by Alexa Powers
Lily and Josh joined them at the table, taking the seats opposite them.
“So, Emma. Do I have to kiss you now? Or did some other lucky bugger beat me to it?” Josh asked, as he winked at Noah.
She gave Noah a sweet smile, then turned to Josh. “No, someone already wished me a Happy New Year. But thanks for being my back up plan. Thankfully, I was able to avoid the garlic and onions.”
On the drive back to Noah’s house for the night, he reached over and took hold of her hand, squeezing it gently. Emma felt her stomach flutter anxiously as he entwined their fingers, tracing his thumb along her wrist. Noah’s laid-back smile eased her apprehension, as he held her gaze, and left her feeling warm all over.
Emma could sense that something significant had happened between them, and it worried her. His kiss had changed things between them. The innocent flirting had shifted into something more. Something real. At least it had for her, and what did that mean for the future?
The harsh reality was that she lived half a world away, and that wasn’t going to change. But Noah was special, that she knew without a doubt. But could she risk her heart, knowing it might be broken? Would their time together be worth the crushing blow, when her time in New Zealand came to an end? Was she willing to take that risk?
Chapter 7
“Nice place you got here, Noah,” Emma cheerfully proclaimed, as she crossed the threshold, following Noah into his house.
Nice was putting it mildly, his home was gorgeous, Emma thought, as she looked around. It was deceptively small from the driveway, but once you stepped inside the front door, it opened up to a large sweeping floor plan. And even though it definitely lacked a woman’s touch, the layout and finishes were perfect.
Glass doors spanned the length of the outside wall, providing what was sure to be a gorgeous view of the cerulean waters of the Hauraki Gulf. Darkness impeded her vision, but she’d been to Takapuna Beach many times over the years, and knew firsthand how beautiful it was.
The large lounge was simply decorated with a black leather sectional, neatly arranged around a distressed coffee table, and matching end tables. She bit back a laugh at the sight of the massive TV mounted on the wall, with an entertainment console sitting beneath it, covered in framed photographs.
The lounge flowed seamlessly into a sleek, well-equipped kitchen with maple cabinets and a large island covered in black granite. It was a cook’s dream, laid out perfectly for efficient food prep. The kitchen overlooked a dining area, furnished with a modern looking table and chairs, flanking the sliding glass doors leading outside.
Spanning the entire living area were wide planked hardwood floors, stained a warm dark chocolate color. Soft white walls stood in stark contrast to the vibrant artwork dotting the space, giving the room a light, airy feel to it. Noah’s home was classy, yet comfortable, and surprisingly tidy for a bachelor pad. It felt lived in. Homey.
Noah motioned for her to follow him. “Thanks. I’ll show you to your room so you can put your things away.”
Leading her down a long hallway, he stepped inside the guest room. The bedroom was tastefully decorated with white cottage-style furniture but, as with the rest of the house, the main focal point was the exterior wall of glass.
“This is lovely, Noah,” Emma admitted, as she sat on the bed, letting her bag drop to the floor next to her. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure. Anything,” he answered simply, smiling as he leaned against the doorframe.
“Can you see the sunrise from here?”
“You might not have the best view from this room, due to a tree out there.” Noah lifted his hand, pointing his index finger towards the sliding glass door. “But from the deck or the beach you can. Also, from the lounge. The large trees on the property line give me privacy, but they also block some of the view. Why?”
“I wanted to stay up and watch the sunrise,” Emma stated. “I’d like to usher in the first day of the New Year. I know it sounds silly because, technically, we already have, since it is past midnight, but this will probably be my only chance to witness the first sunrise of the year.”
Noah shifted his weight from one foot to the other, as he crossed his arms across his chest before settling against the doorframe once again. “Doesn’t sound silly at all, Emma. Very thoughtful, actually,” he assured her. “I’ve never done it intentionally. I’ve stayed awake until sunup a few times, but I don’t think I ever paid much attention to the sunrise,” he added with a frown.
