by Krista Lakes
“Have you interviewed with her before?” I asked. Noah tucked my arm into his elbow, starting us down the path again. The setting sun glimmered through the tree branches and made the world into gold and silver shadows. We walked slowly, not wanting to risk catching up to her.
“She covered the lawsuit.” The corners of his mouth went down in disgust. “I dreaded walking past her every morning because she had the most bitter things to say to try and get a good soundbite.”
“She sounds like a lovely human being,” I cracked. Noah snorted and gave me a small squeeze. “You know, this does tell me that you actually are successful and not just good at stealing cell phone minutes.”
“I was afraid you might come to that conclusion, but why do you think that?” Noah asked, his eyes on the path.
“One, reporters don't hound unimportant people. Two, you have multiple billionaire friends. And then three, the fact that you have a functioning phone on an island in the middle of the ocean.” I ticked off the reasons on my fingers.
“All right,” he said slowly. “I might be a little important.”
“You aren't going to tell me, are you?” I asked. He shook his head. “Well, then I'll try and figure it out. What was the lawsuit about?”
Noah stopped in his tracks and turned to face me. “You really don't know? It was all over CNN for a good week.”
I shook my head from side to side. “I don't have much time for TV, and we don't have cable at the research facility. If it isn't about an approaching hurricane, then I don't follow it.”
A soft, slow smile came over Noah's face. His eyes danced as his smile grew. “Well, isn't that something...”
“So, are you going to tell me, or what?” I asked impatiently. His smile just grew wider.
“If you don't know, I'd rather not tell you. It wasn't a pleasant experience, and it's really nice to talk with someone without constantly being reminded of your failures.”
I thought about that for a moment as we started walking again. I thought about my own failures and how much it would suck to have a reporter hounding me for more. Having some of them reported in the local newspaper when I was a kid had been bad enough, but the idea of having them broadcast to the world was terrible.
“I understand.” I gave him a squeeze and leaned into his strong arm. “Failures suck. I know they're supposed to teach you some sort of lesson, and that it can work out for the better, but they still suck. They leave a bitter taste in your mouth. I guess that makes success that much sweeter, but ugh.”
Noah chuckled at my disgusted noise. “Between the lawsuit and the wedding, I've had enough failures.”
My heart sunk to my toes and threatened to continue on down through China. Wedding? My brain rebelled against the word. He's married. He's been leading me on this whole time. I kissed a married man. A panic went through me and I dropped his arm and pushed him away. No wonder he was so charming. He had a wife to practice all his lines on first.
“What do you mean, 'wedding?'” I asked coldly.
Noah's shoulders slumped, and his face fell. The shadows of the trees crossed his features, darkening them. He put his hands in his pockets and kicked at the ground, his eyes following a small stone on the path.
“I forgot you don't know about that either.” He looked up at me, his eyes full of hurt and his brow pinched to almost pain. “I was recently left at the altar.”
“So you're not married?” I mentally slapped myself for being tactless as relief flooded my voice. I wasn't the other woman after all.
Noah gave a bitter chuckle and kicked the stone again, sending it spinning into the roots of a tree. “Nope. She didn't even bother going to the church. She came from a big society family, so it was supposed to be the social event of the year. Even the mayor was there. She made one of her poor bridesmaids walk up the aisle and tell me she wasn't going through with it. In front of the whole congregation.” A spiteful smile danced briefly across his face. “I don't think they're friends anymore.”
My hands went to my mouth in shock. I’d always thought that kind of thing only happened in movies. “That's terrible! I'm so sorry!”
He shrugged, obviously trying to pretend that he didn't care despite the pain etched all over his face. Whoever she was, she had hurt him. I was halfway surprised he was even willing to talk to another female again.
“I really thought she was the one.” He looked up, his eyes full of unshed tears. “You know, growing old together and spending cold nights cuddled up next to the fireplace kind of thing. I was wrong. I didn't see it coming.”
