Page 24 of The Broker

Noah’s voice was just slightly off-kilter as he thrust his hand forward. “Hey. Nice to meet you.”

My breath got stuck in my lungs. My cheeks flamed hot, and it grew more intense with each passing second when I didn’t reach out to take his hand.

After I’d left his place last night, I’d been sure I’d never see him again, so this moment felt so fucking cruel.

He’d said he was a stockbroker, hadn’t he? What the hell was this finance bro doing at Warbler as a vice president? And a VP of booking, no less. It meant he didn’t just work for my father—he workedcloselywith him.

“What happened to Huston?” I demanded, angry that no one had mentioned this new hire when I’d filled in for Irene earlier this week.

“He wants to retire,” my dad said, “but he agreed to stay on and help Noah with the transition.” My father’s concerned gaze bounced from me to Noah’s extended hand, which I was still ignoring. He had to utter it under his breath. “Don’t be rude.”

I clamped my teeth together and went to reach for the offered handshake, only to draw back my hand at the last second.Fuck. I was wearing those terribly unsexy yellow rubbergloves, the ones that went all the way to my elbows, and I pulled one off in such a hurry, the rubber snapped painfully against my skin.

“Nice to meet you, too,” I said, clasping Noah’s hand.

It was just a basic handshake, but the contact of his skin pressed to mine sent sensations from last night flooding through my mind and body. Could he tell? His eyes widened, and he pulled in a short breath.

“She’s going to be helping us out here for the next few months,” my dad announced.

Noah dropped my hand like it was made of lead, but he kept his tone light and curious. “Yeah? With what?”

“She’ll be responsible for cleaning the office twice a week.”

I wasn’t sure if there was a flicker of disdain in his eyes, or if I just expected it to be there, projecting my shame onto him.

“Oh.” It looked like he hadn’t a fucking clue what to say to that. “That’s nice.”

“He’s paying me,” I said instantly—although I didn’t know why. It wasn’t like that made it any better.

“Yeah?” He gave a polite smile. “Do you do houses too?”

I don’t think his joking tone had meant to tease, but I couldn’t help myself. “Yours certainly needs it.”

“What?” my father asked.

Shit.

Shit!The alarm that ran through Noah’s expression was perfectly mirrored in my body.

“Uh... I mean, I assume,” I babbled. “Since you probably just moved in.”

“Yeah, you’re right. Moving is messy.” Noah lifted an eyebrow. “That’s why my place is such a disaster.”

My father was completely unaware of the subtext. “Is it? Well, I’m sure Charlotte would be happy to help you with that.”

“Oh, Dad, that’s okay—”

He didn’t seem to hear me, and his focus stayed with Noah. “I’ll give you her number, and you two should work something out.” He leaned into me, bumping his shoulder gently against mine. “I know this one could use the extra cash.”

God, kill me now.

I couldn’t argue with him.

Not in front of Noah, and also because I’d promised to agree to whatever my parents wanted. Plus, my dad wasn’t wrong—Ididneed the money. But my heart did a little somersault when I peered up at Noah.

For a split second, he looked like he’d just won some kind of battle.

Hadn’t he? He’d wanted my number last night, and I’d refused to give it to him. Now my father was going to hand it over... and I couldn’t do a thing to stop him.

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