“I don’t know if I’ll make it, but I’d like to try. Might need a few energy drinks,” she chuckled, examining her toes, thankful Lily had talked her into getting a pedicure the day before.
“No worries. I’ve got some. Would you like company?” he asked bashfully.
Emma was comforted by his apparent shyness, and appreciated the fact that he wasn’t arrogant, expecting her to fall at his feet, begging for any morsel of his attention. “That would be really nice. Maybe Lily and Josh will too.”
Noah stepped forward, reaching out his hand to her, tangling their fingers together, as she stood to her feet. They walked to the lounge, hand in hand, the sound of her heels against the hardwood floors accompanying them as they entered the large room.
“Do you want to stay up to watch the sunrise with us?” Emma inquired.
Lily was perched on Josh’s lap with her arms draped loosely around his neck.
“No thanks. I’m completely knackered,” Josh stated, as he gently slid Lily from his lap, then took her hand and pulled her up from the couch.
“Yeah, me too,” Lily added, while hugging Emma and then Noah. “But don’t let us stop you.”
As Josh and Lily headed for the stairs leading to the lower level, and their chosen bedroom, Noah turned to Emma and noticed her fidgeting with the hem of her silk top.
“Why don’t you get changed into something more comfortable and I’ll get us a couple of those energy drinks, eh?” he suggested, and as if his arms had a mind of their own, they wrapped themselves around her, hugging Emma securely against his chest. The answering beat of his heart, when her arms slid around his waist, wasn’t surprising. At all.
“That’s probably a good idea. My feet are killing me,” Emma confessed, then turned to walk down the hall to her room.
Watching her retreating figure, he wished she’d be spending the night in his bed. Her shoes may have been killing her feet, but they made her legs look bloody amazing, and conjured up all kinds of images of those long legs wrapped around him, or maybe over his shoulders, while he lost himself in her.
Before he got too carried away, he quickly changed into a T-shirt and a pair of jeans.
Returning a few minutes later, Emma was wearing a pink tank top and a pair of black yoga capri pants, which left very little to the imagination, and showcased her flawless figure nicely. She’d washed her face clean of make-up, and Noah realized that that was how he liked her best…his nature girl.
Emma had a quiet beauty, that didn’t need to cry out for attention with heavy makeup or skimpy clothing. She was naturally sexy without even realizing it, which was even sexier, and as he watched her approaching him, he made a mental note to send Lily a lovely bouquet of flowers, to thank her for bringing Emma into his life. He owed Lily…big time.
“So, do you want to hang out in here, or outside?” she asked, coming to a stop in front of him. Her gaze caressed him as it traveled over his body, and he realized that he felt alive for the first time in a long while.
Unable to resist, he placed a quick kiss on her soft lips, then handed her two blankets and picked up their drinks. “I can set the hammock up on the beach, if you’d like. We’ll have a good view from there.”
“Thanks. Relaxing in a hammock under the stars or in the shade on a sunny day, is one of life’s greatest pleasures.” With a contented sigh, she draped the blankets over her arm and headed towards the door.
He had to agree, especially with Emma snuggled up next to him. Turning on
the porch light, he slid the glass door open. Standing back, Noah gestured for her to walk through onto the deck. “Ladies first.”
The placid sound of the waves rolling onto shore called out to Emma, as they crossed the lawn to the edge of the property. A concrete staircase led down to the beach, and she reveled in the feel of the powdery sand between her toes.
Walking over to the retaining wall along the edge of his property, she set the blankets and drinks on top of it, then hoisted herself up. Laying back onto the lawn and gazing up at the stars, she had the sudden urge to play her guitar and wished she’d thought to bring it with her.
“There’s a swing under the tree if you’d rather sit there,” Noah broke the silence, pointing to a large tree adjacent to the staircase, its thick branches extending over the sandy beach.
“Wow. You even have a tree swing. Could this place be any more perfect?” she remarked, and then instantly regretted it, based on his reaction.
