Page 33 of Kissing Chaos
Honestly, the fact that he has a puppy for me to snuggle makes my anxiety drop just a touch—like, a minuscule amount, but that’s better than nothing, right? When the door opens, my brain short-circuits and I am momentarily distracted by the sight before me. Oh, who am I kidding? I’m always distracted. But seriously. Dark curls are free of a hat and look like fingers have haphazardly teased them. The gray V-neck and well-worn Wranglers hug his body in all the right places.
Oh, man. Bare feet. Didn’t know that was a turn-on for me until right this minute.
I let myself ogle for a second longer, both confirming internally that McKenna was right about comfort and embarrassed to look up, because I can feel those chocolate eyes reading me like a book.
“You made it.”
I jump as Noah speaks at the same time Sadie rushes forward to nudge my hand, demanding pets.
He steps back, ushering me inside. “Get out of the cold. Come make yourself at home. I was just putting some snacks in bowls.”
As he steps back into the kitchen, I take in Noah’s loft. It has an open kitchen and living room. I’d bet money that the hallway leads to the bathroom and bedroom just like mine. His space is just much, much more organized.
“Feel free to go ahead and get settled in the living room. Or you can come in here with me. Either way.”
“Cool, cool.” I hang out awkwardly between the two areas, fidgeting with the sleeve of my sweatshirt.
“Jett.”
“Hmm?”
He steps in front of me, not touching but sort of squatting down until we are eye to eye. “What would make you more comfortable right now?”
“Oh, I’m not uncomfortable. I swear.” Lies. I’m so freaking nervous right now.
“Don’t lie, chaos. Your whole body is tense, and your eyes keep shooting over to the door like you’re ready to bolt.”
Fireballs. He shouldn’t be able to read me this easily. He doesn’t know me!
I want this to work. I want to get to know Noah. I want…him.My heart is pounding, and he’s right. I have been thinking about bolting already. But this time, I let my impulses win.
“This’ll sound crazy, but can you, um, maybe just like, put your hand on me? For some reason your touch relaxed me the other day, and I need something to ground me before I go hide somewhere and embarrass myself.”
I can’t place the emotion that flickers through his eyes, but the gentle lift of his lips has my insides squirming.
“You mean like this?” He steps closer and slips his calloused fingers over my bicep, over my shoulder, and restsit along the collar of my sweatshirt. The slightest increase in pressure has my eyes fluttering. Damn, this man.
“How do you do that? Calm everything?”
“All I’m doing is giving your brain something else to focus on.”
“Never stop.” My eyes pop open. “Shit, I said that out loud, didn’t I?”
“Yeah, chaos.” He gently squeezes one more time before letting his hand slide back down to grip my fingers in his. “And for the record, I don’t want to stop. The ball is in your court.” He steps back around the counter and dumps a small cookie sheet of pigs-in-a-blanket into a large bowl. Then he carries it and another container toward the couch. “It’s not much, but McKenna said these were some of your favorites. Figured they’d be easy snacks.”
He motions to the piggies and the batch of chocolate chip cookies before queuing up the game recording and pressing play. The puck drops on the screen, and Voltage wins the face-off.“Gonna grab some drinks really quick. Water, soda, or electrolytes?” Noah asks as I sink deep into the couch cushions.
“Any chance soda includes Dr. Pepper?”
“But of course.” He grins and steps out of sight. “Best soda out there.” As he comes back around with two soda cans in hand, he asks, “Pepsi or Coke if this is not an option?”
“Either.” I shrug. “Depends on which one passes the flavor test for me at the time. But if I have a choice, it’ll always be Dr. Pepper.”
“Pepsi is too sweet for me, but to each their own.”
“So, I guess you’d choose salty over sweet then?”
He sinks down on the cushion next to me and pops the tab on my can before handing to me.“Mmm, depends on the sweet thing. But if we’re talking foods, I’ll go with salty.”
