by Ann, Natalie
“Yeah.”
“I thought your date went well. Everything but the interruption.” Drake started to laugh. “Sorry, that would have been hilarious if you got a ticket for indecent exposure or lewd behavior.”
Noah snorted. “Real funny if I lost my job over it.”
He still couldn’t believe how stupid he was to do that. Not that they did anything wrong. They were only kissing. They were fully dressed.
But it was immature on his part and that was one thing he never was. He’d never put his career on the line, and getting arrested or a ticket for something like that was a way to lose all his plans in life.
“I’m just busting your ass and you know it. So what is going on this week then? What’s the problem?”
“We can’t find any time together. It’s hard during the week because by the time she gets out of work, she goes home and gets dinner ready for Sebastian and it just doesn’t feel right to keep taking Paige out and not him.”
“Oh man. You’ve got it bad for this kid as much as Paige and you haven’t even gotten in her pants.”
“Don’t remind me about Paige. But why do you say that about Sebastian?”
“Because you’re worried about him being home alone.”
“It’s not that,” Noah said. “It’s just she is all he has and I don’t want to be taking her out while he is by himself.”
“So take them both out for dinner,” Drake said.
“But then I don’t have time with Paige.”
“Dude, what is it you want?”
“Beats the shit out of me,” he said. He knew what he needed though. He needed to get her alone and naked and bury himself deep in her. It wasn’t just the few times they’d been together, but now all of a sudden she was teasing him through texts.
He wouldn’t call it phone sex. He wouldn’t be that stupid. Never stupid enough to put anything on his phone where someone could see it.
But there were innuendos and he knew exactly where her mind was going. And then at night when they talked, her voice and those words, shit yeah, he was hornier than the teens in his school.
“When are you going to see her again?” Drake asked.
“I don’t know. Maybe you’re right about doing dinner with both of them. I’ll see if she wants pizza tomorrow. I’m not sure Sebastian wants to be seen out with me, but I can go to their place. Or have them at my house? That’s a thought.”
“I’m sure either will be fine. You’re making a bigger deal out of this than it is.”
“That’s because you never make a big deal out of anything,” Noah argued.
“That’s right, I don’t. If you were more like me you wouldn’t have to wear sneakers rather than shoes trying to figure things out. You could just chill until it comes to you.”
He shook his head. He’d never been that way. When he wanted answers he wanted them at that minute and if they didn’t come to him, he’d find a way to force them.
That’s when he started to walk, so he could clear his head and start playing scenarios out. The more he did that, the easier it was for him to find the answers.
Or he could just come here and talk to his twin. That seemed to be the easiest thing at the moment.
“Whatever,” he said. “Thanks though.”
“Let me know how it works out.”
Noah left Drake’s office and walked down to see his father. He figured if he didn’t he’d never hear the end of it.
“You’re still here,” his father said when he rapped his knuckles on the open doorframe.
“Just coming to say bye. Hey, Uncle Grant.” He should have figured his father and his twin were in the same office together talking. It was kind of funny now that he thought of it considering he’d been in with Drake just now.
“We haven’t seen you much lately,” Uncle Grant said. “How have you been?”
“Good. Going crazy with work and the kids.”
“The break will be nice,” his father said. “Do you have any plans? Your mother and Aunt Diane are already making lists of things they want to do.”
His Aunt Diane was an elementary school teacher and she’d have the same break off as he and his mother. Though he’d still work but most likely wouldn’t go into the school if he could avoid it. He’d take care of things from home, catching up on reviews and paperwork that got pushed aside as he dealt with emergencies day in and day out with the students and the staff.
“I’m sure they are,” he said. “I plan on just relaxing and maybe doing a few things around the house.”
“Don’t mention it to your mother,” his father said. “She’ll be over there giving her input. Actually, maybe I’ll say something and keep her from coming up with things for me to do.”
“Don’t,” Noah said. “I can decorate and paint my own house.”
His father and uncle laughed. “One of these days you’ll think like us.”
“I doubt it,” he said. “Anyway, just wanted to say bye. I’ll let you two get back to work.”
He left and walked to the elevator this time. His problem was solved in his mind.
* * *
“What was that about?” Grant asked him.
“I’m not sure,” Garrett said. “I’ll have to go down and talk to Drake and see if I can get any information, but I doubt he’ll tell me anything.”
“I’d say it was just the two of them visiting, but Noah seemed off.”
“He did. And he walked up the stairs rather than taking the elevator.”
“Hmm. He must be working something through in his head. Have you and Carolyn made any ground yet with him and that woman Carolyn thought about?”
“Not that I’m aware of. Carolyn thinks he went on a date the other day or he’s talking to a woman, but she hasn’t wanted to come out and ask him and be obvious.”
His brother snorted. “Why not ask? Diane would have been all over it if it was our boys.”
“Your wife has always been more upfront when it comes to the women in your kids’ lives. Carolyn has kept her distance, which of course has made it harder for us to find out what is going on.”
