11. Noah
Noah
Iwoke to the unfamiliar sound of a shower running, the scent of peach and warm vanilla wrapped around me, and the newfound ability to breathe through my nose. I must have been more out of it than I remembered if I could smell Bailey in my own home.
Oh.
This wasn’t my bed, and judging by the way it smelled, I might never leave it. Sitting up, I took in my surroundings and realized I was very much in Bailey’s space.
A stack of books was piled high on her nightstand. A framed picture of her and someone I assumed was Harper sat on the dresser. The dress she’d worn the first night we met was draped haphazardly over a chair, as if she’d peeled herself out of it in a hurry.
Our first night surged back into my mind. Her laugh. The sparkle in her eyes when she got excited. What I wouldn’t give to change our circumstances.
The bathroom door opened, steam rolling out as Bailey stepped into the room, towel secured around her body, another twisted atop her head. Heat followed her into the room, the kind that also sank straight into my skin.
“Morning, pretty girl,” I said.
“Argh!” She jumped, clutching the front of her towel as the one on her head dropped to the floor. “You scared the shit out of me. I thought you’d still be asleep. You were out like a light despite my stomping around this morning.”
“And miss this view?” My gaze dragged slowly over her. “Not a chance.”
“Glad to see you’re feeling better,” she muttered, but her voice wobbled just enough to tell me she felt it, too, that thread that connected us and only got stronger the more we were around each other.
I sat up in bed, noticing that my headache was gone and my energy had improved. I swung my legs off the side of the bed, suddenly aware of my lack of clothing, and crossed the room slowly.
I wanted her to feel every inch of the space I closed before I ever touched her.
Up close, our height difference was unmistakable.
Her skin was still warm from the shower, damp curls clinging to her shoulders, and it took every ounce of my restraint not to wrap them around my fist. I inhaled slowly, her scent fresh from the shower.
“Did you take care of me last night, Bailey?” I rested my forehead against hers, our breaths tangling.
“You were in no condition to drive home. I would’ve done it for anyone,” she whispered.
I stroked my hand down the side of her arm, leaving a trail of goosebumps in my wake. “Lie again,” I murmured. “See what happens.”
Her breath caught.
“You would’ve brought just any guy back here? To my inn?” My voice dropped, rough and possessive. “I think the fuck not, baby.”
I brushed my mouth along her jaw, down the sensitive curve of her neck, taking my time. She shuddered, fingers tightening in the towel as if it were the only thing holding her upright.
“What are you doing?” she asked, breathless now.
“Showing my appreciation.” My lips lingered where her pulse jumped. One hand slid down her back, pulling her closer until there wasn’t an inch of space left. “Can I take care of you, sweetheart? Can I make you feel good?”
“Oh god,” she breathed, her hand slipping into my hair, tugging just enough to make my pulse kick.
The hand on her back slid lower, curving over her ass and gripping with unmistakable intent, pulling her flush against me. My fingers found the knot on her towel, testing it, waiting to see how she responded.
She rocked forward instinctively. “Noah,” she gasped. “We agreed to keep things strictly professional.”
“Fuck our agreement.”
Her fingers curled into my shoulders like she’d already decided she was done pretending.
A knock at her door froze us both.
“Hey, Bailey, it’s Grant. Did you still want to meet this morning to discuss offering drinks during the festival?”
I closed my eyes. My fucking cockblocking brother.
Bailey froze, eyes wide, chest rising fast beneath the towel.
“Uh, yes, I do,” she stuttered. “Give me ten minutes, and I’ll meet you downstairs.”
Before panic could take over or regret could form, I lifted her chin, my thumb brushing lightly along her bottom lip before I pulled back.
“I’m done pretending this doesn’t matter,” I said quietly. “You and me…there’s something special here.”
Her eyes darkened, and that blush I loved so much spread from her cheeks to the top of her chest.
I held her gaze for a beat longer before stepping back. “Go get dressed, peaches,” I said softly. “I’ll wait until after you head down to leave.”
She nodded, whispering a soft thank you, before taking a pile of clothes with her back into the bathroom. I let out a long sigh and ran my hands through my hair. Every encounter with Bailey was unexpected, but damn, did she make me feel things I had never felt before.
I sat on the couch, waiting for her to finish getting ready, and trying to convince my aching erection that absolutely nothing was happening this morning.
She came out of the bathroom, fresh-faced, and fucking gorgeous, and the lilac sundress she wore was a stunning contrast to her dark curls.
She tossed her towel in a hamper, awkwardly wringing her hands, before grabbing her purse and planner.
“I’ll just, uh, see you around? See you later?” She stubbed her toe attempting to slide her flats on. “Fuck. I guess make yourself at home until you sneak out. Do you need help?”
I held back a laugh, suddenly feeling like I was seventeen again.
“I think I can manage sneaking out of a room in my own inn, but I appreciate the offer, pretty girl.” I nodded toward the door. “Go ahead, my pain-in-the-ass brother is waiting for you, and we’ll have plenty of time later to come back to our discussion.”
“Oh,” she mouthed.
She backed toward the door, thankfully not bumping into anything else, before giving me a quick wave and darting into the hallway.
I snooped around her room until I deemed enough time had passed for me to plan my exit.
The books next to her bed? A suite of romance novels with scenes even I blushed over while flipping through them.
She had pictures of her and Harper framed all around the room, but I didn’t see any with people who resembled family. I made a mental note to ask her about that.
Everything in here screamed Bailey: warm, cozy, and with a hint of unexpected chaos. I knew Bailey, kind of. But I didn’t know her the way I wanted to, intimately, which would require a date. Multiple, if I had anything to say about it.
As I snuck out and headed home, deciding to work from my house for the day, I ruminated over date ideas and, more importantly, how to get Bailey to even agree to go out with me.
She was, fairly, petrified of ruining her reputation or having her work undermined, and I had to show her we were on the same team—win or lose.
I tapped the screen on my center console, the dial tone ringing before a voice picked up on the other end.
“Hi, Ma.”