Page 115 of Play On

I put down my phone and grin. I love that Noah gets so embarrassed about what the girlies call him on TikTok.

And his modesty, his sweet embarrassment, is another reason I’m falling in love with him.

I drive through the entrance and pull up in front of a beautiful white stucco house and detached three-car garage. Noah is already waiting for me, leaning against the door frame in that completely hot way he has. To my surprise, he’s dressed up,wearing black trousers and an aubergine-coloured button-down shirt. He has the sleeves rolled up, revealing his inked arms.

My throat grows dry as I drink him in. He looks so damn hot, it’s not even funny.

I turn off the engine, and Noah immediately approaches the driver’s side of my car, opening the door for me.

“If I would have known you were going to look so sharp, I would have put on a dress,” I say, instantly regretting the shorts and T-shirt I changed into before I hopped into the car.

“You look perfect,” Noah says, his hand on the top of my door.

“I’ll change into a dress before dinner,” I promise. “I even have one that is purple. You’ll love it, Saucy Shorts.”

“I think your new nickname is going to be Troublemaker,” he teases, closing the door after I exit the car.

“Noah. You need to lean in to your nicknames. You must accept the fact that you arehot.”

“I only care if one woman thinks I’m hot,” he says, sliding his arms around my waist.

“Well, she does,” I say, moving my hands up his chest. “Very,very, hot.”

Noah drops his mouth onto mine for a kiss. “I missed you,” he whispers against my lips.

I step back from him so I can gaze into his eyes. “I missed you, too. Like as soon as you left Dorset, I missed you.”

Noah stares down at me. “It’s so good to be missed.”

“You were,” I say, playing with his hair and brushing my fingers through it. “It’s stupid how much I think about you. Even when I’m doing something aimless like scrolling on Connectivity Story Share, I’m given videos of you, Saucy Shorts, so I think of you even more. Or is that Daddy Saucy Shorts?”

He blushes, and I smile happily the second I see it.

“Surely you can watch something else? Like the coverage of Camden and Bella being over in the United States for his brother’s wedding this weekend?”

“That’s not nearly as interesting as your arse,” I tease.

He laughs. “You’re impossible.”

“I know. It’s charming, isn’t it?”

“Come on, Butterfly,” he says. “Let me get your bag and give you a tour of the house.”

“Let me pop the boot,” I say, pressing the release on my key fob. Noah lifts my bag out and carries it inside, and I follow him. Mila races up to greet me, and I immediately drop down on one knee so I can receive her welcome kisses.

“Looks like you weren’t the only one who missed me,” I say, ruffling Mila’s head.

Noah sets down my bag in the hallway. “It’s strange. It’s always been me and Mila since I’ve been with Stonebridge United. But now? After spending so much time with you? My house seems too quiet. I don’t like it.”

Happiness bubbles up inside me. I stand up, facing him. “You don’t?”

“No. I like the new normal. Me with you.”

Ooh!

“Come on, let me give you a tour,” Noah says. Then he flashes me a grin. “I hope you don’t find it too shabby; I only have seven bedrooms.”

I giggle at that. “How can I find it shabby? I don’t even have my own flat, I live at home with my parents.” I pause for a moment. “Are you sure that’s not a deal breaker for you? A woman who lives at home with her parents?”

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