Love Me Always

by Peyton Banks

  “So, this friend,” Kyle’s eyes were fixed on his face and Noah blew out a breath, “do we know who she is?”

  “She?”

  Paula gave him a wink. “I figured it was a good bet.”

  “Betting in the office is against the rules.” Noah reminded them.

  Kyle’s snort sounded like he was about to choke. “I’d take that seriously if Kohler didn’t win the pool for the next employee engagement, and he’s a manager.”

  Noah really couldn’t argue with that. “It’s not a big thing. A friend who needs a pickup from the airport and a place to stay for a few days.”

  He could have lived very happily leaving off that last part.

  “A ‘she’ in your house.” Paula met Kyle’s suspicious squint. “If Sage wasn’t in New York, I’d say it was-”

  Kyle held up a hand. “Stop. O.M.G. It’s Sage?”

  Paula looked almost as startled as Noah felt. “Where did you get Sage from that?”

  He shooshed her with his hand. “His tell. You said her name and the corner of his mouth twitched.”

  “Twitched?” Noah scoffed at the idea. “Now you’re just making stuff up.”

  Kyle rolled his eyes. “It’s kind of is our job at a marketing firm, but no, this goes back to when Sage worked here.” He looked at Paula for confirmation, and while Noah was sure she didn’t have a clue what Kyle was talking about, Paula backed him up with a knowing nod.

  He really needed to get his work done so he could get out of work in time to do a last look at his place before heading to the airport. It seemed like the last few months had crawled by since Sage moved away and as soon as he’d found out she was coming back everything was moving at light speed.

  “You can’t blame us for thinking it’s about Sage,” Kyle pressed on. “There’s only one person who puts that pensive little grin on your face.”

  Paula nodded. “The work-wife.”

  “All right, that’s all for now. I have work to do and I know you two gossips do too.”

  The two shared a look and walked out of his office, one right after the other.

  Work wife.

  He hadn’t heard that phrase in a long time.

  And he couldn’t help the smile that it touched his lips.

  Sage had worked for EndRoad just as long as he had, and while they were in different divisions of the marketing company, they’d gotten to know each other well. Their bantering never crossed the line, nor did they spend much time together outside the office, but still there had been something special about their relationship. It certainly made going to work the best thing about his life.

  So, yeah, having Sage there made the office feel more like a home.

  It was going to be so good to have her back.

  And getting her settled? Finding a place?

  Well, he was hoping she’d figure out what he knew already.

  That she belonged with him.

  Tapping his knuckles on his desk, he reminded himself to get back to work. There was something worth going home for now.

  2

  Sage had expected things to be awkward between them when he picked her up at the airport. She’d tried to make it as easy as possible, telling him all she needed was for him to pick her up at the curb outside of baggage claim. And she’d meant it.

  He was doing her a huge favor with the pickup. Add the invitation for her to stay with him while she figured things out, and the last thing she wanted was to be a burden to him.

  She’d already taken a quick trip between her arrival gate and the baggage claim to freshen up. Her confidence had already taken a huge hit professionally, she really didn’t want to see Noah for the first time in months looking like she’d survived a cross country drive with the top down on a convertible.

  But, if she thought she’d have a few extra moments to pull herself together emotionally, she’d been wrong. Stepping up to the baggage carousel, she’d spotted one of her bags easily. One of the multi-colored pompoms that her niece had made her in art class topped a purple suitcase. One down.

  As it came around the bend, she leaned forward and reached out her arm. Right before it came within reach, it was pulled from the belt.

  “Hey!” Sage stepped back and turned, expecting to have to save her suitcase from harm or at least someone with sticky fingers. “That’s mine.”

  The man who turned around had never looked more handsome.

  “Noah?”

  His smile knocked her off balance. She just wasn’t ready to see him. And she wasn’t expecting the way her heart started pounding in her chest. All the mental and emotional preparation that she thought she’d done on the way to Boston was gone.

  He pulled her into his arms, hugged her close, with one hand on her back and the other at the nape of her neck. She wrapped her arms around him in return and hoped that he didn’t notice the way her hands smoothed over his wool coat. She didn’t care about the fabric under her hands, it was him.

  Noah.

  In her arms.

  Holding her.

  Home.

  She breathed him in and sighed out some of the tension in her body. “I was ready to kick you if you were trying to steal my bag.”

  His laughter made her smile brighter… easier. “I bet you would have.” He stepped back, turning to pat the handle of the roller bag. “It’s safe and sound right here.”

  It was. And so was she.

  Together, they found all three of her bags and even when she tried to wrestle one of the handles from Noah’s hand, he just gave her a look that had her laughing all over again.

  When they reached his car in the parking lot, that was when she got some of her revenge.

  He stood one of her bags up beside the car to take out his keys, but the angle of the floor in the lot was tilted enough that the bag started to fall over. Noah grabbed the handle, lightning fast, but that was when he looked down and remembered that both of his hands were full.

  “You want me to take one of those?”

  Oh, she knew her voice had that snarky edge to it, and from the sudden lift of his brow, he heard it too.

