Page 39 of Stolen for Keeps

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Shoving my hands into my jacket, I turned—not rushed, just moved—back toward the lights.

And nearly slammed into a solid wall of muscle.

I sucked in a sharp breath, stepping back.

Noah.

His brows pulled together. “You okay?”

I forced a grin. Loose. Casual. “Yeah. Took a wrong turn and ended up at the barn.”

He studied me a second too long.

“It’s tough to see in the dark,” he said. “But just a heads-up…if you pass Big Joe, you’re going the wrong way.”

“Big Joe?”

“The oak tree,” he said, like I should’ve known trees had names here. Then, just as casually, he added, “Come on, I’ll walk you to your car.”

A pause. Small, barely there. But he caught it.

I forced my feet forward, falling into step beside him. The whole way, I told myself I was in the clear.

That no one had been there.

That no one had seen what I’d done.

“Hey, you did well back there,” Noah said. “I really enjoyed the dance.”

“Me too.”

“I hope your real dance partner got over his cold.”

My heart shriveled. I couldn’t be picky. Sheryn would assign someone, and I sure as hell wasn’t about to let her catch wind of myteeny tinycrush on Noah. She’d roast me alive, and in true bestie-knows-best fashion, she’d probably derail my entire plan to leave Buffaloberry Hill.

“Let’s hope so,” I muttered.

A beat of silence. Then?—

“Want to grab lunch tomorrow?” I blurted, totally not because the dancing and wedding atmosphere had fried my brain.

Besides, I needed to see if he’d noticed anything. Lunch would be the perfect way to find out.

“Yeah, sure,” he said. “Got a couple of things tomorrow, but I’ll call you.”

Playing it cool, huh?

Maybe he thought I didn’t notice those puppy eyes.

Then, as if reading my mind, he added, “Can I have your number?”

I masked my hesitation. The pink phone wouldn’t survive past the wedding anyway. So what was the harm? I rattled off the digits.

Noah’s mouth edged into something almost…pleased. Then, with a gentlemanly ease, he pulled open my car door and said, “See you tomorrow.”

I barely kept myself from sighing.Holy hush, reel it in.

9

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