Page 35 of Play On

“Oh yes! Those actually belong to Luke, our falconer. Aren’t they gorgeous?”

“I got up early one morning and took a walk around your aviary,” Noah confesses. “Those falcons are amazing. I talked to Luke about them.”

“He’s an interesting guy,” I say. “He knows so much about birds, and it’s fascinating how in tune he is with them.”

“I would love to do that thing where you let the falcons land on your arm. That would be sick.”

“Oh, I’ve done that! It’s so cool.”

“I’m so jealous.”

I smile at that. “I could make that happen for you, you know. Whenever you have a break.”

Noah sets his phone back down on the table. “That won’t be for a long time. We’re playing in the Champions League this season—which I love, of course—so I have two games a week at some points. Then training when there are no games, games on the weekends or Monday, and usually on international break, I’m playing for England.”

“Do you ever get time off?” I ask.

Noah gives me a wry smile. “If we do well, our season ends in June. And training starts again in July. You’ve hit me at the right time, Violet. I’ve got a couple of weeks free until we go to Australia for our summer tour. Then it’s full-on travel and friendlies, and before you know it, the season starts in August.”

I feel my eyes widen. “Wow, you really don’t get a break.”

“No. But I make time for things that are important to me,” he says, his fingertips trailing under my chin and tilting it up towards him again. “Like you.”

Then he drops a gentle kiss on my lips.

I’m buzzing from that mere touch of his warm lips against my own. He lifts his head, his dark eyes locked on mine. As I see the look of desire in them—and the pure interest in getting to know me—my heart thumps excitedly against my ribs.

The way he looks at me is like no other.

This time, instead of pushing it away, I’m going to do everything I can to follow this chemistry between us.

And I can’t wait to see where it goes.

Chapter Ten

A Bubbly Glass of Rosé

I cannot sleep.

But this time, it’s for a completely wonderful reason.

I brush my fingertips over my lips and close my eyes, reliving all the kisses I had with Noah this evening. No. Last night, as it is in the early hours of the morning now. From the passionate one in the alcove to sweet ones in the bar, to the kisses we exchanged when he walked me to my door.

The man actually escorted me home,I think in amazement.

I told him I was fine to get home by myself, but he wouldn’t hear of it. Noah got in an Uber with me and walked me straight up to the door, where he kissed me good night.

Sigh.

I roll over on to my side, and with my body still buzzing from the conversation, the laughs, the touching, the kisses, sleep has been replaced by excitement. I’ll be a zombie today when I’m with Bella, but I have no regrets staying up and reliving the night over and over in my head.

Because I’ve never had this feeling before. Have I been excited about a date? Yes. But this feeling? This magical, buzzing feeling just from thinking about Noah?

No.

So I’m not ready to switch it off just yet.

However, since the clock on my bedside table is glaring eight minutes past two at me, I know I have to wind my brain down and get some sleep so I can work with Bella and coherently explain the art project I have in mind for the book she is going to read to the primary students tomorrow.

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