Page 76 of The Broker

With that settled, he gave me a final look, turned, and strode quickly from the room.

I remained in the kitchen, my feet glued to the cold tile floor, and my gaze turned absentmindedly to the table.Well, this morning was off to a disappointing start. I swallowed a breath and marched forward, collecting the used mug and plate, and carried them to the dishwasher.

The top rack rumbled as I pulled it out and—

A hand closed around my hip and turned me so my back was against the sink, and I found myself staring up at Noah’s deepbrown eyes. I only got a glimpse, though, before he crushed his mouth to mine.

Had he intended it to be a quick goodbye kiss? Because it became a hell of a lot more. His mouth tasted of longing and promise, and if he hadn’t already stolen my breath with his stunning action, this kiss would have done it.

I fell so deeply into it that when he ended the kiss, I was dizzy. Unsteady. I blinked up at him, heavy with desire and yearning, and discovered he looked just as off balance. He held my gaze for a one single heartbeat.

And then he turned to flee a second time.

Without thought, I pressed my fingertips to my lips, as if checking to see if that had really happened or if I’d just imagined it. But my body was warm and buzzing, and the disappointment over him needing to leave faded substantially.

He’d gotten his ‘out.’ He could have left, but he made the choice to come back and kiss me. It hadn’t been a quick, perfunctory one, either. He’d told me so without using words, showing me how badly he’d wished he didn’t have to go.

He’d all but said,“Until next time, Charlotte.”

Eggplant colored tulle cascaded over the top of the dressing room door, and I stared at the poof of fabric in disbelief. Brianna was on the other side, and her hand holding the hanger jutted up, waiting for me to take it from her.

“Really?” I muttered under my breath.

“Just try it on,” she ordered.

I grabbed the hanger and pulled the rest of the dress over the door, doing my best to sound chill. “You got it, boss.”

Below the door, her feet disappeared from view as she headed off to find more options, although there couldn’t be that many left. Sasha, Cait, and I had tried on nearly every bridesmaid dress in the bridal store.

I slipped the purple fabric over my head and shimmied my way inside the shockingly heavy dress. I glanced in the mirror as I struggled to pull up the back zipper, and choked back a snort.

There was no way I was going to wear this abomination.

It looked like the designer had wanted it to be strapless, but decided it was too simple and had to make a last-minute addition. The single shoulder was full of chiffon flowers, beads, and sequins. On its own, it was a lot. But when it was paired with the skirt and its never-ending layers, the dress was comical.

This wasn’t a bridesmaid’s dress. It was fucking ballgown straight out of nineties.

Brianna was waiting by the mirrors, and when I came out, I discovered I was the last one to finish dressing. Cait and Sasha looked at me, wearing the same purple monster, and judging by their expressions, they felt the same as I did.

I gripped the layers of tulle, sashayed over to the group with a giant grin, and channeled the little girl fromDespicable Meas I shook my skirt. “It’ssofluffy!”

The girls thought it was funny, but the saleswoman nearby was not amused. She lifted an eyebrow and turned to the bride. “We can get this one in navy. What do you think?

Brianna was exceptionally polite. “Wow. It’s, uh, something. Might be a bit much.”

All of us bridesmaids were feeling a little punchy from trying on so many options, and Sasha flicked at the floral strap of my dress. “It looks like you have a third boob.”

I flicked hers. “You do too.”

Cait climbed up on the pedestal in front of the mirrors and twirled in the dress, making the layers fly around. Her tone was joking and sugary-sweet. “I feel like a princess.”

The tag caught Sasha’s eye, so she put a hand on Cait’s back to stop her and did a double-take at the figure scribbled there.

“Jesus Christ, it’s twelve hundred dollars.”

Cait’s fake smile froze. “Well, now I just feel sad.”

“Me too.” Brianna turned her attention back to the saleswoman. “Any other ideas?”

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