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“Hey, everyone!” Brent called out. “This is my neighbor, Noah! He lives in my building and is a total workaholic, but I finally convinced him to come out tonight!”
Lily’s eyes went wide and she even heard herself gasp when she saw him. Her heart was racing, her mouth went dry, and she couldn’t believe he was really here.
Or how amazing he looked when he wasn’t in his corporate suit mode.
His hair was a little mussed up, he had on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt that was just snug enough to show off that muscled chest. She went to take a step closer because he hadn’t noticed her yet, but Axl put his arm around her waist and gently tugged her close.
“What’s your pleasure?” he asked, again…too close.
“Excuse me?” And yeah, she took offense to the question.
“The games,” he replied, nodding toward the rest of the complex. “What’s your favorite? They have a cool virtual racing machine. I’d love to sit with you and teach you.”
I’ll bet…
She took another step back and gave him a tight smile. “I’m not really into racing.” Another step back, and he followed. “This is my first time here, so…” Another step back and this time she banged into someone. “Oh, sorry,” she murmured as she spun around and…
Noah.
“Lily?” he asked with a frown.
She gave him a small wave to match her small smile. “Hey! Fancy meeting you here, right?” She laughed softly, but he didn’t look amused. He glanced just beyond her and she knew he was looking at Axl who—surprise, surprise—stepped in way too close and put his arm around her again. Without being too obvious, she squirmed out of his grasp, but that put her closer to Noah.
Their gazes locked and she silently willed him to help her get away from Axl, and by the tiniest nod he gave her, he understood.
And what happened next was not what she expected.
“Holy crap! Lily!” he said enthusiastically. “I can’t believe it’s really you! I mean…what’s it been…three years?” He was grinning from ear to ear. “I never thought I’d get to see you again! This is like…it’s fate!” Then he hauled her into his arms and kissed her senseless.
Okay…um…wow!
When he released her, he was still smiling. “I never thought we’d get a second chance and now…” His hand went over his heart. “This is the happiest day of my entire life! Can I buy you a drink?”
“Um…sure?”
“She doesn’t drink,” Axl chimed in, looking totally confused.
“Lily?” Bree asked. “How do you know Noah?”
“Oh, um…we met a few years ago over Christmas,” she began, as Noah’s arm stayed possessively around her. “It was during the trip to Asheville with my whole family.”
“We had an amazing week,” Noah gushed, “but Lily had big dreams for her career and I knew I needed to let her go.” He sighed happily. “And now here she is!”
Oh, good Lord. And the Academy Award goes to…
“I hope you guys don’t mind, but…I really would love to have some time to catch up with her,” Noah went on. “So…?”
Lily looked as her friends were all watching her with wide-eyed wonder. “I…I know we all said we’d hang out, but…”
“Go!” her friends all cried at once.
“But we are all going to want details tomorrow!” Morgan said before hugging her.
“Go have fun!” Sue added and hugged her as well.
“I hate that we aren’t going to hang out tonight, but I totally get it.” Bree pulled Lily in close and whispered, “He is yummy! I’d be running out of here as fast as I could if I were you.”
“Thanks! We’ll talk tomorrow!” Then she looked at Axl. “It was…nice meeting you.” And taking Noah’s hand, she quickly pulled him away from the group and to a secluded corner next to the bar. When she faced him, she burst out laughing. “Oh my God! That was incredible! Thank you!”