I took another step forward. We were almost touching again. “I'm so sorry. I can't imagine doing that to someone. Did she give you a reason?” As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I grimaced a little. Tact was just not with me today.
“Money.” He spat the word out like it was a vile, bitter thing. “I found that out later. She learned that I had turned down a job with Jack's father. It wasn't what I wanted to do and I had bigger and better plans, but she didn't believe in me. She just wanted the paycheck.”
“I'm sorry,” I said quietly. He looked up and over at a tree branch above my head.
“She ended up marrying some banker. They divorced as soon as he went bankrupt.” The corners of his mouth turned up in a bitter smile, but his eyes stayed cold.
I wasn't sure quite how to respond to that. Another 'sorry' just didn't seem adequate. 'Good job dodging that bullet!' didn’t seem quite appropriate either, so I just stayed silent.
Noah's eyes returned from the branch to my face. The last few rays of golden sunlight caught the angles of his face, making him look older and more stern. I liked the carefree and happy Noah better.
“It was one of those failures that turns out to be a good thing in the end,” he said quietly. “But the fact that it was such a disaster still stings. It's on my Wikipedia page now. I'm the 'left-at-the-altar guy.'” He found another rock to kick, sending it hurtling down the path. I took his arm and pressed my cheek into his shoulder.
“And here I thought it was bad being the 'always-falls-for-tourists girl,'” I said without thinking. I cringed a little once the words were out, but I started walking, hoping that he wouldn't catch it.
“The 'always-falls-for-tourists girl?'” He turned and grinned at me, and I could feel the blush heat my cheeks.
“It's just a nickname,” I said lamely. “Not interesting at all.”
“Oh no, it's very interesting,” he insisted. “Besides, I just told you my dirty laundry.”
I fidgeted for a moment, wishing I could devise a way out of telling him. It wasn't so much that it was a horrible thing, just more embarrassing than anything else. Especially when I had to tell it to a tourist I was interested in. I looked over at him, and he just raised his dark eyebrows, waiting.
“Fine,” I sighed. “The majority of eligible men on the island are tourists, so the past few guys I 'dated' weren't exactly locals,” I explained. “Anyway, the last one promised me the moon and the stars. I believed him and told everyone I was going to go back to the mainland with him.”
“And he didn't take you with him?”
“Worse. He was actually here for his bachelor party. I was his last hurrah,” I said, sickened at how gullible I had been. “It was all a lie.” I looked down, feeling the insecurity and shame bubble up again. “I had told everyone. I had practically bought my plane ticket.”
My voice faltered at the end. I didn't want to tell Noah how the jerk had laughed at me. How I had trudged through the town and everyone had shot me pitying looks. The shame of everyone finding out that I had been duped and dumped. The well-meaning but awkward questions from my mainland friends asking when I was going to come visit them. My mom's reaction. I cleared my throat and tossed my hair behind my shoulder. I was stronger now.
“But I learned my lesson. No more tourists.”
Noah faced me, his hands on my shoulders. The heat of his palms against my bare skin set my body afi
re with want. I wasn't sure if he was trembling or if I was, but either way my body was humming. Ice blue eyes held me in their thrall. They were full of kindness and attraction, and it was intoxicating.
“What about me? I'm a tourist.” His voice was deep and playful. I stared at his perfect lips, wanting to kiss them, as they formed the words.
“Yeah, well, I never said I was a good student.”
The fingers of one of Noah’s hands made their way to my chin, moving me into a gentle, yet insistent kiss. The kiss deepened, my lips parting to give him more. His kiss was hot and deep, banishing every unhappy thought from my mind. He tucked his head, breaking the connection and allowing me to replenish the much needed oxygen for my aching body. I took an unsteady breath, keeping my eyes closed, feeling lightheaded and wonderful.
At least this time I know what's coming, I thought to myself. I know this is just for now and not forever. I can enjoy this now, or I can regret never having it. I opened my eyes to see his blue ones. I choose to enjoy it.
