Page 78 of Keeping Guard
She gaped at him. “Like Joseph’s your spy?”
“If that’s what you want to call him. He wants to keep you safe as much as I do. Imagine my surprise when Joseph wakes me up from my nap and I hear the shower running. I thought to myself, Noah, that can’t be Peyton in the shower because she knows better than to be traipsing the streets all by her lonesome.” He chuckled, and the sound wasn’t a pleasant chuckle. “But what do I find? A princess in the shower.”
She had no excuse, so she didn’t try to offer one. “Why? Why can’t he leave me alone?” She’d honestly forgotten about him. As far as she knew, he hadn’t been around for...she wasn’t even sure. A week, maybe?
“Because you’re the means to get what he wants.”
“He’s delusional.” There was no way her father would turn over the brewery to him now. She’d been so excited about her date with Noah, and Dalton was ruining it. No, she wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction.
“It won’t happen again.” She stepped back from the window. “I was just excited about our date and wanted to go shopping for something that would knock your socks off. I forgot all about stupid Dalton.”
“Knock my socks off, huh?”
“You bet your hot butt I’m going to.” When Noah chuckled, she breathed a sigh of relief. Crisis averted. Yes, she’d been stupid to forget that Dalton was out there, maybe not a threat, but maybe he was. It wouldn’t happen again.
“You think my butt is hot?”
“Hotter than my grannie’s hot cross buns.”
Noah did his fast-action thing and had her pressed against the wall in...well, she wasn’t good at time and distances, but it just happened really fast. His gaze locked on hers. “What the devil are hot cross buns?”
“Do you really care?” She sure didn’t, not with the way he was looking at her, like he might devour her any second. She’d never once wanted to be devoured by a man, but this man could eat her alive and she wouldn’t file a complaint with...well, she didn’t know what agency she could file a complaint with, and honest truth, she wasn’t going to complain about him to anyone.
“Don’t care,” he said. “What are we caring about, anyway?”
“I don’t know. Global warming?” What were they even talking about?
“Are you drunk, princess?”
“Drunk on you, SEAL boy.”
He grunted in the sexiest way she never thought a grunt could be grunted. When he picked her up and headed for her bedroom, she panicked. “You can’t see my underwear yet.”
“Says who?”
“Says me. Put me down.” She heard his sexual frustration, but until she had her date, he was not seeing her in the bra and panties that she’d bought just to make him go crossed-eyed and drool. He didn’t have to like it, but that was the way it was going to be.
“Have I told you that you make me crazy?” He dropped her feet to the floor.
“If you think you’re crazy now, just wait until you see what’s under my robe.” She danced away when he tried to grab her. The light was back in his eyes, and she wanted to keep that light in them. “Date, remember? What you’re taking me out on. I hope you planned something worthy of seeing my panties.” She laughed as she backed up to her room. “You won’t be disappointed, SEAL boy.” She slammed the door when he tried to follow her.
Noah stared at the door she’d just closed in his face. He glanced down at Lucky, who was also staring at the door. “She make you crazy, too?” He took the dog’s bark for a yes. “Guess I better get ready for date night.”
He couldn’t remember the last time he’d had an actual date, hadn’t even been sure what to plan for tonight. Before he’d napped, he’d researched romantic restaurants in Asheville and thought he’d found the perfect place. He’d only packed one pair of pants and one dress shirt before leaving Virginia Beach, so those would have to do. After a shower in the guest bathroom, he dressed, and then went to the living room to wait for Peyton.
The princess was beautiful in all her forms. The disheveled, barely dressed version he’d first met at the waterfall, the at home in her leggings and little tops one, the jeans and T-shirts she wore to work one, but... Noah blew out a breath when she walked into the room.
What was it she’d said she wanted to do to him? Right, socks. He strode to her, stopping a foot from her. Any closer, and he’d have his hands on her, and they’d never make it to the restaurant.
“You said you were going to knock my socks off. Mission accomplished. You’re beautiful. That dress. Those shoes. I’m going to spend the night glaring at all the men drooling over you. Might have to knock a few upside the head.”
That smile, that shy, pleased smile. She had no clue how incredible she was, how beautiful and sexy. She slayed him without even trying. He might have to bang on his own head just to get his brain to working again.
He thought about telling her to wear a different dress. One with more material in the front of the skirt. One that didn’t stop midthigh, baring her gorgeous legs for every man to fantasize having them wrapped around him. Probably not a good idea to act like a jealous caveman, so he managed to keep his mouth shut. Barely.
“What about the women drooling over you? Can I pour their drink over their heads?”
He grinned. “The kitten has claws.” Normally, he would hate a woman being jealous over him. It showed a possessiveness that he didn’t want any part of. Why he liked it from Peyton he couldn’t explain. “Let’s go. We have a reservation for six.”
