitation.
Noah's hesitation.
The possibility that Noah might accept.
The sudden, irrational need to stop it.
Adrian had told himself it was about work.
It wasn't.
There had been no project emergency.
No urgent notes.
No professional reason to interrupt the conversation.
He had simply wanted Noah away from Daniel.
The realization settled heavily.
Adrian walked toward the window and looked out over the city.
He had been jealous.
There was no other word for it.
He had watched another man show interest in Noah and felt something sharp and possessive rise inside him.
It had nothing to do with the campaign.
Nothing to do with professional judgment.
Nothing to do with protecting Noah's career.
It was personal.
Very personal.
Adrian closed his eyes.
He remembered Noah standing in the kitchen that morning.
Barefoot.
Sleepy.
Smiling.
He remembered the office.
The almost-kiss.
The late-night conversation.
The laughter.
The way Noah had looked at him when he praised his work.
All the moments Adrian had tried to classify as professional were becoming impossible to explain that way.
He opened his eyes.
He had been wrong.
The problem wasn't Noah.
The problem wasn't the project.
The problem was Adrian himself.
He wanted Noah.
And now he knew that he didn't simply want Noah's attention.
He wanted to be the person Noah gave it to.
That realization frightened him more than attraction ever had.
Adrian had spent years keeping his personal life separate from his professional one because he understood exactly how dangerous blurred boundaries could become.
Now he was living under the same roof as the one person who had managed to make those boundaries disappear.
He looked toward Noah's closed bedroom door.
For the first time, Adrian admitted the truth without softening it.
He hadn't been protecting the project.
He had been jealous.
And that meant everything between them had just become much more complicated.
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