Page 19 of Three of a Kind

The lack of sleep might be affecting me more than I realized.

He did just say that.

I think.

Hell, maybe long-term exhaustion is finally taking its toll.

“I thought we could eat something…together. I could even cook for you if you’d like.” Noble smirks, and it makes him so devastatingly handsome that my knees wobble.

I didn’t know that actually happened in real life. I’ve never had a man make me weak in the knees before.

“Once Libby falls asleep, we could start a movie.” His thumb teases over my chin as my stomach flutters with excitement.

Noble has grown more affectionate the more we get to know each other, but it feels like he’s stepped it up a notch the last couple of days.

“Don’t worry.” He chuckles. “You won’t hurt my feelings if you pass out during the first fifteen minutes. We could even call it a date, if you’d be up for that.”

“A date,” I repeat like a total weirdo. “I haven’t been on a real date since Libby was born.”

“I thought you and your ex only broke up…” Noble’s face twists into a frown as he gestures to my stomach.

I take a quick step back.

“Yeah, I mean, we were on and off for a long time. We just didn’t really go out or do anything fun in public.” My gaze falls to the floor as a heap of crappy memories wash over me all at once.

Noble’s boots move closer, erasing the space between us once more.

My eyes fly up, searching around to see if I can spot any of Avan’s men.

I’m pretty sure they watch me all the time, or they did for a while…

Avan never tells me anything. He wouldn’t even explain why I need to have security in the first place.

It’s strange, but I don’t pick out any of the guys I would recognize as part of the team he assigned to keep an eye on me.

Maybe things have relaxed, and he’s no longer on high alert?

That would be amazing.

I haven’t been able to touch base with Bless lately. Being under constant supervision made it too great of a risk for her or her partner to come into the bookstore.

Bless Barrett is Avan’s cousin, but she’s not part of their family business.

In fact, she’s been working with the DEA to dismantle her family’s empire.

I’ve tried to give her as much information as I can, but I rarely see Avan these days. It’s still a worthy cause, especially since she informed me of some of the darker stuff their family is involved in.

I always assumed it was drugs and maybe guns, but she told me a few months ago about how she suspects they’re involved in kidnapping and even murder.

Noble frowns, taking a step back. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. We can always hang out as friends?—”

“No, it’s not that. Not at all.” I swallow thickly. “I just don’t want you to get hurt. I know I’ve hinted at it, but my ex isn’t a good guy. I worry that you could?—”

Noble cuts me off this time, saying, “I’m not afraid of your shitty ex. I grew up lower middle class. There weren’t a lot of prospects for me, outside of being a criminal or going into the military.”

“He’s not just a shitty ex. He’s…”

“He’s what?” Noble probes.

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