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“I won’t change my mind, Em. Don’t try. I’m a good judge of character, and that man reeks of trouble.” He’s agitated, his breathing hard, nostrils flaring.
I feel my own temper rising until I notice the lines around his eyes. They’re not deep enough. People always compliment my handsome father on his youthful appearance. But the lack of lines is more a reminder that he hasn’t laughed enough in his life. Kind of like Noah.
It’s those lines that have me deflating and biting my tongue to keep from blurting out something I won’t be able to take back. I could never hurt this man that I love so much. He gave me all the smiles, even when he didn’t have enough for himself.
“If I’m desperate for anything,” I say, “It’s foryouto fall in love.” I stand and take my dishes to the sink, then kiss the top of his head on the way out of the kitchen.
* * *
Noah said he’d pick me up tomorrow at seven. Damn, I should have gotten his number. After the discussion with Dad, the last thing I want is for him to show up here.
Even so, butterflies swirl with excitement in my belly. I can’t help the grin that spreads over my face as I rummage through my closet, wondering what the hell I’m going to wear.
I choose a red dress that’s been collecting dust in the very back and black strappy three-inch heels. The dress has always seemed too sexy with its plunging neckline. One wrong move and the soft material could have it slipping right over my breasts.
Or maybe…
The memory of Noah’s fingers undoing the strap of my dress is still so fresh in my mind, it’s easy to envision him doing something similar with this one. A slight tug and he’d expose me.
Would his golden eyes glitter? Or would they darken, overtaken by the shadows that move within them.
A delicious shiver skitters over my skin at the thought.
Dad said Noah reeks of trouble. I called him dangerous.
I stare at the dress lying on my bed, wondering if the reason I chose the red is because, deep down, I do believe Noah is trouble and dangerous. It makes me question my sanity.
If he is those things, I should run. He told me so himself. Then again, if he’s that bad, would he have warned me?
A crack of lightning in the distance has me turning my head to the window. But except for the occasional bolt illuminating the sky, it’s all dark. I go to shut the blinds when another flash of light hits.
My breath catches when in that split second, I spot a figure across the street. Noah.
He’s standing in the same place he was in that night months ago, staring up at me through the wet hair that’s fallen over his eyes.
Something’s wrong. Even in the darkness, I can see his chest rising and falling as if he’s breathing hard, his hands fisted at his sides and his gaze intense and motionless.
Of their own accord, my feet begin to move.
I make my way downstairs, passing the darkened study and living room. Dad’s nowhere to be seen. He went out earlier, slamming the door in his wake, and hasn’t returned.
When I open the front door, I pause. What the hell am I doing? It’s pouring rain and I’m already in my pajamas—a loose gray T-shirt and black sweatshorts—with no makeup and my hair piled on my head in a messy bun. I’m not even wearing a bra, because I didn’t expect to leave my room until the morning. I wouldn’t even let my dad see me in this outfit.
But all thoughts of my clothes are tossed aside when I see Noah still standing there, his rain-soaked button-up shirt clinging to his broad chest. His breathing heavy.
I take a step toward him but stop when he raises his hand and shakes his head.
“No,” he mouths. Then he turns on his heel and walks away.
It stuns me for only a second, however, and before he disappears around the corner, I sprint. “Noah, wait!”
My bare feet land on every damned puddle and pebble, spraying dirty road water up to my knees, but I’m undeterred.
He’s not running, but his long, determined strides give him an advantage. Just as I think I’m catching up to him, he turns, and it takes me a moment to spot him.
I’m not sure how many blocks I follow him. Enough to completely drench me. Rain streams from my thick hair, forming a path straight into my eyes, and this time, when I wipe at them, I lose Noah completely.
I stop at a corner, searching in every direction for him. All I see are streets and alleys that are so dark, they’re unfamiliar to me.
