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So much for research. Part of Noah wanted to cut his losses. Why hadn’t he just texted her instead of committing himself by moving into her territory?
Some guys really enjoyed the dating scene. Not him. Granted, he hadn’t really planned to enter the actual scene since his sights were set on Grace and Grace alone. But if things with Alec were as tight as they appeared...
Noah got up to brush his teeth. He might as well get ready for bed, though he doubted he’d be able to sleep.
Seeing her this evening had been different from before, becausehewas different. He hoped she could see the change. It had been hard to keep his amusement at her confusion in check as he’d talked about Matt and his mom and everything that had been going on. His openness had loosened her up in turn—until her boyfriend had claimed her.
Alec had pretended surprise when Grace had pointed Noah out, but the two men’s eyes had met brieflybeforeAlec had snuck up to kiss her cheek. He had been posturing.
Then there was the telegraph game.
Noah hadn’t known what he was getting himself into. He’d wanted to prove he was out of his shell—to himself as much as to Grace. It would have been less complicated if it hadn’t involved physical contact.
Holding her hand had been revealing, to say the least. He’d always known there was some attraction there—on his side, obviously. On her side, maybe?
The game had unnerved him. The last time he’d touched her hand—when he’d “reintroduced” himself during their big blowup—he’d been seething. Looking back, he could remember that contact affecting him even through his anger. For a split second as he’d railed against her, he’d wanted to kiss her.
What if he had?
But no, he hadn’t been ready for any kind of relationship then.
Now? He was ready.
Sitting next to her, their eyes closed, hands clasped and resting in the air between their knees as they waited for the message to telegraph down the line through their teammates... the energy humming from the contact on Grace’s side had made it tough to detect anything coming from his other hand.
He didn’t know what the exact relationship status was with her and Alec. But he could have sworn that tonight, when he’d held out his hand and told her he wouldn’t bite, she’d glanced at his lips.
Chapter 47
Smash
Why wasn’t he as surprisedas I was?
It’s all I’ve been able to think about since seeing Noah last night, and that’s a problem since I’m on my way to Pathfinder Academy, where I work. Not only do I need to be 100 percent invested in the job, I’ll also be surrounded by people trained to recognize mental distress.
But Noah wasn’t surprised to see me.
Okay, maybe, possibly, that’s not theonlything I can think about.
Noah held my hand.
Yes, it was compulsory. No, there wasn’t anything romantic about it. But there wassomething. Definitely something. And it wasn’t coming from Alec’s side.
Also a problem, since we’re dating. Enjoying holding one guy’s hand while simultaneouslynotenjoying holding my boyfriend’s? Not okay.
That issue was accidental and unavoidable, but my other issue... I’m not sure I can rationalize feeling not-guilty aboutnotwanting to kiss the boyfriend good night because the compulsory hand-holding with Noah was better than any kiss Alec’s given me.
I am in so deep.
Alec and I have been seeing each other for a couple of months—it started with hanging out after Mexico and progressed to dating from there. At first, it didn’t even register that he was interested inme, I was so preoccupied with worry about Noah and his brother.
Stooping to asking Ryan for an update on Matt had been more embarrassing than the BASHFUL T-shirt on Halloween. I made him swear not to tell Claire, for which he blackmailed me into unlimited babysitting. I tried to act like that would be a sacrifice.
Once Ryan acquired some details to set my mind at ease, I felt ready to move on.
And there was Alec: long-ago crush, finally paying attention tome.
A guy I like, liking me back? Who knewthatcould happen?
