Page 63 of Half Baked

She laughed. “You know, kicking me out will be a great story for years to come.”

I cocked a brow. “And so will your behavior at dinner last night.”

She grimaced. “Maybe we’ll keep this whole visit to ourselves.”

“Good choice.”

ChapterSeventeen

Maddie

Much to my irritation, Trista didn’t show up until close to ten. As soon as she walked in from the back, I took off my apron and clocked out.

Although I’d never been to Noah’s house, I knew where to go. I’d gotten his address for Margarete so she could send him a Christmas card, and I’d plugged it into my phone.

His police-issued sedan was in the driveway, and his Cherokee was parked behind it. I didn’t see another car parked in front of the house, so it looked like his mother really was gone.

I hadn’t texted because I’d decided I wouldn’t hide from her.

Noah opened the front door before I climbed the steps to his porch. “You didn’t text,” he said, and I could see the worry in his eyes. “It’s past ten.”

“Trista was late, and I decided it didn’t matter,” I said, walking up toward him. “Your mother will just have to get used to me.”

He nodded with determination. “I’m good with that.”

I climbed the steps and stood in front of him. “You invited me to your house.”

“It’s about time, don’t you think?” His expression was serious, and I saw that this invitation meant something to him. It wasn’t a casualcome over and pick me up. He was inviting me into a new part of his life.

I gave him a coy look. “How about you give me a quick tour?”

The dark cloud hanging over him faded, and a grin spread across his face. The happiness radiating from him made my heart skip a beat. “It’s not very big, so it won’t take long.”

He reached out his hand toward me and gave me a questioning look. Was I ready to hold his hand? It seemed like a stupid thing to consider, but it was a line, even if it was a very narrow one. If I took his hand, I was telling him that I was ready to move this past being friends.

Was I ready for that?

He’d told me that I could set the pace, so I kept my hands by my sides.

He didn’t look insulted; instead, he gestured for me to enter. I stepped inside and took in his uber-neat living room.

“My mother is a neat freak,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “She even washed her coffee cup before she left this morning.”

I nearly apologized for being the reason she’d left early, but I bit my tongue.

He took me into his kitchen and I glanced around the room, my mind wandering to the rooms he hadn’t shown me.

“And your room?” I asked, my voice husky even though I hadn’t meant for it to sound that way. We still hadn’t slept together. We’d been saving that for when he came back from Memphis, but obviously that didn’t work out. There was no doubt I still wanted him, and I had to admit, there was something seductive about seeing his room. Thinking of us in his bed.

How much time did I need before I was ready to shift our relationship? What was I looking for? Time? Proof? Was I stupid if I decided to just go for it? He’d sent his mother home because of the way she’d treated me. That had to mean something, not to mention he’d declared he wasn’t running. Should I take him at his word?

One thing I’d learned in the past few months was that life changed in an instant and there was no guarantee we’d get a tomorrow.

His eyes hooded as his gaze landed on my lips. “We should probably head out to go talk to your old neighbors.”

I looked up into his face and I saw an honorable man who was scared, only he didn’t look as scared as he had before. He looked sure. Determined.

“What happens if you go home and need space again?” I asked, my heart pounding in my chest.

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