It was like she sensed Zara’s annoyance.
She swiped the screen before placing the phone by her ear. “This client emergency better not be you and Edwin locked in a hotel room.”
“While that sounds like a really great reason to stand you up, you and I both know I would never do that.”
Zara did know that. Hannah may love Edwin more than anything, but she’d never jeopardize her career. Hell, that was one of the reasons she and Edwin almost hadn’t made it.
“I know. What’s going on?” Zara slid her sunglasses back on her face and stepped back so she could talk privately without being overheard.
“Just some bullshit with a few sponsors who like to make my life hell.”
Been there. “Can I help?”
“Not with this, but I do need a huge favor from you.”
Zara’s stomach turned. She had no idea what the favor was, but something inside her told her she was not going to like it. “Why do I feel like you’re about to ask me for a kidney?”
Hannah laughed, but it was strained. “Because you know me so well.” There was a short pause. “I need you to go with Noah Ashe to a meeting with a sponsor.”
“No, anything but that.” She was right to think Hannah’s favor would be impossible.
“Zara, please. I can’t be there, and this is really important. You know I wouldn’t ask unless it was an emergency.”
“Fuck,” Zara swore. “I’d rather give you a kidney.”
“I know. Really I do, but I need you for this. There’s no one else there from Sports World, and even if there were, you’re the only one I trust to get it done how I’d do it.”
Zara sighed. “I hate you, you know that, right?”
“I do, and I’ll owe you forever for this.”
“Don’t think I won’t collect.”
“I’ll send you everything in an email, and I’ll tell Noah to be on his best behavior.”
“Like that’ll help,” she said under her breath. The man was her arch nemesis, and she wasn’t even sure he knew it. It was almost as if he didn't remember her at all.
Which made it that much more frustrating when she thought about the night they met more than she should.
Not for any reason she could figure out, other than it was the most embarrassing moment of her life.
After hanging up with Hannah, she tried to put thoughts of Noah and that night out of her head. It was years ago, and if he didn’t remember it, she should let it go.
Easier said than done.
That night was cemented in her brain forever.
She’d had plans with a guy she’d gone out with the night before. Aiden. Only, when she’d shown up at his place, he wasn’t home. He texted that he was running late and to just use the key under the mat. Zara decided what better way to greet him than to be naked and ready when he walked in.
Only it wasn’t Aiden who walked through the door.
It was Noah.
At the time, she didn’t know or care who he was. She just wanted him to stop looking at her naked body.
His eyes raked over her skin, and to this day, she could still feel the heat of them as they perused her body. She was bold, asking him if he liked what he saw, but his answer of yes, and wicked fucking smile, only embarrassed her.
She did not get embarrassed about sex. She was open with what she liked and did, and never cared what others thought of her.