Page 58 of The Workaholic Down the Hall

“I want to see Sophie,” Noah said. “But I want to see you, too. I want to help you. I want to be here to get up with Sophie in the middle of the night so you can sleep.”

“No,” I said, speaking on instinct. Sure, it sounded great to have him here helping, but I was just beginning to accept we'd never be more than friends. If he moved in, I'd start to hope for something more and it would be that much harder when he left. “You're Sophie's father and you have every right to see her, I won't deny you that, but you can't live here.”

“Aubrey—” May said.

Noah put a hand on her shoulder. “It's okay. She's right. I was assuming too much.” He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, his hands clasped. “You need to know that I care about you, Aubrey. Now's not the time, but at some point in the future, I'm going to convince you we should be more than friends.”

Damn my heart for swelling with warmth and happiness, and damn him for playing me. “No,” I said again. “You don't get to do this. You've seen Sophie and you've decided it might be nice for the three of us to be a family, but it's just a fantasy. You and I have never been and never will be anything more than friends.”

Noah's frown was severe, almost angry. “Sophie is amazing and I love her, but I wouldn't play that kind of game with you. I care aboutyou, Aubrey. I want to dateyou.”

I was on my feet, Sophie tucked against me, before I'd realized I intended to stand. “I'm going back to my room for a bit. I want you to leave, Noah.”

“You just said I could visit Sophie any time I wanted,” he said, a bit of panic in his voice.

“You've been and you've seen her. You can go.”

I hurried back to my room before he could argue. I didn't have the energy for an argument, didn't have the energy for him at all.

Back in my room, I got comfy on the bed and moved Sophie to my other breast. I pulled my Kindle off the nightstand and tried to get lost in the thriller I was reading. I tried to focus on the words on the page, but I kept seeing and hearing Noah telling me he cared about me, that he wanted to date me. God, how I wanted to believe him. How I wanted to have him here all the time, sharing my bed and helping me with Sophie. The problem was he was acting out of a sense of duty not love. He'd given up his home in Atlanta to move here for us. I refused to accept any more sacrifices from him.

***

The next day, the knock didn't come until ten. I let May answer the door so I'd have a moment to prepare myself for seeing Noah again. I knew I was right to push him away, but I was weak and he looked so good. I knew his arms would be warm and tight around me…I just needed to remember the pleasure wouldn't last.

Sophie had slept better the night before and, because of May's help, I'd been able to shower and dress like a functioning member of society. I was feeling better than I'd felt in days, but I was nursing Sophie and wasn't getting off the couch if I didn't have to.

Noah walked in wearing jeans and a t-shirt that clung to his lean muscles. He had a scruff of a beard, like he hadn't shaved in a few days, and he looked casual and relaxed.

He walked over and sat on the couch next to us like I hadn't basically told him to go to hell the night before. “I brought you a present.”

He placed a large box next to my hip. I wanted to maintain my cool and stoic demeanor, but I loved gifts. And I loved surprises. And I especially loved surprise gifts given for no special reason. “My hands are kind of full. Can you open it for me?”

Noah shrugged, but his eyes were lit with mischief. He knew I had zero patience when it came to gifts. “Just open it when you're done nursing.”

“I'm never done nursing. Haven't you noticed?”

“Have you pumped any milk?” he asked like he was talking about the weather. “I could try to give her a bottle.”

I'd been pumping at least once a day in the hope that she'd take a bottle, but also as a way to get my milk production up so I could keep up with Sophie's enormous appetite. “There's some in the freezer.”

“I'll get it,” May said. “It'll just take a little while for me to thaw it and warm it up.”

She hurried into the kitchen, tossing a wicked smile of encouragement over her shoulder as she left. “It's going to take her a while,” I said. “Why don't you just go ahead and open the box for me?”

His smile widened. “Sure. I'll open the box if you agree to go out with me.”

Argh, he was infuriating. “When are you going to accept we're just friends and let this go?”

His smile fell and his eyes clouded. “Never, Aubrey. I'm never going to accept we're just friends. Not until you've convinced me beyond all doubt that you don't feel anything more than friendship for me.”

My heart leapt, but I punched it back down with logic and reason. He was in a baby fever, he didn't know what he was saying. “Can you please stop talking nonsense,” I said. “I can't deal with it right now.”

“Okay. I won't mention it again. I promise.” He leaned in so close I could feel his words against my cheek. “But I'm not going to give up on us.”

I snort-laughed. It was either that or melt into him and give him that date and so much more. “Do you have any idea how creepy that just sounded? You could be a really great stalker if you put your mind to it.”

He leaned back and scowled, not looking at all amused. “I'm trying to be romantic.”

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