CHAPTER NINE
Noah
“I think we’ve done all we can do for today, plus, I’m starving.” Noah couldn’t help look her over. Yes, his stomach was growling, but every time he was around Jordan, his hunger for her grew.
He and Jordan were alone for the first time in the Slap Shot dining room. The painters were done and had packed up and left. Jared had stopped in earlier but had meetings this afternoon. It was just the two of them.
Somehow, they managed to agree on a menu and submit it to the printer. They put the liquor order in, ordered all the printed items they needed, and Jordan made the schedule for their first week.
Her cheeks were flushed, and her professional up-do bun was a little looser than normal. A few strands fell loosely around her face. She let out a breath and wiped a few of the rogue hairs from her face. It was obvious she was tired. It had been a long day of planning for the grand opening.
“Let me take you to dinner,” he offered.
She shook her head. “No, I should check on The Sin Bin. I could have Tony make you something, if you’re hungry.”
“You aren’t on the schedule anymore, and you know Emily is there tonight. She’s quite capable, and you know that because you trained her. Jordan, I’m not taking no for an answer. We accomplished a lot today and we deserve a nice meal. We have to eat.”
“Yeah, I guess,” she reluctantly agreed, as she fidgeted in her seat. “But I look a mess. I can’t go anywhere like this. Give me a few minutes to freshen up.”
Noah sat back in his chair and waited, while Jordan disappeared to the back. He had no ulterior motives tonight. It really had been a long day; he knew she was tired and needed to eat. It was the gentlemanly thing to do. Plus, it gave him a little more time with her.
When Jordan returned, her hair was freshly pulled back in a clip.
“It’s a wonder what a brush, a little face powder, and fresh lipstick will do.” She grimaced. “Why didn’t you tell me that I looked like a hot mess?”
Noah held back a chuckle and shook his head. “Hey, you looked beautiful to me.”
“Oh please,” she scoffed. Pulling a compact mirror from her purse she fussed with her hair as if she were giving herself one last look. “So where do you want to eat?”
Holding out his arm to her, he grinned. “I have a place in mind. It’s been a favorite of mine since I got to town.”
“Oh? So you do eat at places other than The Sin Bin?” she asked, a hint of friendly sarcasm in her voice. And as if her attitude magically changed, she willingly took his arm, lacing her arm with his.
He led the way to a small bistro a few blocks down. “Yes, sometimes. I mean, I eat a LOT.” He chuckled. “And I don’t cook.”
“I see a pattern. You like your food places nice and close. This one is just a few minutes away. The Sin Bin and Slap Shot are right next door to your apartment building.” She pulled away to look at him. “So you really don’t cook at all?”
Sitting down in a booth and no longer arm in arm, he felt chilly without her touch. “Not really. I mean, I can heat up boxed mac and cheese, ramen, oatmeal, and I can scramble eggs. Oh, and I make a mean grilled cheese sandwich, because like I said, I like to eat.”
“Ah, all the staples,” she teased. “You can use a microwave and boil water is what you’re saying?”
“And don’t forget about the griddle.” He nodded. “But thanks to The Sin Bin, Harrison, Sam, Tyler, and their wives, I stay well fed.”
Noah caught the attention of the waitress. “Could we get two house specials, please? And two white wines. Thank you.”
“You ordered for me,” she said, looking a bit stunned.
He wondered if he’d overstepped, but he smirked. “Trust me.”
She smiled. “I guess I have no choice.” Her words were playful.
“If you don’t like it, you can order something else. But I don’t think you’ll have to.”
The waitress brought their glasses and filled them with wine before hurrying off to the kitchen.
“Do you get the special every time you come here, like your usual at The Sin Bin?” she asked, curious.
Noah shrugged. “What can I say, I’m a creature of habit.”
Their food was delivered quickly and placed in front of them.
He watched as Jordan inspected her plate of food. “I have to admit, that does look delicious.” A perfectly grilled steak was topped with a buttery white wine and basil sauce, with garlic roasted potatoes and a mixed green salad on the side. It smelled divine and he knew from experience, it tasted even better.
