Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Dahlia let the tepid water run over her face and down her body.
The kisses she’d shared with Noah last night were all she could think about.
She pressed her fingers to her wet lips and smiled.
She couldn’t help but imagine Noah in the shower with her, pressing his naked body against the steamy wall and holding his cute butt cheeks in her hands.
Her legs felt weak, and her lady parts ached.
She immediately turned the water to cold, hoping to slow her racing heart.
After a quick dry, she hooked her bra and wiggled up her panties, wishing she didn’t have to.
But Noah had made his “I want to take things slow” intentions very clear the night before, and his electrician friend was downstairs waiting to be paid.
Dahlia threw on a yellow ruffled short floral dress and grabbed her espadrilles from the floor.
She could hear Noah talking to Rob from the upstairs hallway. She stuck her back to the wall and, against her better judgment, listened.
“Thanks for coming on such short notice. And on a Sunday,” Noah said.
“Sure thing. That box was ancient. With the two-twenty volts, you’ll be able to hang Christmas lights and see them from space.”
“Well, we appreciate it,” Noah said.
We, huh? She liked that. Her mind went to Christmas lights. She’d be gone by then, and someone else would own the house. Dahlia was dizzy at the realization that she wouldn’t be here for her favorite holiday and that someone else would be living in Lil’s house.
“I’ll be heading to Gretchen’s this week for the inspection. Maybe I’ll catch you on the other side.” There was a gritty cackle, which was followed by an awkward silence. “Hey man, are you okay? I haven’t seen you since … You know. For the record, it was shitty.”
“Yeah, I’m fine. Grateful I found out when I did,” Dahlia heard Noah say in a hopeful tone.
“You dodged a bullet if you ask me.”
You tell him, Rob, she thought.
“Dahlia, are you coming?” Noah yelled up the stairs.
She tiptoed back to the bedroom and yelled, “Ah, yeah, be right there.”
Quickly, she inspected her sun-kissed skin in the mirror and tied her hair back with a bandana.
She looked closer. Her eyes sparkled like water at sunrise—void of any puffy bags or dark circles under them.
A smile curled her lips. She liked this version of herself, hopeful and light.
She pursed her glossy lips and inhaled. It was official.
Dahlia Newberry was head over heels for a younger guy.
Dahlia flew down the stairs, causing her ruffles to flounce.
Noah turned, and with every footstep closer, his grin grew wider. Her belly flipped and tossed. It felt like prom, and she was running down to meet her handsome date. Only he wasn’t in a tux. He was in gray board shorts, a white linen shirt, and Vans.
“Rob, I can’t thank you enough.” Dahlia handed him the check, knowing full well it was making a substantial dent in her Charleston savings. “You are a lifesaver.”
“You are,” said Noah, opening the door. “I’ll see you on the island.”
“Sure thing.” Rob walked off the porch and waved.
Noah shut the door and met her eyes. “I thought he’d never leave.”
Dahlia clenched the banister, hoping McHandy would make another move.
Anchored to the last step, she wondered how slow he would take things.
After that kiss, Dahlia wanted more, more butterflies, more goosebumps, and more floating on cloud nine.
If she were being honest, though, she wanted more companionship.
Dahlia had been alone for so long in her marriage, and this, whatever it was, felt good.
“That was nice of him to come over on a Sunday.”
“He likes me, plus he owed me one,” he said, leaning against the door like he was pondering something consequential.
“What are you up to over there? What’s going on in that head of yours?” Dahlia asked, raising a brow.
He glanced up with a devilish grin, closing the gap between them. Noah gave her the most passionate, steamy kiss that made her fall off the last step and into his arms. Their tongues collided, and all she could think was that he tasted like sweet peppermint.
“What was that for?” she asked, not wanting to open her eyes fully.
“For being you,” he said, kissing her nose. “I could kiss you for days.”
“Okay.” She grinned playfully. “We don’t have to go to the movie, you know. We can stay right here.” Dahlia felt spellbound in his arms, and the thought of getting lost in his warm and delicious kisses for hours on Lil’s couch made her giddy.
“If we stay, I won’t be able to control myself.” He laced his fingers with hers and kissed her hand.
“And that’s a bad thing?” Dahlia bit her lip, trying to control her erupting insides.
“Dimples, you’re killing me.”
Dahlia wrinkled her nose.
“What, you don’t like that nickname?” His brows furrowed.
