Page 6 of The Workaholic Down the Hall

“He can be uncommonly stubborn and hardheaded, especially when he's hurting.”

Hurting? I'd never thought it in my power to hurt Noah, not really. If anything, I'd figured his pride had been hurt by my leaving. “He needs to know, but I can't…I'm sorry, Nora, but I can't face him again.”

“Of course not, sweetheart. I'll tell him if you'd like.”

“Thank you, Nora.”

“Who's taking care of you, dear? You aren't on your own are you?”

“I'm fine. Mimi is over all the time and I've got…Well, I've got a wonderful doctor.”

“And your job, dear? What will you do after the baby is born?”

I could just picture her driving down to “help” after the baby was born. “My job is fine, Nora. Everything is great. I just need you to let Noah know—”

“Of course, dear,” she said. “I'll call him right now.”

She hung up before I could say another word and I popped to my feet and started pacing. I couldn't imagine how she would break it to him, or what his reaction would be. I hated that I wasn't the one telling him and I could only imagine how angry he'd be to hear it from his mother. He probably wouldn't even believe the baby was his. Of course, Nora hadn't questioned it, so maybe…

The ring of the phone interrupted my pacing. I leapt on it and hit accept as soon as I saw Nora's name.

“My son is the most stubborn, most ridiculous, most infuriating—”

“I take it he didn't give you a chance to tell him about the baby.”

“He barely gave me the chance to say two words after I mentioned your name. He accused me of taking sides, of being sucked in by your sweet facade.”

Facade? Is that what he thought of me? “Thank you for trying.”

“I won't stop trying, Aubrey. I will keep calling until he listens to me, but in the meantime, you should come here. Stay with me until the baby is born, and for a while after. You shouldn't be on your own in your state, and I've got plenty of room here.”

“I couldn't do that, Nora. I've got my job and…”

“Nonsense. Noah told me you're working for that Alex Owings character. If I know him, he'll fire you before the baby's born. I remember how difficult the final months of pregnancy were. You should be pampered and able to relax. I want to be there when my grandbaby is born.”

“Nora, I couldn't possibly ask—”

“You aren't asking, Aubrey. If it makes you feel better, you can work for me. I'm living in this darling little town in the mountains of Virginia and running a bed and breakfast for Cody. I honestly have no clue what I'm doing and I could use someone with your experience and abilities to help me. Noah made it sound like you were the glue that held Reynolds Resorts together. I want you here, sweetheart, and I need your business acumen. You wouldn't deny an old lady her greatest wish, would you?”

It was tempting, so, so tempting. Those words, “I want you,” were words I hadn't heard in a long, long time. The idea of being near Nora, of raising my baby near her sounded so wonderful. But I couldn't do that. I couldn't just leave my job and my home and be dependent on a woman I hadn't seen in eight months. “I'll think about it.”

She sighed with relief. “Thank you, dear. Now, tell me all about my grandbaby. How are you feeling?”

CHAPTER TWO

Noah

It had been five hours since Aubrey left and my office still smelled like her. She hadn't even stepped inside and, yet, her presence lingered, taunting me. I expected her to pop back into my office and call me out for being an asshole. But I'd effectively chased her away. I'd probably never see her again. I reminded myself it was for the best, even as a part of me ached like someone had drilled a hole through me.

I'd never had a problem with her before she'd quit and disappeared from my life, I'd always been able to compartmentalize. Sure I was attracted to her, but she worked for me and she was my friend. I wasn't going to throw that away for a physical attraction when I could never offer her more than a brief fling. But I'd given in. For one night, I'd held her in my arms and kissed her sweet lips and enjoyed her. She'd melted into me, and I'd ignored every rational and sensible part of myself.

In the harsh light of day, I'd realized my mistake and I'd panicked. I couldn't lose her as my friend or as my assistant. So, I pretended I didn't remember what had happened. I pretended we could go on as we'd always done. But she'd left me anyway. I'd given in, I'd taken a moment of pleasure, a moment for myself, and she'd walked away like my friendship meant nothing to her.

I stood and pushed back my chair, furious with myself and frustrated. I'd been close to thinking about her less than every moment of every day and then she'd shown up at my door and again she was all I could think about. I pulled my suit jacket from the back of my chair and shrugged it on.

“Where are you headed?” Jill asked. She stepped into my office, one eye on her phone, the other on me. Jill was my sister and one of my best friends, but I never got her full attention. She was always focused on business.

“I thought I might go over to Mitchell's, see how the plans are coming for the remodel.”

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