Page 57 of Negotiating Tactics

“Keeping things quiet?” he asked.

I nodded timidly.

His lips lifted in a soft smile. “That was your idea, remember?”

“I do. But what about no strings attached? That was your idea,” I said.

He shrugged. “So it was.”

“What does that mean?” I said.

He smiled, his eyes bright. “It means fuck it.”

I laughed. “Just that simple, huh?”

His smile dropped ever so slightly, and I saw uncertainty, something I almost never saw from Noah. “I hope so,” he said.

I stared at him for a long moment, my thoughts racing.

But among them, one stood clear, true.

The way I felt with Noah was unlike anything I had ever experienced, and even though he hadn’t said as much, I sensed that I mattered to him.

Which terrified me. But this—him—was something I wanted to hold onto.

I looked at him and knew that all I needed to do was trust.

“So, let’s go. But if you’re taking me on a helicopter, don’t expect to get your hand back,” I said.

He smiled, then leaned over and pressed a soft kiss against my lips. “Don’t worry, Alex. You can hold me for as long as you want.”

Thirteen

Noah

“Oh my God, that was so fucking phenomenal!” Alex said, practically bouncing into her apartment, even though it was closer to morning than night.

I chuckled as I followed her inside. “I’m surprised to hear you say that. I definitely couldn’t tell.”

As Alex laughed, I locked the door and then turned to face her again.

“Sounds like you’re saying I’ve made it clear I had a great time?” Her eyes were bright with excitement, and even at the late hour, I saw no signs of tiredness, her fun tonight clearly fueling her.

I studied her, my head tilted like I was deep in thought. “There may have been a few hints. And by hints, I mean you’ve been beaming since we set foot in New York,” I said.

She smiled at me, the same expression that had been on her face all night. I returned that smile and asked the question I suspected I knew the answer to.

“Did I do good?” I asked.

I didn’t think it was possible, but her smile got even bigger. “Very, very, good,” she said as she approached me, looking like my every fantasy had come to life.

Her attire was so simple—a jacket, shirt, jeans, boots. It shouldn’t have affected me as much as it did, but Alex was an absolute vision. Add the fact that it was me who had her smiling so brightly, and I was left with feelings I didn’t dare want to consider.

“Thank you,” she said when she reached me, her voice quiet now, not that volume was necessary for me to see the depth of her emotions.

“You’re welcome,” I said.

Better to say that than try to give words to all the things I was feeling.

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