“Oi, hardly perfect,” he gently corrected her. “You should’ve seen the place when I bought it. It’s an older house and needed a lot of updating. I ended up completely gutting it. But I was able to make it my own, and it actually stays warm in the winter now.” Noah’s eyes shifted to the house, sitting proudly as a testament to his success and hard work.
“Well, you’ve done a great job and the swing is just the cherry on top of the sundae,” Emma playfully replied, lowering herself from the wall.
“I can’t take credit for the swing. That was all Maddie; she had to have it. It’s where you’ll find her when she’s here.”
“Um…hello…What girl can resist a tree swing? None, I’ll tell you,” Emma declared in a sassy tone, as she settled into the seat, and gently pushed off with her feet.
Noah was left speechless as he watched her lean back, bathed in a pool of speckled moonlight. Delicate fingers clung to the rope as her arms slowly straightened, until she was fully reclined and staring up into the branches above her. Her long hair lightly brushed the sand as it fluttered in the breeze beneath her, and her bare toes left tiny trenches in their wake.
He couldn’t see her face, but he was sure she was smiling. She was always smiling.
She was a dream. A very, very pretty dream.
“Hammock’s ready,” he stated with pride, as he set the drinks in the sand, holding the blanket for her.
Reaching out a hand for the blanket, Emma gave him the easy smile that twisted his heart into a knot. “Thank you,” she said, as they sat carefully, with their legs hanging over the edge.
The slope of the hammock caused them to settle against each other, while Noah planted his foot in the sand to smoothly glide them back and forth. “I’m afraid I’m not going to last very long. It’s like rocking a baby. Lights out within minutes,” she giggled, and he felt the vibration of it all the way to his soul.
“Your drink is right next to you in the sand.” He held the hammock still while she reached for it. “Bottoms up. This was your brainchild, so you have to stay awake. And I went to all the trouble of assembling this lovely and relaxing hammock, just for you,” he paused, letting out a soft laugh. “Probably a bad idea, eh?”
“Yeah, but I should be fine once I finish this. How many hours till the sun comes up?” Emma asked, as she opened the energy drink and raised it to her lips.
“I’m guessing around three or four. Think you’ll make it that long?”
A small frown spread across her face, and Noah felt her bright light dim slightly. “I better. I’m going to be really upset if I came all the way to the place where the world welcomes the new day, and then miss out on it,” she took a deep breath, fortifying her resolve. “You know what? I will definitely stay up until the sun comes up. How about you, Noah?” Her voice held the hint of a dare.
“Is that a challenge, Emma?” he joked, as her expression shifted from soft to serious in the blink of an eye.
Holding his gaze, her competitive nature came out in force. “I suppose it is, Noah.”
“Care to make it interesting?” he suggested with a sinister grin, while rubbing his hands together.
Tilting her head to look at him, he saw the flicker of doubt creasing her brow. “Nothing crazy, right?”
“How about, when I win, you have to…wash my car?” There was no way he was going to lose this bet.
“Okay. That’s not so bad. And when I win…”
“Oh, you are not going to win, Emma,” he interrupted her.
“Oh, really,” she protested. “What makes you so sure?”
“Well…you were the one who was just about to nod off; all I have to do is rock you. It’s like, how you say…taking candy from a baby,” he laughed mischievously.
She poked a finger in his chest and all he could do was smile. Emma was absolutely adorable when she was irritated. “That would not be playing fair.”
“All’s fair in love and war, sweetheart,” he stated resolutely, tapping the tip of her nose.
“Well, we’ll see about that. Okay, so when I win, you’ll have to…give me a back massage. Deal?” She held out her hand to shake on it.
He snickered. “Deal. And, as I see it, it’s a win for me either way.” He shook her hand, but then didn’t let go and laid their joined hands across his chest, twining their fingers together.