“Told you.” Noah waited as she took a bite. Noting her blissed-out expression, he smiled. “Good?”
“Mmm, yes.” She bowed her head sheepishly, and licked her lips. “So good.”
“I enjoy finding non-chain places to eat, usually Mom and Pop businesses. I swear, they always have the best food.”
“This is great.” She nodded as she finished another bite.
“I didn’t realize how hungry I was,” he said, as he dug in.
“Same.” She dabbed her lips with a napkin. “So how do you like Pittsburgh?”
“I’m settling in. The guys are great. Everyone is one big family.”
“The Kidd family has pretty much taken you in,” she said with a wink. “You don’t seem like the family type to me.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Well, you must know that your Nashville reputation precedes you.”
He tried not to grimace. Her insinuation that he was some party guy bothered him. That might have been him in Nashville, but he was turning over a new leaf here in Pittsburgh. He wondered if he’d ever be able to shake his reputation.
“We all have to grow up some time,” he said. It was the simple truth.
Her eyes shone, and she looked so pretty. “So you’re saying now that you’re grown up, you’re enjoying the family lifestyle?” she asked playfully.
“Yeah, something like that,” he mused. “Harrison and Talia are great, and Ty seems to know what I need before I do. And it’s fun being around all the kids. Willow just made Sam buy a knee hockey set so we can plan when I’m there. Sometimes Willow makes me play goalie.”
She laughed. “That’s something I’d like to see. It’s really great that you have them.”
“Yeah, and let’s not forget The Sin Bin, and how you and Talia put up with me being there so much.” The Sin Bin had been a home away from home, and it was just a bonus that he had been able to see her there.
“Yeah.” She shifted in her seat and rolled her lips inward. “Like you said though, you like to eat. And we’re right by your hotel. So—”
“Right. I mean, it’s the best tomato soup around.” Lame, that was so lame. “But when I need to decompress, I come here.” He motioned around the dining room with his hand. “I have to add, the table looks much nicer with you sitting at it.”
As soon as the words came out of his mouth, he heard how they sounded. That was the cheesiest thing he had ever said! He pushed down a groan.
She stared at him, and he waited for her to burst out laughing at his pathetic attempt at trying to be smooth. But instead, she shrugged a little and said, “Oh please. I’m sure you don’t have any trouble finding a puck bunny to go to dinner with you.”
He didn’t enjoy her tone. Did she really think that was who he was? “Like I said, I typically come here alone. Until tonight.”
She dipped her head as if she was trying to hide her expression. Biting at her bottom lip, her cheeks darkened.
Noah loved this bashful side of her as much as the tough-as-nails, bad-ass boss side.
“How about some dessert? They have an amazing chocolate lava cake.”
Jordan grabbed for her phone. “I really should check in with Emily.”
He covered her hand with his, and she paused, as her eyes locked with his.
“She’s fine,” he urged. “She would call Talia if she wasn’t. Remember, you don’t work there anymore.”
“Right.” Jordan nodded, finally looking away. She set her phone down on the table. “Dessert sounds good.”
“Would you like to split one? I’m not sure I can eat a whole one myself,” he lied. He could probably eat two all by himself if he really wanted to.
“Sounds good. Dinner and dessert, how’d I get so lucky?”
Once he ordered their dessert, something she said kept rattling around his brain. “You said it’s nice that I have someone here, like the Kidd family. But you have Talia just as much as I do. You guys seem close.”
“Oh, we are. She’s my best friend. And Harrison is great, too. Like you, they took me into their little Pittsburgh family. That’s why I know it’s nice to have someone when you’re in a strange city all alone.”
“I’m assuming you didn’t have anyone when you moved here?”
“No, not until I met Talia and Harrison.”
Just then, the waitress sat the dessert down between them. The lava cake had two spoons and ice cream.
“That looks really good,” she said, her eyes bright.
“Are you a chocolate fan?”
She grinned and picked up her spoon. “Yes!”
“I bet The Sin Bin has some really great desserts too.”
