“Okay,” he agreed, standing by the now open door.
He was unsure how to manage his exit, so he simply said goodbye. From this point forward they would have to maintain a platonic relationship.
Sophie returned his goodbye and shut the door.
Noah clicked the down button on the elevator and took a deep breath. Had all of that really just happened? The image of Sophie naked on the counter surfaced in his brain.
Well great, that image was now burned into his mind. How had he gone so long without knowing what she hid under her dress?
And the real question… Could he continue without ever seeing it again?
CHAPTER8
SOPHIE
Sophie twisted her wet hair into the towel and surveyed the outfit she had selected for her date— no, her business meeting with Noah tonight.
She had selected a low-cut tan dress with an overlay of dark lace, and paired it with her black heels. It was both elegant and sexy.
The events of the past twenty-four hours felt like an odd dream. Sophie had sex with Noah.
Twice!
Sure, she had always found her boss attractive, but she’d never thought that the two of them would ever sleep together. Let alone get married!
Was she really considering marrying and having a baby with her boss?
It was total insanity. And yet, she had agreed, overcome with the feeling of missing out.
She had no idea what Noah’s ground rules would be, but it sounded like intimacy would be off the table. Which was probably for the best. This was meant to be a mutually beneficial transaction. That was all. Noah wasn’t looking for love, right? As she did her hair and makeup, she pondered the absurdity of it all.
Sophie knew she wanted a child and Noah was willing to offer her one. And she trusted Noah — truly, he had been one of the only consistent men in her adult life. He had promised to take care of them financially, and was an overall decent man. But what would his role be in their child’s life?
Sophie shook her head, trying to push out her doubts. It wasn’t like she had signed a contract or anything. She and Noah could discuss the options, and then she could make an informed decision.
She plugged the address Noah had sent her into her phone and made it to the restaurant right on time. He messaged her to tell her he had already gotten them a table and was waiting inside.
The restaurant was familiar to her as she had been there multiple times before. It was ironic, really, that she and Noah had hosted several of their annual work dinners at this very location, and now they were here to discuss having a child together.
The glass decor looked expensive and chic. Abstract chandeliers hung from the ceiling and elaborate sculptures that looked like they might break with the slightest touch decorated the corners of the room.
Sophie’s heels clicked along the pristine hardwood floor.
As soon as their eyes met, Sophie felt her heart flutter, heat rising to her cheeks as she remembered. Noah had now seen her naked. Had tasted her. Knew the sounds she made when she climaxed. She suddenly felt shy.
“Hey,” she greeted.
“Hey,” he replied. “You look beautiful.”
Sophie thanked him and took a seat.
She didn’t know what to say without the confidence of alcohol she had had last night. But she also knew that this was the kind of conversation they needed to have sober.
They maintained pleasant conversation, discussing their previous dinners here and noting some of the new decor until the waitress took their orders.
After she left, the tension between them became palpable.
“So—” they said in unison.