  “I think I could get it to work,” he hedged, and she reached out her hand to take the bag away from him, but he shook his head when she couldn’t manage to smother her giggle. “I’m trying to be a hero here.”

  “You are a hero to me.”

  She’d startled him. That was plain to read on his face. And before he could do anything, she reached into his coat pocket and found his keyring. Lifting it out, she dangled it between her fingers. “Even a hero can use a hand every once in a while, right?”

  She lowered the keys into her hand and quickly picked out the fob to unlock his car. Once she heard the soft beep after pressing the button, she looked up at him and saw something in his eyes.

  She couldn’t quite put a name to it, but she had a feeling that whatever it was, her eyes were probably showing it too.

  Once they’d unlocked the car, it didn’t take more than a moment or two to load everything up. She felt Noah’s eyes on her across the trunk of his car. “What?”

  He shrugged. “This isn’t all of it, right?”

  She hesitated for a moment. “Basically. I didn’t have much in the way of furniture. Before I moved to New York for the job, people would always joke about the apartments being no bigger than a closet.” Sage barely stopped herself from rolling her eyes at her own naiveté. “I know that I was being silly.”

  “And here I was thinking I was going to go visit and hope you’d ask me to stay at your place. That would have been fun.”

  “Of course, it would have been.” She laughed at him and pulled open the passenger door. “The only thing is I didn’t even have an extra bed or a couch. The one I had flattened out into a bed, so you would have had to sleep with me.”

  “What?”

  “See?” She waved him off. “You were saved from having to squeeze in with me.”

  Climbing into the car, she busied herself wit
h pulling her seatbelt across her chest and connect the buckle. Inside her head she grumbled at herself. ‘… share with me…’

  The look on his face!

  It was like she’d smacked him with a brick, or her old laptop from her high school days that could have doubled as a bludgeon.

  She certainly hadn’t planned for that to pop out there. She just didn’t want things to be awkward, so she’d been on her best behavior… or rather trying her best to be upbeat and drama free.

  And ended up making him uncomfortable.

  Just great.

  Noah slid onto the driver’s seat and buckled himself in before patting down his pockets.

  “Keys?”

  He looked over at her and grinned, a little rush of relief in his eyes. “Forgot you had those.”

  Better, she told herself, keep things light. “You want to swing by somewhere and pick up dinner? My treat.”

  “Food? Yes.” He cast a smile in her direction as he put the car in gear and slowly backed out of the parking spot. “My treat though. I already put in the order before I went to pick you up. It should be ready when we get there.”

  “You won’t even let me pay?” She sighed when he shook his head.

  “A guy’s gotta eat. And besides, I haven’t been to this place since you left, so I figure it’s about time to treat ourselves.” He hesitated and her stomach twisted. “You trust me to order for you? Make these kinds of weighty decisions?”

  She could hear the laughter in his voice and hoped that they’d already moved past… whatever had happened in the parking lot. And when she realized she hadn’t answered him, she could only blurt out the truth.

  “I trust you.”

  “With your food order?”

  “Sure.”

  He had to slow while they approached a red light and came to an eventual stop.

  Sitting there, beside him in his car, most of her worldly belongings in the trunk and backseat, it was amazing how clear some things could be. Sage reached out her hand and touched his arm with a gentle squeeze. “I’d trust you with anything.”

  Sitting there at the light, with Sage’s hand on his arm, felt amazing.

  Before he could say a word, the lights up ahead changed and his lane was once again a green. As they moved on down the street, he found himself wondering if it could be just that simple.

  Having her near.

  Talking to her.

  Could he find a way to explain that yes, his invitation to stay was an open one? There were no rules beyond that. No expectations.

  But when she’d talked about sharing her bed with him his heart had slammed into his chest, no airbags, no seatbelt, just face first. WHAM. And it was only starting to get back into rhythm as they were nearing the restaurant.

  “Are we going where I think we’re going?” She sounded happy, almost laughing.

  “Maharani.”

  “Oh?” She turned in her seat and grabbed his arm with a little yelp of joy. “That’s perfect! How did you know that’s exactly where I wanted to order from? Please tell me we can get some garlic naan bread.” Before he could say a word, she burst out laughing again. “Oh, just what I need garlic breath.”

  She could eat a basketful of cloves and it wouldn’t matter. Wait. Yes, yes it would matter. So, he was going to have to eat some garlic too. He was so happy to have her home.

  He had a theory and didn’t want to share it just yet, because how do you tell your friend that you’ve tried to learn every little thing about her because you loved her and hoped that she might love him too.

  3

  She wanted to argue when Noah told her that he’d go get the third bag on his own, but one look at the duplex he lived in had her stunned. How had she never been to his place before?

  Just the open space that she was standing in was beautiful. The entire wall to the left was a bank of windows. Sage could only imagine what it looked like during the day with the sun pouring in. The hardwood floors beneath her feet had been stained and shone like mahogany and many of the fixtures were a burnished bronze that made the whole room look warm, even with the world dark outside. The cushions and other furniture around the room were a dark brick red that matched the exposed brick in the walls.

