Page 23 of The Workaholic Down the Hall

“It's okay,” Noah said, though his smile was tight. “You should go. Get out of the house for a while.”

“You're welcome to come, too,” Oscar said. “The more the merrier.”

“I wouldn't want to intrude. You two go and have a good time.”

Noah didn't sound like he was okay, he sounded angry. Which made zero sense. I spun and glared at him. What the hell was wrong with him? He met my glare with one of his own and I decided I didn't care what his problem was. If he didn't want to join us, if he wanted to be rude to my friend, that was his problem. I was going to go out and have a good time. He could stay home and pout by himself.

I raised my brows to give him one more chance to explain himself, but he crossed his arms over his chest and his mask slid into place. I turned back to Oscar and smiled. “Just give me a minute to get dressed. Why don't you come on in to wait?”

Oscar hesitated for only a moment before he stepped into the entryway. I left him alone with Noah and hurried back to my room, dressed, and stopped in the kitchen to grab my shoes and coat from where I'd left them by the back door. I hurried back to the front door. I didn't know what Noah's problem was, but Oscar shouldn't have to deal with his bad mood.

Oscar was still in the entryway, frowning and running a hand through his hair. “It shouldn't be a problem for me to drop you by the bed and breakfast. Good luck getting the keys to your truck, though. It doesn't seem like Nora is willing to bend.”

“I'll convince her,” Noah said, the urgency in his voice clear. “I need to get back to Atlanta today.” I'd thought maybe he was enjoying spending time with me, but clearly he couldn't wait to get back to his home and his work. I shook off my disappointment. I wasn't being fair. Of course he'd want to get back to Atlanta.

Oscar glanced at me, clearly unsure. “We have time to drop him by Nora's place, right?”

“Sure,” I said, with forced cheerfulness. “It'll just take a couple minutes.”

Oscar looked back and forth between us like he was sure he was missing something, but he didn't argue or ask. I kept my smile plastered on and followed him out the door.

Oscar dropped Noah off at the bed and breakfast. Noah had worked out a plan to convince his mother to let him go home. I wished him well, and he hurried out of the car and away from me like he was fleeing a house fire.

“What was that all about?” Oscar asked.

“He's the father of my baby. And a good friend. Nora, his mom, sort of kidnapped him, too, as…A matchmaking scheme of sorts, but he's clearly ready to leave.”

“Doesn't seem to like me too much.”

“Sorry about that. I don't know what his problem is.”

Oscar snorted. “Yeah, I can't imagine why he'd have a problem with another man showing up to take his baby momma out for the day.”

I sighed. “Trust me, that wasn't his problem. And baby momma? Does anyone actually say that anymore?”

He laughed. “If they don't, they should. Where do you want to go first?”

He had just turned down Main Street, which was lit by the bright sunny morning and full of students and tourists. “Why don't you just park and we can walk the street and check out the shops. Maybe I can find some more places that would offer discounts to guests? Unless you'd rather see the campus or the science museum or something more touristy?”

“How about we leave that stuff for after lunch, and hit the shops first? I can always use more business contacts.”

***

Oscar dropped me back at the house after seven that evening. We'd had dinner in town, and it was dark out. Interior lights from the house let me know that Noah was home. I was both glad he was still there and sorry he hadn't convinced Nora to let him go home. It was hard to be happy to be sharing a house with someone who didn't really want to be there.

He was on the couch, a book in his hands. “How was your date?” he asked.

It wasn't a date, but I was in no mood to nitpick his word choice. “It was a lot of fun. I think I found some more business connections for Nora's Inn.”

“That's great.” His smile seemed genuine, but I doubted my ability to read him. “Mom will be glad. She really seems to want to be a part of the community here.”

“I know the bed and breakfast isn't her dream, but it could be a great spot for her to have her horse farm someday.”

He nodded.

“I take it she didn't give you your keys.” I sat on the couch next to him and he closed his book.

“Yep. Mom called her henchman, some guy named George, and he dragged me back here.”

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