“Exactly,” Grant said.
“But it also means our kids don’t have a problem talking about it as much and don’t expect to be set up like Diane used to do for your kids. Drake had no clue we pushed them together.”
“That’s because we did it,” Grant said. “Our wives think they had a hand in it, but they were clueless.”
He laughed. “And that is why she is pushing with this one. I’m letting her take the lead, but I’m not sure it’s working. She insists that Paige would be perfect for Noah, but I’m just not sure how to get them in each other’s presence.”
“You two are going to have to work on that over the holiday break. We’ve got a rhythm going now and we don’t want to break it. Thankfully Diane is busy with Sam’s wedding plans so at least she isn’t driving Bryce insane to pick a date.”
“I can’t believe we will have one of the seven married by April. Bryce will probably be shortly after. I expect Drake to propose to Kara soon. We just might have our hands full with Noah,” he said.
“If we are going in order, then Wyatt is next. He’s going to be even harder. At least Jade and Ryder work here. We see them more and can manipulate things if need be.”
He laughed. “We can, but let our wives think they are running things for now.”
19
A Good Suggestion
“Behave yourself,” Paige said to Sebastian as they pulled into Noah’s driveway. She wasn’t surprised to find he lived in a development. A place much nicer than she’d ever be able to afford.
Sure there were more expensive developments in the area, and this one was probably considered middle class in most eyes, but it was still more than she could handle.
It looked like Noah just had a one-story house, nice and modern. She’d bet it was less than ten years old.
“What do you think I’m going to do?” Sebastian asked.
“Run around and knock things off of tables like a toddler with sticky fingers? Maybe he’s got a ball I can bounce off a wall too.”
“Wiseass,” she said back as she made her way to the front door. There was a wreath on the door, which was the only holiday decoration that she could see.
She didn’t even have time to ring the bell before Noah opened the door. He was standing there in faded jeans, an old sweatshirt with the sleeves pushed up, and socks on his feet. He had some big feet.
If there was a yummier sight in her eyes, she’d yet to see it.
“Come on in,” he said, holding the door for her. She went to slip her sneakers off, but he said, “You can leave them on. It’s fine.”
“No, we’ll take them off,” she said, then turned to Sebastian and stared him down until he toed his off. “Thanks for having us over.”
She thought it was odd he asked them both over for pizza, as she was wondering when they could get some time alone again, but then when Sebastian’s eyes lit up over the thought of dinner out tonight she realized it was a good suggestion on Noah’s part.
As much as Sebastian made her believe he wanted her to have a life of her own she had felt guilty that she’d left him alone twice now to go out and have some fun.
“So what kind of pizza do you guys like and I’ll place the order?”
She was following him to the back of the house and staring at his butt more than she should. It was the first time she felt like she could and then she heard Sebastian say, “How come that room is empty?” bringing her back to the reality she was the one that needed to behave.
Noah turned and laughed. “I don’t like to furniture shop.”
They got to the back of the house where it opened from the kitchen into a large family room. He had a table off to the side that she assumed was his dining area. Or maybe that empty room in the front was a dining room? There were four bar stools at his large island too so plenty of seating.
“It looks like you’ve got enough furniture. What is that room in the front?”
“I think it’s supposed to be a formal living room, but it seems stupid to me. I’d put exercise equipment in there but don’t want my neighbors to see me either. So for now it’s empty.”
“So you work out at home?” she asked, her eyes going to his chest and wishing she could see what he had under his baggy sweatshirt.
“I’ve got some equipment in the spare room. I’ve got two spares, but one has a treadmill and weights in it. The other is set up for guests. I’ve also got an office with a pull-out sofa. That was the door opposite of the empty room. It’s a force of habit to keep it shut.”
“How many guests do you normally get?” she asked. No one ever visited or stayed at her place. She had family, cousins and such, but they weren’t close. Cora’s behavior had pretty much isolated them over the years.
“Just my cousins in Charlotte. When they come to town they sort of divide up where they are staying between us.”
“That’s nice,” she said. “This is a lot of space for one person.”
“Do you think?” he asked. “Drake lives less than a mile away. Anyway, there is a half bath behind that door. The full bath is down the hall on your right where the two spare rooms are. My room is on the left of the living room.”
“Okay,” she said. She wasn’t sure if he wanted to give her a tour or not but figured if he did, he’d show her.
“So pizza?” he asked.
“I like pepperoni and sausage,” Sebastian said. “Man, that TV is dope.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’ll eat whatever you get. And why am I not surprised you’d notice the TV on the wall?” She couldn’t tell you the size of it, but it looked like one of those in the electronic store that no one bought but wished they owned.
“I hear you like video games,” Noah said. “You can play if you want.”
Sebastian moved closer and said, “You’ve got a PS4. I still have the 3.”
“Help yourself,” he said.
“Are you sure you want him to do that? What if he gets online with people under your name?”
