Page 30 of Kissing Chaos
“Oh, it’s nothing like that,” I stammer, trying to explain, but Kelsey keeps that dang smile ever present.
“Mhmm.”
Noah chuckles. “Nothing going on, Kels. She’s my new neighbor. That’s all.”
Even though it’s true, his words cause a pang in my chest. It shouldn’t, but it does. This man is sexy and thoughtful and spent the day just helping me yesterday, even though he had nothing to gain. Hell, Reece iced him out all day, and I know I didn’t do much better—for different reasons, but still.
We turn to leave the little bakery on Main Street, and he holds the door for me and says, “Walk with me?”
Instead of answering, I just follow as he turns down a side street and leads us to a small park on the backside of the building we were just in. I check my phone and realize it’s already nine, so I don’t have all that much time. I say as much to Noah as we sit at a picnic table near a kids’ play area.
“Already trying to ditch me, eh?”
I shake my head vehemently. “No, I just have this thing over at, um, with Kristen that McKenna helped me schedule, and I’m more than a little paranoid about missing it.”
“McKenna do everything for you?”
I shrug, glancing off to the playground. The conversation with McKenna and Reece a few weeks ago is still on repeat in my head.
“Hey,” Noah says, gently lifting my chin with a calloused finger so that I have no choice but to meet his gaze. “Remember, judgment free.”
“It’s stupid.”
“Nothing you say or do could ever be stupid.”
I give him a look, because he clearly doesn’t know me well enough to assume that I don’t say or do stupid stuff all the time.
“McKenna does my scheduling and to-do lists for me, because I’m incapable of remembering, and I get overwhelmed if I have too much to get done.”
He raises his hands in a gesture suggesting he’s appeasing me, removing his grip on my chin. “I maintain my statement. I’ve already told you I like everything I’ve seen, chaos. Nothing about what you just said sounded stupid to me.”
I roll my eyes at the nickname that I can’t seem to break him from using. I sip my coffee, moaning at the perfect blend of flavors. I almost miss the heated gaze in Noah’s eyes when I look up. He looks away as soon as he sees me watching him, but the faint blush coloring his cheeks gives him away. I sit back, my shoulders slumping in defeat.
“It’s really not a bright idea to pursue anything with me, Noah. You say you like my brand of crazy, but you haven’t seen the half of it.”
“Then let me,” he says, nearly interrupting me. “We’re neighbors. We can hold off on the first date thing for a bit. Let’sbe friends. Get to know each other in a platonic way. And then I can prove to you that you are capable of giving us a try.”
“Prove thatI’mcapable?”
“Yeah. Sweetheart, I already know I’m more than willing and able to go the distance with you. But I’ll wait as long as you need.”
“Must be a screw loose for you, too.”
“Several. It’s a common trait among elevator mechanics. We’re also assholes.”
I can’t help but laugh, because this guy is anything but. “No way that’s true. You’re too sweet to be anything but a gentleman.”
“That’s because I like you, chaos. Ask any man I work with or for, and they’ll have a different story to tell. Hell, you can even ask Jace. There are days he hates me.” He grins.
“I think I’d have to see it to believe it.”
“I do my damnedest to keep my work life and personal life separate, so hopefully you never will.”
“You don’t sound like you enjoy the two different sides, so why do you do it? Act differently at work.”
“If you’ve ever been around the trades, you’d understand.”
“My dad’s a retired electrician.”
