Page 58 of Touchdowns and Temptations

“Shall we?” he asks and I nod.

“Yes,” I say. “Where's Emily?”

“She's back with the others,” he says, holding out his hand. I take it and follow him out of the bar.

***

Noah and I walk onto the porch of his parents' house and I sit down on the swing. Noah sits next to me and pulls me close. Smiling, I snuggle up to him and wrap my arm around his torso.

“Why didn't you ever tell me you were such a good singer?” I ask, looking up at him.

“I didn't think it was important,” he says. “And it's really no big deal.”

“You sing so well,” I reply. “Don't say that.”

“Cara,” he sighs. “It's no big deal. Yes, I can sing, but that's all.”

“You're so modest,” I chuckle and look at him.

“Like you are when it comes to cars?” he asks me the counter question. “You took the wind out of Harry's sails.”

“Oh!” I bite my lip. “I didn't mean to, but I like cars and...”

“You don't have to explain,” he replies and puts his hand on my cheek. I snuggle into it and close my eyes. The days with him in Nashville have been wonderful, and our friendship is moving more and more in a direction that can no longer be called friendship. At least that's what I think. Noah and I are slipping more and more into something we can no longer control. He looks down at me and gently presses his lips to mine. I kiss him back and put my hand on the back of his neck, pulling him closer.

“The shock did Harry a lot of good. I don't think he always realizes that these aren't luxury cars for Alex and me either, but normal vehicles.”

“That's right,” I mumble. “Your friends are nice.”

“You like them?”

“Sure,” I say. “Especially Emily.”

“I noticed,” he replies with a smile. “You get along really well.”

I want to go back to the Alex and Daisy thing, but I don't want to put Emily in a stupid situation. I don't think anyone has figured out why it really bothers her that Alex and Daisy are having sex. “Alex and Daisy are having sex, aren't they?” I blurt out. Heat rises in my cheeks and I look away. The worst thing I could have said, I say. It's none of my business if they're having sex. I don't want Noah to put the pieces together and think I asked for this because of Emily. Personally, I couldn't care less if they have sex.

“I'm sure they are,” he says with a shrug. “It's nothing new.”

“But why?” I ask.

“Well, why do we have sex?” he asks me the counter question and I look at him. I think for a moment and then laugh.

“Well,” I say, sitting astride Noah's lap. Grinning, he puts his hands on my hips. “Because it's fun and pretty good.”

“I’m sure it’s the same with Alex and Daisy,” he replies. “In the end, they have to figure it out for themselves. I like Daisy, but she's annoying. She gets Alex's hopes up unnecessarily.”

Noah presses his lips to mine, ending the conversation. It's better for all of us. Finally, I blurt out my suspicion that Emily is secretly in love with Alex.

17

Noah

Boston, one month later

Cara throws back the covers and gets out of my bed. I watch her and a grin appears on my lips. Her long brown hair falls down her back, and I check out her hot body.

She walks through my bedroom and collects her clothes, which she miraculously lost last night.

---