He laughed. “Stay offline,” he told Sebastian. “Thanks, I didn’t think of that. I’m not online often. I have the system to keep up with what the kids talk about all the time.”
She’d thought before he was sweet, but now she realized he did so much so that he could relate to the kids. “So what do you do so that you can relate to the girls? Do you get manicures and pedicures? Shop at Ulta Beauty?”
“All I need to do is listen to Jade talk about fashion and I’m set. Though she is out of most teens league, but you get my drift.”
“I do. I think it’s great that you put that much of an effort in to understand the students so well.”
“Sometimes too much,” he said. “I can’t stand social media but I’m there. I’d be stupid not to be. Some of the kids follow me. That’s fine. I just post school related events and topics, but I’m there and they can see me.”
“I might have to follow you on Facebook.”
“I don’t do much there, but I’ve got an account. The same with Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and every other platform that comes up. I can’t even keep track at this point.”
“I don’t have anything other than Facebook, and like you, I don’t do much on it. If Sebastian was there I’d get on more, but he has no interest.”
“That’s a good thing too. While he’s occupied, do you want to see my place?”
“Sure,” she said. He walked her down the hall where the spare rooms were. They were simple and neat, then she followed him to the other end where his master bedroom was.
“I’m having a hard time keeping my hands to myself, but I will until we are alone,” he whispered.
“Good idea,” she said, but it didn’t stop her from running her hands up his chest. “Sorry, I just needed to sneak this.”
“You are the devil’s daughter.”
She’d never been the one to be like that in the family and wondered why she was so tempted with him. Probably because he tempted her so much.
“We need some time alone,” she said.
“We do,” he said back quietly. “What do you suggest?”
“I need to finish up shopping tomorrow. Maybe I could swing by when I’m done. If you’re home?”
“I’ll be home,” he said, lowering his head to kiss her.
They were in his room but right by the doorway and they heard Sebastian shouting at the TV, drawing them apart. She dropped her head to Noah’s chest. “This feels horrible to sneak around like this, but I’m not sure I can have another week of sleepless nights.”
“I’m glad it’s not just me,” he said.
20
Had It Bad
Noah was watching the clock waiting for Paige to arrive.
She and Sebastian stayed until almost ten last night. They’d eaten their pizza and wings, he’d played a few games against the kid and had his ass handed to him on a platter while Paige cheered him on.
He never thought he’d have so much fun on a date like he had last night. It didn’t even feel like a date as much as it felt like a night with his family.
And when those thoughts entered his mind he realized Drake was right. He had it bad.
Not as bad as her it appeared, since she made the first move putting her hands on him and then saying how much she needed the time alone.
He’d have to thank Drake and Kara at some point for their advice on taking it slow and letting Paige set the pace. It seemed it was working in his favor even if it was driving him insane with need.
But that insanity would be cured today. At least he hoped so.
He turned on the lights on the Christmas tree. Sebastian had been quick to ask why they were off last night. He never turned them on except for Christmas morning. When he and Drake lived together they always had a small tree and some decorations in the house. Growing up in their home it was hard not to have anything out for the holiday. But they’d gott
en into the habit of never turning the lights on for some reason.
“I turn them on to decorate the tree,” he’d told Sebastian. “I need to make sure they work and then I’m lazy and don’t think to plug them in for just a few hours each night.”
Plus he was home alone. He didn’t care if the lights were on. He had a few other decorations around the house too, but not a lot. Mainly ones his mother had bought him last Christmas and put up for him. He’d packed them away and then put them back out this year.
He was sitting down with his laptop to kill some time when he heard a car door shut so he jumped up and found himself almost jogging to the door. There was Paige’s car in the driveway.
He opened the door before she could get to the front step. “I wasn’t sure when you’d get here.”
“I shopped fast,” she said. “I didn’t have to get a lot but got enough that it will look like I did a lot when I show up home later.”
He pulled her in and shut the door, then wrapped her up tight in his arms, his mouth going to hers. “I appreciate the effort even though it feels sneaky.”
“It is sneaky,” she said. “I’m the one who should feel guilty about this, not you, but I can’t help myself. Everyone tells me I need a life and I’m trying to have one. I just never figured it’d be this hard.”
“It’s hard all right,” he said, stepping back. “Sorry. That was crude.”
She laughed and took her jacket off, hung it up and then turned and cupped him between the legs. “This is crude and I don’t care. Now show me what there is.”
“Jesus,” he said, grabbing her hand and removing it from his crotch, then tugging her down the hallway. “Devil’s daughter.”
“We are on a time limit here. I just wanted to make sure we were thinking along the same lines.”
“I didn’t want to jump you the minute you walked in the door.”
“Jump me,” she said, pulling her shirt over her head and moving toward his room. “I’ve been horny for weeks. I haven’t had sex in...oh, I’m not sure. Over a year I think. Don’t make me wait any longer.”