“Wait,” Noah says, scrambling up to me and glancing from Jonas on his bike to me in my sneakers. “How did you get here?”
“I walked.” I needed the exercise this morning.
“Wait for me, and we can walk back to the inn together.” Noah’s command is hesitant, sheepish even.
Glancing at the cars in the gravel parking slots, I tilt my head. “Isn’t that your car?”
“I’ll come back for it later.”
Autumn says something about getting Noah’s coffee right away, and he follows her to pay. When Mason catches my eye, another unspoken statement passes between us, only this time the unsaid has Noah’s name in it.
“Protect yourself, honey,” he warns, tipping his head in the direction of the café. “I know his type. He’s too much like me.”
Mason winks, but his eyes sadden after the warning.
+ +
“So what’s the deal you made with Mason?”
“I don’t really see how it’s any of your business.” Keeping my eyes forward, I watch Jonas pedal faster on his little wheels than my legs can walk. Noah’s ambling pace while balancing coffee in one hand slows me even more. “Jonas, slow down.”
“As inn manager, I should know the going-ons of the place.”
“As a temporary employee, it’s not relevant to your position.” My eyes shift to him and away.
“Ouch. That hurts.” He slaps a hand to his chest. While I thought he might have sincerity in the words and the mocking motion the other day, I clearly understand Noah’s position now. He’ll be leaving soon enough.
“I’d still like to know.” His voice softens.
I sigh. “I agreed to let Mason bid on renovations for the inn and use the project for Four Points portfolio. As a kind of giving back to the community and appreciating historic landmarks statement. But the deal is set for a future date, not now.”
“Huh,” Noah states.
“Huh?”
“Well, that doesn’t seem like some nefarious arrangement.”
My brows lift. “What did you think we’d bartered for?”
Noah snorts, shakes his head, and scratches at the back of his neck. “You don’t want to know.”
“Yes, I do.” Suddenly, I’m irritated. Just what did he think I was agreeing to with Mason Becker?
“I thought he was offering you sex with a side of state-of-the-art kitchen.”
I stop walking. My mouth falls open. I fist my hands on my hips. “Do you think I’m that easy? That hard up?”
Wow. Just wow.
“No, no, nothing like—”
“Just because I’ve given you a couple of kisses you think I’m passing them out like dollar bills at a strip club?” I wave a hand down my body, although I’m not quite stripper-worthy and have no idea where the club reference came from.
“A strip club?” Noah chuckles.
“I am not selling myself.” Troublesome tears spring to my eyes. The reaction is more frustration than hurt. I haven’t been with anyone in a year. An even sadder fact was Isaiah left only eight months ago.
“I didn’t say—”
“And I haven’t kissed anyone in a while, so sex would be the last bargaining chip I’d offer.”
“You haven’t kissed someone in a while?”
“Ugh.” He’s so infuriating. I resume my walk, taking as long a stride as I can to get away from Noah.
“Jonas,” I call out. “Stop at the corner.” My son doesn’t deserve the irritation in my voice, but I’m angry…with Noah. He was not fair, assuming I sleep around or would have sex with someone for a kitchen renovation or even think I easily share kisses. Kissing him might have been a momentary lapse in judgment, but I felt something when it happened. Deep in my belly, down to my toes, I thought he meant what he said. He wanted my worries, and he’d made them disappear for a few minutes.
His presence is adding to my stress, though. I don’t need his bullshit… or him.
Thundering feet sound behind me. “Wait, I didn’t mean to imply any of what you said. I don’t think you’d sell yourself, only that Mason has a way of charming ladies.”
“And you think I’m so desperate I’d fall for it?” I abruptly stop again, facing off with Noah.
“I’m not saying you're desperate.” He pauses and scratches at his neck again. “Did he try to charm you?”
I stare at him. How is that even the point? And he isn’t answering my question.
“You are unbelievable.” I turn and stomp forward once more. Jonas waits for me at the corner. He turns his helmet-covered head, and I wave at him, giving him a false smile as I’m anything but happy at the moment.
“Look, let’s back up a bit.” Noah matches my stride as his legs are longer than mine. “I didn’t want you making a deal with the devil, and Mason can be one. I was trying to protect you.”
“I don’t need protection,” I blurt.
“What you need is another good kiss.”
Is he trying to flirt with me while we’re arguing? My feet falter on flat pavement. Noah sticks out a hand to assist, but I brush off his offer, righting myself.
“Says who?” I snap. “And don’t tell me my heart says so.”
Noah reaches for the side of my neck and cups that vein that gives away the racing of my heart. “But it does.”
“My heart says I need protection from you.” I pull free of his palm and nearly jog to Jonas. After checking for oncoming traffic, we turn the corner. The shoreline road isn’t extensively traveled but populated enough. In the summer months, vehicles drive too fast down the winding street.
Noah is quick to catch up to us, and as my shins ache from my quickened pace, I slow a little. We remain quiet for a few steps before he speaks.
Finally, he nudges me with his elbow. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?” The question comes out as harsh and agitated as I am.
“I wasn’t trying to accuse you of doing anything with Mason.”
“Why would it matter if I did?” Not that I would because I’m not interested in Mason.
“It doesn’t,” Noah states, but his eyes narrow, and his gaze stays forward. The sudden pinched expression on his face is unreadable, but I’m still interpreting it loud and clear. He isn’t interested in me.
Another minute passes before he says, “Did you know I grew up on this road?”
His question is such a topic-shift that I nearly stumble again. “What?”
“I lived on this street when I was a kid.”
I take a minute to calculate what that implies. “That means we grew up on the same street. When I was younger, my dad and I lived in Bluebird Hollow’s owner’s apartment.” I haven’t gotten very far in life as I now live in the apartment with Jonas.