As the night wore on, they spoke endlessly about their families, and anything else that came to mind. He’d given in to the urge to kiss her again, a few times, and was relieved she’d kissed him back with equal verve. They weren’t the mind blowing, rock your world kind of kisses, but the ones where, midsentence, you leaned in and placed a soft kiss on someone’s lips…just because you needed to.
After he’d tried in vain to explain the game of rugby to her, she confessed that it wasn’t personal, but it was like going to a football game at home; she always had fun, but had no interest in learning the rules. She just liked to watch and soak up the atmosphere. He appreciated her honesty and it was actually refreshing that she didn’t care about rugby, unlike many of his previous dates, who went on endlessly, fishing for gossip to share with their girlfriends.
Not wanting to lose the bet, when it looked like she might make it to sunrise, he thought about rocking the hammock, but in the end, he didn’t need to because Emma was sound asleep. Her cheek rested against his shoulder, and with her arm draped loosely around his waist, he had the overwhelming sensation that this was meant to be. That they were meant to be.
Covering her legs with the blanket, he carefully snaked his arm around her, so as not to wake her up, and twirled a lock of her long hair around his finger mindlessly. Holding her in his arms, he watched her sleep. She looked so peaceful and content, like an angel. His angel.
As the dawn was starting to break, he gently nudged Emma. “Wake up, sleepyhead.”
Tired eyes blinked open, and he detected the moment she realized she’d fallen asleep. “Oh, no. I lost the bet,” she frowned, and he wanted to kiss the pretty pout from her lips. “I can’t believe I fell asleep.”
“And I can’t wait to collect on that bet,” he snickered as she rolled onto her back, then silently mourned the loss of her warmth. Maybe she’d let him pick out the outfit she wore while soaping up his car. A sexy swimming costume would suit him just fine, although it might give his elderly neighbor a heart attack.
“Gloating is not an attractive quality, you know,” she complained, folding her hands across her abdomen and directing her attention to the rising sun.
They sat together, gently swaying back and forth, reverently welcoming the dawn of a new day, as the sun slowly rose over the horizon, bathing them in golden sunlight.
“God, it’s so pretty. It’s like a sea of diamonds, glittering on top of the water. I could sit here all day. Right here with my toes in the sand, looking out at that.” She gestured beyond the beach to the crystal blue waters of the Hauraki Gulf and Rangitoto Island.
“I don’t get to enjoy it as much as I’d like, especially with such
a pretty girl in my arms,” he confessed, holding her gaze, then placed a chaste kiss on her lips. “But this view is obviously why I bought the house. Didn’t care what the house looked like. That could be changed, but you can’t change the view. Fell in love as soon as I saw it.”
She nodded, as he slid his arm around her shoulders once again, holding her to his side. “Well, I can see why. It’s so beautiful.”
“I have a stressful job with a lot of pressure. Don’t get me wrong, I love it, but it’s nice to come home to this.” He motioned to the water. “To sit and relax, or maybe go for a walk or jog along the shoreline at the end of the day. Some people love the city life, but I prefer it here, at the beach.”
Noah watched as Emma stood and stretched her arms above her head, exposing a small strip of skin along her trim midsection. Cocooning the blanket around her shoulders, she turned to take another look at the gulf, and yawned, staying like that for a long moment, not saying a word.
Emma turned towards Noah and took a minute to appreciate the sight of him. With his eyes closed he looked so at ease, as his large hands cradled his head, forming a pillow. Dark stubble highlighted a strong jawline and his hair stood on end, as if he’d spent the night running his hands through it. From his long legs to the adorable fauxhawk crowning the top of his head, she couldn’t imagine a more beautiful sight.
The evening had turned out so unexpectedly. Emma hadn’t planned to watch the sunrise with Noah, but now that she had, she wouldn’t change a single minute. Sharing the experience with him made it so much more than she ever could’ve dreamed of.
Emma wasn’t sure if he was awake or not, so she whispered his name, careful not to disturb him if he’d fallen asleep. He opened one eye, shifting his hand to shield it from the sun, which was now shining brightly.