“You are so beautiful,” Noah whispered. His smile was soft and full of affection. Butterflies danced in my stomach.
“Thanks,” I whispered. My voice didn't seem to work anymore. I cleared my throat, trying to steady myself by holding onto him. I wasn't sure if that was working, but I wasn't about to let go. Being dizzy in his arms was far better than walking straight alone. “So, what about that dinner I was promised?”
Noah laughed, the rich sound filling the tunnel of trees. The sun had set, turning the branches into a dark mystery of shadows and secrets. I could see the lights of houses ahead on the path, urging us on to civilization. Noah took my hand in his, pulling me forward as we went to eat the dinner he had planned.
Chapter 9
The sound of Noah's feet changed as he stepped from the path onto a smaller, sand-packed one that led toward the rear of Owen's beach home. The sky was fading from lilac to navy as the stars came out to play with the ocean. He led me past some palm trees to an adorable bungalow on the beach.
It was right on the water with the back porch suspended over the ocean on piers that dove into the sea at high tide. Big windows were open to the night air, and I could already smell the scent of food wafting out of them. The front door was flanked by two palm trees leading up to a wooden porch that wrapped around the entire house.
Noah hurried to open the front door, holding it for me like a true gentleman. The inside was just as charming as the outside. Teak floors and comfortable furniture filled the small space with blue and green accents everywhere. It felt like a home instead of a beach house.
The little bungalow appeared to be a main room, kitchen, and then a bedroom with an en suite bath. Set up in the main living area was a round wooden table with candles, two big white plates, and glasses. A smaller rectangular table stood beside it with buffet style warming dishes and carafes of milk and orange juice.
“M'lady,” Noah said with a smile as he pulled out a chair for me to sit. I sat as delicately as I could, and while I got comfortable he lit the two candles. Warm light flickered through the cozy room and added a romantic vibe.
With a flair, he opened the four lids of food on the serving table. Inside each warmer was a breakfast food. Steam from bacon, hash browns, pancakes, and scrambled eggs with cheese and peppers filled the room and made my mouth water.
I clapped my hands with delight. “This looks fantastic!”
Noah let out a little sigh of relief and grinned. “I was hoping you would like it. You said to make my favorite, so here it is.”
“I love breakfast food. It really should just be anytime meal food because it's so good.” I handed him my plate, and he began scooping food in neat portions onto it. “This is so much better than anchovy pizza with mustard sauce.”
“There's maple syrup, ketchup and hot sauce if you want it,” he said nodding toward the end of the table. It looked like it was real maple syrup. The man certainly knew how to do breakfast right.
He handed the plate back to me, and I had a hard time waiting to eat while he quickly filled his own plate with the delicious breakfast food. I poured a little maple syrup on the plate and tasted it on my finger. It was the real stuff. The expensive stuff. The stuff my mom only got us on Christmas. I nearly poured the rest of the bottle on my pancakes.
Once he sat down, he grinned. “Let's eat!”
The pancakes were possibly the best pancakes I had ever had in my life, and I've had a lot of pancakes. They were light and fluffy, but had enough weight to them that they didn't feel flat or too little. They were buttery and delicious. Combined with the maple syrup, I could have lived on that alone for a year.
“So does this count as you making me breakfast, or dinner?” I asked, reaching for the ketchup. The hash browns were crispy and perfect, and the eggs melted in my mouth with little explosions of heat from the peppers. I was fairly sure I had died and gone to food heaven.
“Whichever you want it to be,” he said as he poured maple syrup over all the contents on his plate. “I'll even make you dinner in the morning if you want.”
I giggled at his joke. Noah took his fork and mixed all the contents of his plate into a pile, stirring in the maple syrup. I made a snorting noise at his culinary decision.
“What?” he asked, his mouth full of maple syrup breakfast goodness.
