Page 67 of Best Friends for Never

I rock back on my feet, the heels I wore long gone and now sitting in the corner. “So tomorrow?”

He chuckles at my change of subject. “Yes, tomorrow. Speaking of, we about done here?”

“Oh yes. We didn’t even have to stay to clean up. They have a crew that comes and does it. I just always feel so bad leaving it trashed, so I ... What?”

His head is tipped to the side, and he stares at me with soft eyes.

“Do I have something on my face?”

He shakes his head. “No. You’re just ...” Another head shake. “You’re something, is all.” He looks around the mostly empty room. “You ready to head out of here, then?”

“Yes, please. My feet need a break.”

Then suddenly, I’m being swept into the air, and I let out a loud yelp at the unexpectedness of it all as I throw my arms around his neck. Noel readjusts me, hugging me close like you see firefighters heroically carry women in the movies.

“What are you doing?”

“Giving your feet a break,” he says like it’s the most logical thing in the world.

He carries me over to the lone chair we haven’t yet put away, then drops me onto it.

“Stay,” he instructs, and I don’t dare ignore his request as he crosses the room and fishes my shoes out of the corner.

He brings them back over, then drops to his knees and wraps his hand around my right calf.

His touch shouldn’t matter. I shouldn’t feel a thing, especially not right between my legs. But Idofeel it, and it takes everything I have to remember to breathe as he slides my high heel onto my foot.

He does the same with the other, his thumb caressing my leg just a little too long before he drops it back to the floor.

He stands, then reaches for me again, and I hold my hand up.

“I can walk.”

He arches a brow. “Are you sure?”

I laugh. “Yes, I’m sure.”

Still, he offers to help me up, and I accept because I selfishly want to touch him again.

He pulls me to my feet and guides me toward the door, grabbing his tux jacket along the way. He slings it over his shoulder, and I admire him from the corner of my eye. His bow tie—since when did those get so attractive?!—is undone, his sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, and his jacket hangs off him so casually. Heck, even my lipstick on his collar is hot.

So, so hot.

“What?” he asks.

“Whatwhat?”

“You were smiling. DoIhave something onmyface?” He parrots my question.

No, but you have something on your collar.

“Okay, I swear your smile just grew. What are you thinking about?” He mock-gasps. “Are you thinkingnaughtythoughts, Parker Pruitt?”

I roll my eyes. “Please. You wish.”

I push open the door to the Community Hall, leading us both through. I reach back in and shut off the light, then bend and grab the key cover that looks like a rock and lock the place up for the night before returning the key to its spot. It’s likely a little absurd to anyone else that the key to this place is just sitting outside, but it’s Emerald Grove. Nothing bad ever happens here.

“Can I walk you home?” Noel asks.

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