Her eyes flickered between his before she nodded. “Sure. That sounds fun.”
“I’m just trying to avoid anyone overhearing us. News travels fast in this town.”
She giggled. “I can imagine.”
He drove down the street, and they were parked in his garage within a couple of minutes.
“Wow. Must be nice being so close to work,” she said.
Noah laughed and climbed out of the truck, pulling the food out of the back before rushing around to her side and opening her door.
“It definitely has its perks. Especially if I oversleep.”
He led the way through his garage to the door that led into the house, stamping his feet on the rug before kicking his boots off. Jessa kicked hers off right alongside his and followed him inside.
He watched her looking around the kitchen and dining room. He always wondered how people saw him and wished he could see himself through her eyes. When her eyes met his, she smiled.
“You have a nice place.”
His house wasn’t large by any means, but he didn’t need the extra space. It was a three-bedroom house with two bathrooms. He had the master bedroom with the small attached bathroom. One of the spare rooms housed his exercise equipment. The third room was more of a dumping ground for the equipment he had for participating in various activities around town.
“Thank you. It’s a good size for me.”
He led her over to the table and pulled her chair out. Once she sat, he pulled out the food he had picked up from the bar and opened up the takeout container. Jessa laughed loudly when she saw the nachos inside.
“I figured I couldn’t go wrong with nachos,” he said.
“You are correct.”
Noah sat across from her and they divided up the food. They ate in silence for a few minutes before Noah rested his elbows on the table.
“So, I wanted to clear the air with why my mom is… overprotective.”
Jessa set down the chip she was holding and put all her focus on him.
“You can keep eating while I talk if you’d like,” Noah said, gesturing at her food.
She shook her head. “Honestly, I can’t focus when nachos are involved.”
He chuckled. “Would you prefer we finish eating and then talk?”
She nodded as a smile grew on her face. “I absolutely want to talk to you, but I seriously love nachos and I’d like to eat them before they get cold.”
He laughed. “Deal.”
They finished their food in silence and once the plates were empty, Noah nodded toward the living room.
“Take a seat wherever you’d like. I’m going to start a fire.”
He could feel her eyes on him as he put wood inside the fireplace and got it started before putting the spark guard in front of it. When he turned around, he caught her admiring his backside.
She blushed and pulled a lip between her teeth. “That was quick.”
He sat down on the plush suede couch beside her. “I grew up making fires.”
The fire crackled in the fireplace and nerves suddenly crept through him. He had every intention of telling her about his past and what had happened during his last serious relationship, but his nerve had dwindled the longer they had sat eating.
“So… my mom,” he said with a chuckle.
