Page 11 of Marrying a Spy

Noah studied her. “I’m not going to force you to do this.” He gave her a small smile, and in that moment, she remembered the Noah she fell in love with. The one that had been so easy to love. She swallowed.

“I wouldn’t ask this of you if there was any other way,” Noah said. “Families will be forever changed if these people are allowed to continue.”

Ouch. He knew how to hit her where it hurt. She closed her eyes for a second as she built up the strength to continue. As an orphan, shouldn’t she be willing to help keep others from experiencing the same fate?

She opened her eyes. Yes. She should.

But she couldn’t just give in to Noah this way. She needed him to think that he didn’t have an effect on her. It was her last-ditch effort to appear stronger than she felt. “Let me get this straight, you’re saying it’s my American duty to marry you?” It felt better to categorize it that way. She couldn’t talk herself out of something that might save lives.

The edges of Noah’s lips tipped up into a smile. His soft chuckle filled the silence. It caused her toes to tingle from its familiarity.

“Yeah, sure. If that helps. If the only way you would ever consider marrying me was because it was your civic duty, then yes, the American people expect this.” He steadied his gaze.

Her breath caught in her throat from his intensity. Man, Noah still had it. He could disrupt her entire life with just one look.

She folded her arms and glanced up to see the moon shining down through the tree branches above her. She reached out and took the ring from him and slipped it on her finger. “Jazzy’s going to freak out, you know.”

“You can’t tell her the truth. I’m only allowed to tell you. If others know, they could get hurt.” Noah’s voice had a panicked tone to it that sent shivers down Sophia’s back.

Who did her dad work for? Was he really that bad?

She straightened and met Noah’s gaze. “I get that.”

His forehead had wrinkled as he studied her. Wow. He looked desperate. What had happened to him? This wasn’t the confident Noah she remembered.

Then his features softened and she heard him take a deep breath. “Good.”

Sophia nodded as she pushed off the tree. “So, when are we getting married?” There was that word again, followed by the same little thrill she got from saying it. She scolded herself for allowing herself to go there.

“As soon as possible.”

Sophia raised her eyebrows. “Where are you staying?”

He shrugged as he shoved his hands into the front pockets of his jeans. She swore that she saw his cheeks flush as he dropped his gaze. “I was hoping with you.”

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