Let’s be real, I want that man more than I want candy, and I’m a girl who loves candy.
He answers on the first ring. “Rhianna.” He says my name so smoothly, and I smile to myself as I unlock my front door.
“Noah,” I reply. “I’m returning your call.”
“That you are. But what I want to know is when I can see you?”
I look down at my dress. Ewww, it needs to go. Now. Tearing it off, I drop the phone in the process and quickly pick it back up.
“One second,” I yell as I reach for my Bulls shirt and throw it on with some jeans. Putting the phone back to my ear, I say, “I’m dressed, you have my full attention.”
“You were naked?” he asks.
“I didn’t start off that way, but yes.”
“You know it’s highly inappropriate to get naked on the first date, right?” he says, making me chuckle.
“First date?”
“Yes. Now tell me where I can pick you up, and feel free to get back into your earlier attire,” he says.
“Umm… I think I’ll wear clothes if you don’t mind.”
“I do mind, very much so. But one date at a time, I guess.”
“Yes,” I say, crossing my legs. “When would you like to go out?”
“Now…” he pauses, “… if you’re free.”
“Yes, I am. I’ll send you my address.”
“Got it! I’m not far. I’ll see you in ten minutes.” He hangs up.
Fuck.
Fuck.
I’m about to be alone with a man who has only ever visited me in my dreams, literally.
Grabbing some lip gloss, I coat my lips generously and find my shoes before I walk out the door. When I get downstairs, I find him straight away. He must have been closer than he thought. He walks over to me, instead of waiting at his car, and when he reaches me, he leans in and kisses my cheek.
“I was hoping to catch you off guard.” He looks me over. “But this will do just fine.”
He captures my hand in his, as if it’s something he does every day, and walks with me to the passenger side.
I watch him shamelessly as he walks in front of the car and around to his side. When he climbs in, he spares me a glance with a devastating smile before he drives off.
“Where to?” I ask, then smirk.
“Have you ever watched the sunset above the city?” he asks.
I look at my watch and realize it’s later than I thought. Lunch with my family went longer than it usually does.
“No.” I smile. “Is that where you’re taking me?” He turns to give me a quick glance. “No need to woo me. I may already be wooed just a little.” Especially now I know he’s not married. When he doesn’t say anything, I bite my lip and turn to look out the window.
We come to a stop, and when I turn to look, we are high a hill that overlooks the city below.
Noah gets out of the car and walks around to my side. He offers me his hand.
“I’m already a weak man when it comes to you. Knowing you want the same isn’t for the best,” he says. I place my hand in his and pull myself out of the car. Our bodies come close, and it takes everything in me to not reach up and place my lips on his, just to see what he tastes like.
Will he be sweet? Will I savor it?
He’s tall, so I only come up to the top of his shoulders. I like that as well.
I pull away first, keeping our hands locked as I look around.
“I don’t think I’ve been up here before,” I say. Glancing around, there are only a few cars up here. He looks to the footpath and nods for me to start walking. I step close, and my hand drops to my side as we walk in silence. Fairy lights illuminate our path, and the hill has a fountain at the top.
“Wow, this is beautiful.” You can see the whole city from where we are standing.
“Yes, I found this place a few months ago.” His eyes look off into the distance.
“You aren’t from here?” I ask. I certainly know of this place but have never actually taken the time to come up here. I’ve walked the trails at Mount Coot-Tha, but that’s it. And I may have been drunk when we did that.
“No, I am originally from Sydney. I moved here a year ago.” I want to ask him why, if it is because of her, but I keep that to myself.
For now.
“They do these picnic packages,” he says as we keep walking. There’s a picnic set up on the hill overlooking the city of Brisbane. A rug with pillows is spread out, and in the middle, a cheese and meat board with candles and fairy lights littered all around it.
“Wow.” It’s all I can manage.
“It’s been a long time since I had to “woo” a girl,” He uses air quotes around my word and chuckles. “So, I may be a little off my game.”
I shake my head as we get close and turn to face him.
“Consider me wooed. The most a man has ever done for me is to go down on me, which, I might add, was amazing but nothing like this.”
His vivid green eyes go large at my words, and I realize what I just said. I mean, I wasn’t lying, it’s the truth no man has ever tried to do anything romantic for me. Maybe that’s why I have never bothered staying with one. But Noah, well, he doesn’t seem like the boys I usually play with.
No, he is all man.
“Let’s eat, shall we?” He waves his hand, and I sit first. He waits until I am fully seated before he takes a seat next to me.
I look at the food laid out before us. Cheese, meats, fruits, there’s a mixture of everything. I pick up a strawberry and put it to my lips. When I turn to face him, he’s watching me.
“Trying to work you out is becoming more complicated than I anticipated,” he says.
“You’ve only just met me, so I would hope so,” I reply, taking another bite. He watches my every movement.
“I’m particularly good at reading people. It’s what makes me the best at what I do,” he says with such authority it almost comes off as cockiness. But I believe what he’s said.
“A lawyer, right?” He raises an eyebrow. “I have my ways, too, you know.” I wink at him, reaching for more food.
“Yes, a lawyer.”
“For criminals?” I ask, even though I know the answer.
“Yes, everyone needs defense, some are harder to defend than others.”
“What are you working on now, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“I have a client who I believe to be not guilty, so right now, I am gathering enough evidence to bring it to the courts for a retrial.” He pauses. “August has had a rough upbringing, but he’s a determined man. I like that about him.”
“August. I know of him. Sent to prison for robbery, right?”
“Yes,” he answers.
“I know him. Well, not really. He is a few years older than my sister and me, but he went to our school, and everyone knows who he is. He has a name attached to him, that’s for sure.”
“Yes, but I didn’t come to speak about August. I came to get to know you and what else you do besides work at a coffee house and stalking customers in clubs.” He picks up a piece of cheese and eats it, then pours us both a glass of champagne, handing me one.