Page 60 of The Workaholic Down the Hall

I was not at all sure Sophie would take a bottle again, but May, as helpful as she was, tended to sleep through Sophie's night feedings anyway. “That would be great.”

May left and Noah gave me a nervous smile. That smile threw me off, because I'd never seen Noah nervous about anything. He was always so sure of himself, so capable. “I can go if you'd like to take a nap,” he said.

I probably should have taken a nap, but I'd gotten a decent amount of sleep the night before and I was curious about Noah. “You can stay for a bit,” I said. “I'm feeling starved for adult conversation that doesn't revolve around Sophie.”

He leaned back in his seat, looking more at ease, even hopeful. I hated myself a bit for that. He shouldn't have hope, maybe I should be obvious about drawing the boundary lines, about making it clear there was no future for us. I was going to broach that subject, but he spoke first. “What's your plan for when Sophie doesn't need you so much?” he asked. “Are you planning to go back to work for Mom?”

I'd planned to do just that, but I didn't think Sophie or I were ready for the routine a work day would require. “I've got enough money coming in right now that I don't have to work for at least a month,” I said. “I can probably do some stuff from home for your mom in the meantime, but for now I'm quite happy just figuring out this mom thing.”

Noah nodded, his gaze thoughtful.

“What about you?” I asked. “What's your plan now that you're unemployed?”

He didn't wince at my use of the word, but he did frown. “I've always been interested in landscape design. It won't make me as much of an income as being a CEO at a successful company, but it will give me a lot more free time and, hopefully, it'll be work I'll actually enjoy.”

I remembered the passion I'd seen in him when he'd talked about landscaping the yard and I couldn't help the smile that spread over my face. “That's wonderful. How do you get started in that?”

“Education first. I've already applied to the landscape design program at the university here in Catalpa Creek. I'll have to find a job while I'm in school. Hopefully, something with one of the design firms in town.”

“So, what does a landscape designer do, exactly? I know you could design gardens for this house, but what else?”

His eyes lit and he told me, in more detail than I probably needed, about what a landscape designer does every day and the sorts of jobs he could do in a community like Catalpa Creek. I should have been bored to tears, but I'd never seen Noah speak with so much excitement and passion about anything. I was entranced. I even asked questions and was rewarded with a huge smile. He talked until Sophie woke up. He didn't try to feed her again, but he did feed me. He made me a delicious, healthy lunch and held Sophie, talking to her and bouncing her, so I could eat.

Seeing his excitement about going back to school and about Catalpa Creek quieted my worry that he'd moved there out of some sense of obligation to me and Sophie. I loved that he'd be close enough to see Sophie every day, but I'd have to guard my heart even more carefully than ever.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Noah

I knocked on Aubrey's door and sucked in a deep breath. I hoped I was making the right choice. I felt like I'd made good progress with her the day before, and she'd seemed more accepting of my presence, maybe even liked having me around.

May opened the door, her eyes widened and she smiled. “She and Sophie are sleeping,” she said in a low voice. She stepped back from the door and gestured me, and the enormous tree in my arms, inside. “I'm afraid I wasn't much help last night. I slept through everything.”

I bit back a growl of frustration. If Aubrey would just let me stay at the house, I could help. I carried the tree into the living room and leaned it against the wall next to the window. “I've got more,” I said. “Do you think I'll wake them going in and out?”

May's brow crinkled in worry. “Maybe one more trip and then leave the rest until they're awake?”

I brought in the tree stand and one box of decorations. Glancing in the bed of my truck before I slammed the tailgate shut, it occurred to me I may have gone a little overboard. Maybe Aubrey would have liked to pick some stuff out herself.

If she did, I'd just return everything. I went back inside, got the tree set up in its stand and spread a red and green tree skirt under it. I left the rest of the decorations in the box for later. No point getting them out if Aubrey would rather pick her own.

“That's a beautiful tree,” May said. “She'll love it.” I'd chosen a huge, fluffy fir that filled the front windows of the living room. It blocked out enough of the view to border on obnoxious. If Aubrey wasn't a fan of Christmas, I wasn't going to get the reaction I was hoping for.

I followed May into the kitchen and sat across from her. “How are you doing?” I asked. I loved that Aubrey had May's help, but May was working at Mom's and at a restaurant in town, so I figured she had to be worn out.

May smiled, her eyes bright. “I'm fine. You don't need to worry about me. I wouldn't trade a minute of the time I'm getting to spend with my niece and this way, I'll be sure to be the favorite.”

“I'm surprised Mom isn't over more often.”

May frowned. “I think it really hurt her feelings when I kicked her out of the delivery room. She just doesn't want to intrude where she might not be welcome.”

I grimaced. “She might be waiting a while if she's expecting a formal invitation. Aubrey's a bit overwhelmed.”

“That's what I told her,” May said. “But she's being stubborn. Maybe you could talk to Mom?”

“And risk pissing Aubrey off? That's not a chance I'm willing to take. But I'll talk to Aubrey, find out what she'd like Mom's role to be.”

May curled her hands under her chin. “You're really crazy about her, aren't you?”

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