She nodded. “Yeah, they do. Tony makes some amazing desserts.”
“I’m sure you’ve tried them all. I might need to start having dessert—even if it means extra time at the gym. Our Slap Shot dessert menu looks amazing as well.”
She sighed. “Don’t tease me, but I’ve only tried a few of them at The Sin Bin. I try to stay away from the sweets.” She took another bite of lava cake and her eyes sparkled.
Noah bit back a smile at her delight. It was cute to see her let her guard down. He liked this side of her.
He took one last bite and then pretended to be full. With a groan he said, “You finish it, I can’t eat another bite.” He slid the plate towards her.
Jordan smiled like a kid in a candy store, as she polished off the remainder of the cake and ice cream. “What are you grinning about?”
“I’m just having a really nice time.” His heart rate increased every time she smiled.
Jordan nodded. “I am, too.”
As he walked Jordan to her car, Noah drank in the fact that the city was quiet. That was something he noticed, how it always seemed so quiet at night. “I like it in the city much more than out by the practice rink.”
“Is that where you stayed last season?”
He nodded. “Yes. But here there are so many things within walking distance. I guess I am just a city boy at heart.”
His comment got a smile out of Jordan. “I like it down here, too. My loft is about a fifteen-minute walk from the restaurant.”
“You walk to work a lot?”
She shrugged. “When I can. I mean, why drive my car that short distance every day? But sometimes I take the bus if I’m running late.”
“You learn something new every day. I never pegged you for a public transportation kinda gal. And certainly not a running late one.”
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing.” He put his hands up in front of him in defense of his words.
“This is my car.” She pointed to the vehicle in front of them in the parking garage. “Thank you for a very nice evening, Noah Rodgers. Well, besides assuming I’m too high-maintenance to take public transportation,” she teased. “And FYI, running late doesn’t mean I’ve ever actually arrived late, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
Noah chuckled nervously. Had he ruined the whole evening with one stupid comment? “I didn’t mean―”
“I know.” She laughed. “I’m just teasing you.”
He let out a sigh of relief. “Good. And I hope you really did have a nice time, because I did.”
“I did.” Her gaze locked with his. “Best evening in a long time.”
Memorizing her face, all he wanted to do was kiss her. As he closed the space between them, he expected her to pull away. Instead, she stared at him, her eyes shining.
There was undeniable heat between them. Her hazel gaze slid to his lips, before flicking back up to meet his stare.
Cupping the back of her neck, he slowly pulled her closer to him, giving her plenty of time to change her mind. Her chest slowly rose and fell, and her eyes trained on him, as if she couldn’t believe this was about to happen. He half expected it, but she didn’t stop him.
Her lips parted as if she was going to speak, but no words came out.
Noah covered her mouth with his, and his tongue swirled around hers as she reciprocated. Warmth raced through his body. His brain tried to tell him that this was a bad idea, but his body had taken control.
When he pulled away, he couldn’t help but gaze at her. She was so beautiful. Her cheeks were flushed and her lips were puffy from their kiss. He didn’t want the night to end here.
But her palm flattened on his chest. She must’ve come to the same realization as him—this was a mistake. His heart hammered against her hand.
Jordan took a step back, her breathing still ragged. He reached for her hand, and she didn’t pull away.
“I should go,” she said. She moved her focus to her car and unlocked the door.
“How about dinner at my place tomorrow?” he suggested. He’d use any reason to see more of her.
Jordan nodded slowly. “Sure, dinner sounds nice.”
“Great. See you tomorrow morning then?”
“Bright and early for a team meeting. I’ll bring the coffee.” She gave him one last look before she drove off.
He had to take a minute to calm himself, before walking slowly out of the garage. Breathing in the cool night air, he strolled back to his building. Maybe that kiss shouldn’t have happened. He’d tried to simply be thankful that she was working for him, and to understand that he had no right to push for more. He’d told himself over and over not to risk ruining things by clouding their working relationship, not to give in to his feelings. But he had. And now he had a huge problem. He was hooked, and he wanted more.