Page 16 of The Spark of Love

“Yeah, sorry I’m late.” His head swiveled back and forth taking in the displays. Julie loved how observant he was, how focused he could be. She supposed that was one thing that madehim such a good student, while her easily distracted mind went all over the place when she tried to study.

She threaded her arm through his and together they walked around the room. Noah smiled at some of the other students and guests standing by the different projects, talking about them. He stopped at each one clearly making an effort to understand it. That was more than Julie could make herself do.

After they circled the room, he leaned close and whispered in her ear, “I guess this is what you meant when you told me you’re like a fish out of water in this department.”

“Yeah, that’s me.” She breathed out a dry laugh and then said, “I’m hungry. Let’s walk over to John’s Pizza.”

Once they were out on the sidewalk headed toward Bleecker Street, Julie said, “So, you don’t think I fit in with the other people doing interior design. Is it because I wear the odd clothes I make, like this three-toned blazer?”

“That adds to it, but it’s more than that. I can’t put my finger on it.” He stopped on the sidewalk and turned to her, his eyes roaming her face. Their gazes locked on each other, and before she knew it, he was kissing her. Kissing her in a way that she’d wanted since he first walked in her door three months ago.

Her arms reached around him as he gripped her shoulders.

“You are so beautiful,” he whispered, as he lifted his head at the sound of a cough from a passerby on the sidewalk.

Julie took his hand and they continued walking to the pizza restaurant. “I’ve wanted you to kiss me like that for so long. Every time we sit together on the sofa watching a movie or talking, I have a difficult time keeping my hands off you.”

“Me too, but I didn’t want to break your trust or do anything that would make Dr. Scott regret suggesting I take the room in your apartment.”

“Uncle Scotty is cool. He is the only one of my father’s friends who actually talks to me. And listens too.”

Noah grinned. “Well, I just spoke with him and told him I did not want to do anything that would reflect badly on him but asked outright how he would feel if I dated you.”

Julie’s heart soared. “You did? Like you were thinking about it already?” She had hoped they were on the same page but couldn’t be sure.

“Yeah. And he said he’d be delighted. Can you believe that?”

“Absolutely,” she said, grinning. “When Uncle Scotty told me he thought you would be really good for me, I had the feeling he was not talking only about my schoolwork.”

After that kiss on the sidewalk, Julie could hardly swallow the pizza, she was so excited. She tried not to be obvious but could not take her eyes off Noah’s mouth that she wanted to feel on hers again. And his wonderful hands that were so big yet so sensitive—she wanted them all over her body. She crossed her legs, knowing her panties were wet for him.

When she looked up at his eyes and saw that he was looking at her with the same kind of desire, no doubt thinking the same things, Julie decided they would end up in his or her bed as soon as they got home. And if Noah was still hesitant about taking that step, she knew she could be persuasive enough to make it happen.

But of course when they opened the door of the apartment and walked in, she found her brother there.

“Bryce. How did you get in?”

“And hello to you too, sister dear. I guess you forgot you gave me a key in case you were ever in one of your imagined Gothic coma swoons where you need to be rescued.”

“Very funny.”

Bryce walked up to Noah and extended his hand. “Bryce Vaughn.”

“Noah Taylor.” They shook hands.

Julie wondered why men acted so stiff when they saw another male they did not know. Maybe it was biological. “Noah is my roommate,” she said, “and, Noah, you’ve probably guessed this is my brother.”

“Nice to meet you,” Noah said.

“You’re studying medicine at NYU Grossman?” Bryce asked.

“Yes. And from what your sister tells me, you’re on course to win as many architecture prizes as your father.”

Bryce looked at Julie. “Aww, sounds like baby sis proud of her big brother.”

A hand went to her hip. “Was there a reason you came here?”

“Such a warm welcome.”

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