“You eat like my little brother,” I explained, pointing to his plate with my fork. “He likes it all mixed together too.”
“I like the way all the tastes combine...” Big blue eyes looked at me in complete innocence, thinking I was making fun of him.
I smiled. “That's what he says, too!”
Noah swallowed and grinned. “So you have a little brother? Is he here on the island with you?”
I shook my head. “No, he's back in the States. He starts high school this year. Will you hand me the orange juice?”
Noah's eyebrows rose, but he reached for the juice. “High school?” I could see his brain trying to do mental math to figure out if I was far younger than I looked.
“Thanks,” I said as I took the juice and poured a big glass. “The two of us are nine years apart.”
“Oh,” he replied, a relieved smile lit up his face. He put another bite of food on his fork and got ready to put it in his mouth. “Are you two close?”
I shook my head. “Not really. I got stuck watching him a lot growing up, but now that we're so far apart, I kind of miss him. He's a good kid.”
“Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” Noah took another bite.
“Or forgetful. Though I doubt I'll forget all the frogs he put in my pillowcase anytime soon. Little child was a brat.” I laughed. It was a funny memory now, but at the time I nearly took him to the local pond and drowned him. “Do you have any siblings?”
Noah swallowed. “An older brother.”
“What does he do?” I added some more maple syrup to my plate. It was just too good.
“He works for me,” Noah said with a grin. I set my fork down and eyed him.
“See? I knew you had to be successful. Reporters, Jack Saunders, and an older brother that works for you. You must do more than just flip distressed properties. What do you do?”
Noah shook his head. “Not telling.”
“Why?” I took another bite and swallowed. “Do you work for the mob?”
Noah laughed, nearly choking on his eggs. “No, no mob. I've been accused of it, but I can honestly say that I don't work for the mob.”
“Hmm. Do I need to be worried about what you do? I mean, if you're a hit man, I'd like to know.” I felt a little bit of anxiety at the fact that he didn't want to tell me exactly what he did for a living. I was getting the very clear impression that he had a good deal of wealth, but there were a lot of shady ways to make money. I wasn't nearly as afraid as I should have been, though. For some reason, every fiber of my being already trusted him completely. Even the little worrywart fibers that liked to whisper things in the wee hours and didn'
t fully trust that gravity existed, trusted him.
“You only need to worry if you're a distressed property,” he answered, leaning back in his chair and pushing his empty plate forward.
I patted my chest. “Nope, still a human.” I played with my fork in the last remnants of egg on my plate.
“I'll tell you this,” he said, relenting slightly. “I have several businesses, and they all deal with real estate in some form. I am very successful with what I do. And the reason I don't want to tell you, is because I'm afraid you'll be tempted to go Google it and you'll find out about those failures I was telling you about earlier. The press hasn't been very nice to me, and there are a lot of lies being spread around.”
I set my fork down. “So why don't you just tell me now? Then I'll know the truth.”
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “If I tell you, I'm afraid you won't look at me like you are right now. I'm afraid you'll look at me the way everyone else does, and that would kill me.”
His eyes focused on mine, the candlelight flickering and bringing out the handsomeness of his face. There was an energy to him that I couldn't escape. Didn't want to escape. At that moment, I didn't care what he did. I just wanted to be with him. Besides, it didn't matter what he did anyway. He was leaving soon.
“You haven't asked me when I'm leaving yet,” Noah remarked as if he could read my mind. For all I knew, he could.
“Maybe I don't want to know. Maybe I like the illusion that you might stay.” I swallowed hard. I hadn't realized that the words were true until I spoke them. The idea of him staying was like being told I could have the moon. I wanted it so badly, but I knew realistically it wasn't going to happen.
“How about this, then? I'll tell you what I do when I leave.”
I thought about it for a moment. That was an acceptable answer. He could keep his secret, I could keep looking at him as though he walked on water, and when he left, both our illusions would be shattered, but in private. “Then I hope I never find out.”