Page 37 of Noah

"I noticed Noah puts two lime slices on your glass."

"I like lime."

"You and Noah seem like you're getting close."

I wasn't sure what to say. I tried to keep eye contact with Liam but failed when no words came out of my mouth. I shouldn't be this nervous. Maybe it was because Liam loved Noah. I didn't want to say anything that would make Liam tell Noah that I was no good for him.

"Leave him alone, Liam," Noah said as he approached the far side of the bar top. "Brody has better taste than to be caught talking to the likes of you."

Liam laughed. "Then why on earth does he talk to you?"

"You're an asshole." Noah whipped a towel around and then flicked Liam's ass with it. "Go back to your side of the bar. Brody and I have our date to talk about."

I relinquished my eyes' iron grip on the bar top and looked at Noah. As always, the depths of those blue pools soothed me. "Thank you."

"Liam is too nosey."

"I froze. I don't like when I do that. I must be tired."

"Long day?"

"I had court today. It always wears me out."

"I'd like it if you told me when you've had a hard day." Noah smiled at me. "I'll take it easy on you. Not ask you so many questions. I won't be offended if you tell me to back off."

"You seem to be good at judging my needs for yourself."

Noah's eyebrows rose. "You think so?"

I swallowed. It's one of the many reasons I liked Noah so much. I was able to breathe around him. Be myself, knowing he wouldn't judge me. Piece by piece, he was turning my heart into a kaleidoscope of light and colour with endless possibilities. Coming out of the darkness I had been hiding in for so long, yearning for the day when I could draw a pure endless breath that started in my soul and ended in my fingertips, the world around me finally making sense.

I nodded and set my hands on the bar top. "You don't have to ask anymore … to touch me."

Noah's fingertips crept onto mine and brushed across them. "Maybe I like to ask."

I could feel the smile I gave him reach my eyes. It was an odd sensation, the wrinkling feeling at the edges of my eyelids. It had been a long time since I'd smiled like that. When I was a young child, safe at home, the world bright and new, Mom said I used to giggle a lot. I don't remember that. Then by the end of my teenaged years, I'd become jaded. Discovered my entire life had been a lie. There'd been no going back after that. The world could be a cruel and dishonest place.

"Hey, what happened to that smile?" Noah's fingers progressed to my wrists, caressing them. I realized I was scowling. I'd allowed my past to ruin the tender moment we'd been having.

"Sorry. Had an intrusive thought bust into my mind."

"Let me get your G&T." He patted my hands and poured my drink, garnishing it with the extra lime slice. "On the house for my favourite customer."

Noah kept our conversation light after that. Talking about the inclement weather and what he'd like to be doing if it was sunny and warm. Vacations he'd love to go on. I told him I'd never been on a vacation. He told me about his family's elaborate trips to Europe when he was a kid.

We passed the time easily. I was there longer than I usually stayed.

By the time I arrived home, I was exhausted. Tomorrow was our date. I shouldn't be nervous. Noah and I were building a solid foundation for something. Spending part of the day together outside the pub would be an adventure. I reminded myself that the date was with Noah.

I felt safe with him.

I might even trust him.

Chapter Nine | Noah

I was in the parking lot at the base of Mount Douglas at 1:45. I knew Brody liked to be punctual, judging by his appearance in the pub each night that I could set my watch to.

A black, Range Rover SUV's tires crunched over the gravel, coming toward me, and I could see Brody through the windshield. His eyes darted my way, but he didn't react to seeing me.

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