  Everything seemed warm and inviting.

  “Hey,” she heard Noah set down her last bag just inside the door, “did you miss me?”

  Sage turned on her heel and realized that she still had the take-out bag in her hand. With an awkward half-grin, she set it down on the kitchen counter and closed the distance between them to wrap him in a hug.

  More than you know.

  “Wow.”

  When she heard the shock in his hushed tones she started to pull back. “I’m sorry,” she stammered, “I already hugged you.”

  “Come back here.” He pulled her back and held her closer, whispering into her ear. “You don’t have to apologize. You can hug me anytime you want.”

  She blinked back the tears that hovered on her lashes. “You’re going to think I’m clingy, or something silly like that.”

  “Clingy?” He rubbed a hand up and down her back. “That’s something I don’t think I’d ever call you, but if you want a hug, I’m good. That you want it from me?” She felt him draw in a deep breath, and when he let it out, he pressed a soft kiss to her cheek. “I’m the luckiest man alive. Thank God you’re home.”

  Sage was glad they were holding onto each other. If either of them let go, she was sure she’d fall down to the floor. And that hardwood would hurt.

  Laughing, Noah leaned back. “We’d better get the food on the table. If I know you, you didn’t eat before the flight and you’re probably starving right about now.”

  And he did know her. Of course, he did. They’d worked together for almost three years before she’d taken the job in New York. In fact, he probably knew her better than anyone else in her life.

  The thought was enough to make her smile.

  It felt good to be back in Boston, but it was great to be with him. “I am starved.”

  His eyes didn’t leave her face and the smile that touched his lips was soft, almost as if she’d surprised him in some way. It was the soft glide of his hand against the curve of her lower back that make her heart flutter in her chest.

  Made the breath in her lungs warm like her skin.

  He nodded then, a slow descent of his chin. “Okay, then. Let’s eat.”

  “I’ll get the boxes out of the bag.” She stepped away, needing to put some distance between them, and he moved into the kitchen.

  “I’ll grab plates and utensils.”

  Sage paused as she looked into the bag. “They gave us some.”

  She heard a heavy drawer slide open a few feet away.

  “Sure, but your first meal here? We’re at least using real plates and cutlery. This is a special occasion and we’re not using plastic forks.”

  Her laughter felt good, really good. “You’re the boss.”

  That turned his head. “Oh, you’re finally acknowledging that, hmm?”

  She stared back at him with wide eyes. “You did not just say that!”

  “I did.” He gave her a wink. “And I’m never going to let you forget it.” He slid the drawer closed and set the utensils on some fabric that he rolled up in his hand.

  “Placemats?” She made sure to show him the wide-eyed shock and her playful raised eyebrows. “So high class.”

  He rolled his eyes in return and grabbed two plates in his other hand. “I’m the man, baby. And you know it.”

  They finished setting the table for two with laughter and quippy comments. By the time they sat down together, Sage was keyed up and exhausted at the same time. It didn’t take Noah long to see it either. “After we’re done here, I’ll show you to your room, and if you want, we can get your stuff unpacked in the morning. I’ve got tomorrow off to help you with anything you need.”

  “You’re going to spoil me if you’re not careful.”

  H
e looked up at her, a serving spoon poised just above the container of lamb korma and smiled. “That’s exactly what I’m trying to do.”

  Noah laid awake for a good hour after he left Sage in his bedroom. Well, hers now.

  He wasn’t sure if she’d ever figure out that he’d made the switch, but it really didn’t matter. The old guest room was more than big enough for him. He didn’t do anything in his bedroom beside sleep.

  Alone.

  When Sage was working with him, he wanted to ask her out, but company policy was a firm no-go on dating co-workers. While he hadn’t broached the subject with her, he always had a feeling that if something was meant to happen, it would.

  And then she was moving to New York for an advancement that she deserved, but at EndRoad, the company was family and people stayed a long time. That meant that people who deserved to rise higher in the ranks had to wait or change companies.

  He wasn’t upset at Sage for the move, he just wished that she’d told him she was looking for a new job. Then again, one of the things he loved most about her was the initiative she took.

  It was also the reason she really would have been a huge asset to EndRoad. Well, any company really. Noah knew without a doubt that whatever had happened in New York, she’d just been the low rung on the ladder. The last one in with no real connection to her new bosses, so they didn’t think to keep her.

  That was their fault.

  Short sighted and a waste of talent.

  In the morning, he was going to broach the subject of her plans. He was ready to call around, talk to some old connections in the local marketing firms. He was going to do everything he could to find her something in town. Something close by.

  EndRoad had hired someone for her position, just a little over a month after she’d moved, and Joseph was fitting in great with her former team.

  Turning on his side, he looked at the connecting wall and hoped that she was sleeping peacefully on the other side.

  He’d get there eventually, but part of him worried that if he closed his eyes, he’d wake up and she’d be gone.

  In a way, he was in limbo. They were close to each other emotionally. Close friends. But they were also alike in their skills and they shared enough interests to keep conversations lively even when they were disagreeing with each other.