7. Noah #2
Noah looks at me with worry again, but he doesn’t say anything. Instead, he pushes strands of blue hair out of my face and behind my ear with a nod. “What would you like to eat?”
I give him a tight smile. “Surprise me. I’m not picky.” My brain is too focused on the pain to think about food, but I know he won’t let me go without, so I just agree with whatever he says.
“Okay, I’ll be back soon.” He steps out of the car, and I watch him go into the restaurant.
I take a sip of my coffee, which was a sweet gesture from him, then rest my head against the seat and sigh. I need something to concentrate on, to take my mind off the anguish coursing through my body.
I gaze around the inside of his car, which is alarmingly clean, almost as if it just came from the dealer. Being my nosy self, I look around, opening the armrest compartment and the glove box, but find nothing. Jesus, how can he be a clean freak in his car but not his house?
I rest back against the seat and turn my head toward the driver’s side.
It’s then that my eye catches something white in his door.
Given the black and red interior of his car, the white really stands out.
I unbuckle my seatbelt and reach for it, despite the pain in my abdomen and lower back. Like I said, I’m nosy.
Finally getting it between my fingers, I pull it free and right myself in my seat. I look through the windshield, making sure Noah isn’t on his way back, and quickly unfold the sheet of paper.
At first, I don’t understand what I’m reading; it all seems like gibberish with big medical terms. It isn’t until I see the patient’s name that things start to make sense.
Trinity Mary Adler. And given the date of birth, she’s only three years younger than Noah.
This must be his sister. Why didn’t I know he had one?
I don’t recognize any of the terms on the paper, but it seems like a request for some form of treatment. Noah’s signature is on the bottom, and it’s dated a week ago. Why would he be the one signing off on her medical records? That must be where he goes every time he disappears.
Movement through the windshield catches my attention, and I look up to see Noah walking toward the entrance door with two bags in his hands. I quickly fold the paper and stuff it back inside his car door before he notices, then buckle myself back up as he pulls the door open and passes me the food.
“I got you a few different things, so you’ll have some choice,” he says as he backs out of the parking space.
“Thank you. Are you going out today?”
“Yeah, I have a few errands, but it shouldn’t take too long. Then I’ll be back.”
“Okay.” I wonder if he’s going to see his sister.
“I don’t want you forcing yourself too much today, just take it easy. Hell, you can even spend the day lying around, I don’t care.”
I turn and look at his profile—his square jaw covered by a well-trimmed Balbo beard, high cheekbones, long dark lashes, and insanely dark irises.
His strong, thick neck, with a pronounced Adam’s apple, short, cropped hair, and thick eyebrows, but not bushy.
He always seems to wear a stern expression, but when he smiles or smirks, God, do I understand why so many women drop their panties for him.
Noah is sexy, so fucking sexy it’s annoying.
And that slightly tanned skin he always has that amplifies all his features?
Ugh, delicious. Even his ears are sexy, God damn it.
Sometimes I find myself staring at him and wondering what his neck would taste like.
If I used my tongue to lick from the base, over his Adam’s apple, all the way up to his jaw.
Or how his beard and mustache would feel between my legs and against the inside of my thighs.
“I’m not sure what you’re thinking about there, but it did bring some color into your cheeks. And you’re staring at me like you want to eat me. So, I’m going to guess you were having naughty thoughts for a sec. Mind sharing?” He smiles.
My eyes widen as I realize I’ve been staring at him for longer than necessary. I turn my head, look out the windshield, and fold my arms over my chest with a scoff. “I was not!”
He chuckles. “Sure, sure. If you say so. But you know, it’s okay if you were. I won’t tell anyone.” He finishes with a wink, and I roll my eyes. Yeah, I have no doubt Noah’s good at keeping secrets.
A few minutes later, he parks in front of his building and gets out of the car.
He rushes around to the passenger door and opens it before the doorman can get to it, then reaches for the bags of food and offers me his hand.
I take it and groan at the next wave of cramps that hits as I stand from the car.
His brows furrow as he examines me. “Remember what I said. Don’t overwork yourself. Just relax.”
