Page 36 of Marrying a Spy

But she knew that it would break her heart.

Just as she’d about convinced herself there was no way he was going to ask her, she felt his hand on her shoulder.

“We should probably dance,” he said.

She swallowed hard as she slowly turned around. “You think so?”

He looked hesitant, but nodded. “Yeah. Most couples are.” He stepped back and held out his hand. “And if you don’t, Mrs. Bruster looks like she might come over and demand I dance with her.”

Sophia glanced over to see their elementary principal making eyes at Noah. Sophia chuckled. “I’m not going to lie. I kind of want to see that.” His expression turned desperate, so she reached out and placed her hand in his. “Well, if it’s to save you, then I guess we can dance.”

He grinned at her as he led her onto the wooden dance floor.

She tried to ignore how good it felt to have him place his hand on her back or pull her hand in close to his chest. He stepped closer to her, and she could feel his warmth wash over her. He smelled so good. She had to fight the urge to close her eyes and inhale.

After a few seconds of moving to the beat, Noah spoke. “Why didn’t you ever get married?”

Her heart picked up speed. She knew that having an intimate conversation was only natural when they were this close together, she just wasn’t sure if she wanted to answer.

But he looked genuinely curious, so she sighed. “No one asked. Besides, you need to date someone before you get to that point. I never really found anyone.”

Noah muttered something under his breath that sounded like “Idiots,” but when she glanced up at him, his lips were pulled taut.

Not wanting to be the only one exposed, she decided to put the question back to him. “You?”

“Me?”

She rolled her eyes. “Yes, you. Why didn’t you ever get married?”

He stiffened for a moment before he relaxed. “I don’t really live the settle down and get married kind of life.”

She glanced up at him. She knew what he meant. It was the reason he was here. He fought bad guys. Like her father. Worry brewed in her stomach as she nodded. And before she could stop herself, she let the question that had been pulling at the back of her mind tumble out. “Do you think you’ll ever come back after you get James?”

When Noah didn’t answer right away, Sophia hesitantly glanced up to see that he was studying the wall behind her. Suddenly, she felt his hand press on her back and she responded by spinning out. When she came back, he held her close for a moment before returning to a gently swaying step.

“That’s a loaded question,” he said. His voice was low and full of emotion.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

He glanced down at her. “In my life. My work. I’ve seen things. Bad people. It’s hard to walk away from something like that.”

She nodded. Why did she have to ask? What had she expected? That Noah would suddenly confess his feelings for her and tell her that he was never going to leave her again?

From the way her heart was breaking, that was exactly what she had been thinking. Even though he’d been very clear since the beginning that he was leaving once this was all over, she’d gone ahead and weakened the wall she’d built up around her heart.

The only thing she could do to save her sanity was smile. “I get it. You’re good at your job. The world needs you.”

Noah’s expression stilled as he studied her. She forced her smile to remain. The last thing she needed was for him to feel guilty for her stupidity. How had she allowed herself to care for him again?

This wasn’t Noah’s fault. It was hers. And she wasn’t going to let him know that he’d hurt her.

And when he’d inevitably leave, she’d be left with a hemorrhaging heart.

Stupid, stupid heart.

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