Page 13 of Off Her Game
“Oh, fuck me,” he said hoarsely. His imagination was probably doing backflips.
She laughed harder. “Stop it. You’re making me cry and I can’t wipe my eyes with the helmet on.”
The bike lurched off the curb. She wrapped her arms around him, putting her chest tight to his back. “Was that on purpose to get me to hold on to you?”
“It’s what you get for giving me visions of dragon ink and you naked. The offer remains open that I’ll park the bike and call my driver.”
“I’m not getting off at this point until we’re there.”
Something about Noah’s comment about living a little seeped in. She might not make it through the whole Symphis–eGaming business. Why not throw caution to the wind and experience something new, something crazy out of the norm? Why the hell not experience rather than worry for a few hours?
Noah parked between two cars in front of a chichi restaurant she’d heard about but was far out of her budget. Her meals usually consisted of prepackaged ramen and applesauce.
A mix of modern and Old West décor greeted them on the inside, which was weird for a French restaurant. Of course, weird was the new chic.
She dragged her gaze off Noah’s wide shoulders as he checked in. He hadn’t let go of her hand since he opened the door for her, which was awkward and simultaneously sweet.
This is bad.She liked him, maybe evenlikeliked him a little bit.
Focus on freedom. And the deal. This is for show and not real.
A hostess with an elegant bun and low-cut black dress tossed Noah a flirty smile. The girl thrust forward her ample cleavage, which pulled the v-neckline of her top even lower. “Mr. Harrison. Your table’s not quite ready.”
When Noah didn’t glance at her chest right away the girl flipped her hair.
Noah’s eyes dropped to her cleavage. As if suddenly realizing the girl was hitting on him and that he was staring at her boobs, he jerked his free hand, accidentally knocking the toothpick dispenser off the counter. With a curse, he dropped to a knee to pick them up.
Tori leaned over to help, but he came up at the same time, slamming into her chin.
“Oh, shit. Sorry. You okay?” Horror crested on his face.
“I’m fine.” She compressed her lips against a smile as she helped him pick up the rest of the toothpicks. Once done, she suggested, “How about we wait at the bar? A drink sounds good.”
“Text me when the table’s ready,” he threw over his shoulder without glancing at the hostess again.
He gripped her hand tight as they waded into the clamor of Saturday night sexed-up twenty-somethings packed around the bar. He paused, staring at the bar. His eyes wandered around as if scanning for something.
“You okay?” She had to lean in close to ask him.
“I’m good.” It came out tight. His eyes met hers. “Thought we should get a drink. I was looking to see if there’s a line, but I can’t figure out what’s going on at the bar.” Anxiety fled his gaze to make way for dread. “Someone I know is headed this way. Damn it. Everything’s about to get more complicated. This might go south.” He muttered, “He’s going to tell Mom.”
The object of Noah’s glower strolled up with an easygoing smile and smooth confidence. The man flashed a straight line of white—but not too white—teeth and ran a hand through his graying dark hair. He held hands with a tall blonde in a silky dress. The blonde did her best to avoid eye contact, which initially seemed snobbish but the stressed fear in her gaze when it skittered into Tori’s suggested otherwise. The blonde’s skin was so pale Tori could see the blue veins running beneath, yet it didn’t detract from her elegant beauty.
“Noah, you’re out? Is this a date or a friend thing? I didn’t even know you had female friends.” The man’s tone suggested these two knew each other with a familiarity closer than work colleagues. Yet, whatever rested between them bittered their relationship.
“Michael, you and Darcy having a date night?” Noah granted the blonde woman a fleeting glance before meeting Tori’s gaze. His stress level was so high over this encounter he’d forgotten introductions. Emotion flashed for a moment in Noah’s eyes before his face glazed over into stoicism. He’d seemed pained or sad or something else. She didn’t know him well enough to read him. Fake date or not, she’d take his side on whatever happened.
Darcy stiffened and looked away. Bad personal history between Darcy and Noah, perhaps. Based on the gigantic diamond on her left hand she must now be engaged to Michael. Awkward.
“We didn’t expect to run into you here.” Michael said it as if had they known Noah would be here they’d never have chosen this restaurant. Michael’s gaze slid to Tori.
“This is Tori,” Noah introduced. “Tori, this is my brother, Michael.”
Michael nodded her way. He continued to stare at Tori as if there was something horridly wrong with her. Maybe her hair was messed up from the ride. A brief look in the mirror behind the bar showed it to be flatter than it started tonight but not a disaster.
Tori said, “Why don’t I grab those drinks we talked about, Noah. I’ll be right back.”
“Sounds good.” Noah’s icy gaze remained focused on Michael.
