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My flustered state was made worse with Quinn’s watchful eyes. “Come in,” I said quickly.
Noah stepped through the door, and Matilda circled his legs. He greeted her with a thorough scratch behind her ears before she trotted away. Quinn was hovering several feet back, her arms crossed tightly and the foot with the pink polka dot sock tapping on the rug. Inexplicably, I recalled that she had picked out that rug. She loved that brightly woven rug. She’d decorated most of the apartment. It had been done in bits and pieces when we could afford new things and when she was old enough to have opinions.
It wasn’t as if I’d never been on a date before. It’s just I’d never been on a date with a man I really liked. I worried that I liked Noah too much. I didn’t even really know what to do with him, much less how to incorporate him into my life with Quinn or if he even wanted that.
Gah! There was no instruction manual for dating with kids, much less with teenagers. I thought maybe I could find a self-help book on it. But, even then, every situation was so unique.
Quinn looked at Noah, her lips pressed in a tight line. She lifted her chin as if she were daring him.
“Noah, this is my daughter, Quinn.” I gestured back and forth between them. “Quinn, this is Noah. I’ve known him—” I began
She interrupted me quickly. “I know … since you were a kid.” She cleared her throat. “Nice to meet you.”
Noah looked at her quietly, his eyes warm. “Nice to meet you as well.”
He held his hand out, and I held my breath. I honestly didn’t know if she was going to shake his hand. Ireallydidn’t want to have to prompt her to be polite.
After several seconds, she uncrossed her arms and shook his hand rather vigorously. She then surprised me by asking, “Where are you going to dinner?”
Noah shrugged easily as she dropped his hand. “I hadn’t decided. Do you have any recommendations?”
Quinn liked that. I could tell. While she didn’t actually smile, I could see the hint of one glimmering in her eyes. She twisted her lips, tapping her toe. “Mom likes lobster rolls. She also likes good Italian food. It can’t be shitty or cheap.”
“What if cheap is still good?” Noah countered, a grin teasing at the corners of his mouth.
Thank God he had enough sense not to try to pull me into this conversation. The minute Quinn thought he was trying to have a private joke with me, her hackles would rise.
Quinn nodded, blinking behind her glasses. “Well, in that case, that’s fine.”
“Is there something you would like if we brought takeout home for you?” Noah added.
Quinn bit her lip, tapping that pink polka-dotted toe again. “Maybe. It’s cold out tonight, so I think Italian. A good calzone. Lobster rolls are better in the summer,” Quinn offered.
“True,” Noah said with a quick nod. “That’s when the lobster is fresh. We’ll get Italian. I know a place with excellent calzones. Shall I put your order in my phone, or does your mom know your favorite?”
Quinn actually smiled, although she was still eyeing him skeptically. “She knows. But it’s Greek.”
“Got it.”
Quinn looked at me. “Have fun.”
“Text me if you need anything,” I called as she began walking away.
“I’ll text Melanie,” she called over her shoulder.
Noah glanced toward her and back to me, a subtle smile teasing his lips again. I reached for my coat, sliding my arms into it just as her door closed.
“Well, she didn’t slam it,” I offered as I glanced up at him.
Stepping closer, he dipped his head and brushed his lips across mine. I thought he meant for it to be a brief kiss, but I was wrong. He brought me flush against his body, his palm sliding up my back to cup my nape as he dropped kisses on each corner of my mouth before fitting his mouth over mine and sliding his tongue between the seam of my lips. I was breathless by the time he drew back.
“Noah!” I whispered.
“I missed you,” he said, entirely unrepentant. “Her door is closed, and she can’t see us.”
I shook my head as I zipped up my jacket and then reached for my purse. Noah curled his hand around mine when we stepped through the door.
“Who is Melanie?” he asked as we walked down the stairs to the main entrance on the first floor.