Ugh, what is it with men and always wanting to take care of me? I give him a fake bright smile and flutter my eyelashes dramatically. “Okay, Daddy!” I say cheerfully and a little louder than necessary.
His head pulls back, and his eyes go wide. “Jesus, Kitten. Don’t call me that, I do not have a daddy kink.” He smiles again. “Though I will accept God, Noah, or even Casanova.”
Once more, I roll my eyes at him. “You wish I’d call you God.”
“One day.” He winks. “Now go. Get inside.” He lets go of my hand, hands me the bags of food, and steps out of the way. “I’ll see you in a bit.”
I nod and walk up the three steps to the entrance. “Good morning, Stanley,” I say to the elderly doorman as he pulls open the door.
“Good morning, Miss Masters.” He smiles warmly.
Once inside the penthouse, I immediately drop my purse by the entrance and step out of my shoes, needing to feel as comfortable as possible.
I walk over to the kitchen and remove everything from inside the bags of food, deciding to eat a bit before attacking today’s mess.
I definitely need the energy with how low I’m feeling right now.
Turns out, Noah really did get me a bit of everything. And apparently, I was way hungrier than I thought, since I’ve devoured more than three quarters of the food. Once done, I put the leftovers in the fridge, finish my coffee, then attack the downstairs area first.
After one hour, my cramps have gotten worse, I’m sweating, and I find myself folding in half every few steps.
I make my way to the upper level and start with the spare bedroom, which only requires a bit of dusting and a sweep, then move on to Gabe’s bedroom.
His room is such a contrast to Noah’s with his dark gray furniture, black sheets, and dark curtains covering the windows, while Noah’s is filled with light grays and whites.
I make his bed, tidy up the bathroom, and fix his clothes in the walk-in that are falling off the hangers. I grab the small amount of dirty clothes in the laundry basket and take them to the laundry room.
The pain becomes unbearable as I head back up the steps to Noah’s room, forcing me to my kneel as I try to pass it. My hands shake as I press them into my stomach while taking deep breaths. In through the nose, out through the mouth.
My phone vibrates when I finally make it to his door, and I pull it out from the side pocket of my leggings. Thank the heavens for leggings with pockets. It’s a message from Aubrey, telling me she’s having dinner with her parents at Greyson’s house and asking if it’s okay to use my car.
I send a quick reply saying it’s fine and to have a good time. As I’m about to shut my screen, another message comes in, but it’s not from Aubrey. It’s him. Once again using another different number. I block him every time, but it never stops him.
Opening the message, I gasp, my hand covering my mouth as I stare at the image before me. Oh God no… this is not happening… It’s a picture of me walking out of the deli shop the other day, and it looks like it was taken from across the street.
Oh my God! He was right there… right there, and I didn’t even see him. God, I’m such an idiot for thinking he wouldn’t come for me after what I did… What am I supposed to do now?
I squeeze my phone in my hands, rage boiling inside of me. “WHY WON’T YOU LEAVE ME ALONE?! JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!” I shout then throw my phone at the wall with all the force I can muster. It falls to the floor on its back, the screen completely shattered and black.
“Shit!” I go to pick it up but am hit with another blinding wave of agony. This one is much stronger than the last, knocking the wind out of me as I drop to my knees and scream. “AHHH!” My arms wrap around my stomach tightly as tears fall from my eyes.
I wait a few seconds for it to pass and try to stand, but a wave of nausea and dizziness hits me, forcing me to lean against the wall as I struggle to breathe.
I need to lie down. I manage to make it into Noah’s room slowly and collapse on his bed, pulling myself into a ball as I cry through the pain.
NOAH
~ After Dropping Off Veronica ~
I watch her walk into the building, then drive off toward the care facility.
Guilt fills me for leaving her alone when I know something’s wrong, but I don’t have a choice.
I had planned to visit after coming home from the airport yesterday, but when I walked in and saw Veronica, I found myself not wanting to leave her side.
She seemed so happy and excited to see us and show us everything she had done with the outdoor space.
And then she hugged me, and fuck, I could have died in her arms. Having her so close, smelling her perfume directly from her skin, feeling her breath leave her perfect lips and glide against my flesh.
I never wanted to let go. But I know Veronica needs time to understand she’s mine.
That she’s ours.