“Oh, I do.” She laughed, loving that he had a pet name for her. “I just feel a bit like an awkward teenager with braces when you say it.” “Dimples” wasn’t the sexy woman she wanted him to see her as. And if she had any chance of competing with Josie, she at least wanted that chance.
“Okay, fair enough. How about I call you D? A twofer, for Dahlia and Dimples.”
Dahlia pressed her lips to his, his whiskers softly brushing her mouth. This man knew how to kiss. Whether it was sudden and lustful or tender and sweet, he knew what he was doing. “Sold,” she said, not wanting to leave Lil’s entryway.
“We should probably leave before I carry you up the stairs,” he said with a wide grin.
Dahlia didn’t want their kissfest to end. “Now who’s killing who?” She smiled. “Let me say goodbye to Harry and grab my jacket. You go ahead. I’ll just be a minute.”
“Don’t be too long.” He tugged at his zipper.
Dahlia smiled, looking down, knowing full well that it was a great sign.
“Oh, I won’t.” The front door closed, and she leaned against the wall, covering her ear-to-ear grin.
It felt like there was a devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other.
She couldn’t get too attached. It could only be a summer fling.
She was leaving in less than one month. She inhaled and blew out her concerns, telling herself it was okay to be a little reckless.
The box of pressed flowers from the basement now sat on the entry bench next to her jean jacket.
She reached for the jacket and tapped the carton, setting the intention to open it tomorrow.
Then she caught Harry lying on top of the couch.
“Ugh, you’re not supposed to be up there.
Lil would not be happy you’re ruining her cushions.
” She snickered, kissing Harry goodbye and letting him stay right where he was.
Noah laid a tartan blanket over the grass like a true gentleman.
He opened up a cooler filled with wine and snacks.
Dahlia couldn’t believe a guy who barely knew her would go to this much trouble.
In all the years she was with Spence, Dahlia had planned everything, down to her own birthday celebrations, which she had only for Daisy.
“Rosé?” he asked.
“Sure.” Dahlia eagerly leaned forward. Her cheeks hurt from smiling. “When did you have time to do all this?”
“While you were showering.” He popped a grape in his mouth, which made the urge to kiss him stir with feverish urgency. She wondered how she would get through the night without wanting more.
Dahlia’s entire body tingled as she watched him take control of the date. Acts of service had to be the sexiest of the love languages, followed by physical touch. “So what are we seeing anyway?”
“Casablanca,” he said, pouring wine into a tumbler.
“Are you kidding me?” A shiver ran down her back as she reached for the glass. “Thank you. I’ve watched that movie over a dozen times with Lil! Oh, man, did she love Ingrid—she was her favorite movie star of all time.”
“Is that so?” Noah asked, meeting her eager eyes.
“Have you seen it?” Dahlia leaned closer yet.
“When I was a kid, maybe.” He looked inward, pouring himself a glass. “You really like this movie, huh?’
“Here’s looking at you, kid. Does that ring a bell?”
He cocked his head in confusion.
“It’s from the movie.” Her voice trailed off as if she were disappointed. But in what? So far, they’d been in sync with just about everything. So what if he didn’t like old movies as much as she did?
“I know it.” He laughed, interrupting her hopeful thought. “Everyone knows that line. It’s like the most famous movie quote of all time.”
“Just checking.” She scoffed playfully, exhaling slowly. Phew. No problem here, at least not for now. Part of her wondered if she was purposefully seeking signs of capability. Perhaps that would make her feel more at ease about their age difference.
“And the song.” He started whistling the tune to “As Time Goes By.”
“What talent. Bravo. Bravo.” Dahlia clapped as her laughter bubbled over, realizing being with him felt as easy as Sunday morning.
They sat there on the blanket as the world around them went about its natural summer rhythm.
They were in their own little bubble. One she hoped would never pop.
In one look, she was lost in the depths of his tender gaze.
Noah held her chin between his fingers, as if he was going to kiss her with his perfectly manscaped mustache.
That was until they heard, “Noah,” in the distance.
Suddenly, his eyes widened as if he’d been caught doing something he shouldn’t, and he threw on his baseball hat and sunglasses like he wanted to be anonymous.
She wondered what the abrupt shift was all about. But it quickly dissipated when she saw how cute he looked in a baseball cap. Dahlia spotted what looked to be Gretchen in the distance. “I think it’s your sister.”
“Oh, phew.” He relaxed his posture and took off his sunglasses.