Noah (The Mitchell/Healy Family #1)(26)
Author: Jennifer Foor

“Oh, you’re funny. Like you don’t know already. Do you really think I’d just throw caution to the wind and sleep with you after one day?”

“You almost did a few hours ago.”

He was right and I hated that he knew it. “I would have stopped you.”

“Darlin’, after one kiss you’d be beggin’ me for more.”

His huge ego annoyed me, but it also made me hot between my legs. I could close my eyes and picture him being between them, satisfying the growing craving I had for him. “Have I mentioned how much I hate cocky men?”

“Maybe you just hate cock. Are you into cleanin’ carpets? Is that how you roll?” He must have thought his comment was funny, because he rolled on his back and cackled at himself. “You like the taste of pu**y?”

I pulled a pillow over my face and screamed into it. The bantering between us was making me crazy. I finally removed the pillow, put my hand on the lamp switch, and spoke. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” I shut off the light and rolled over promising myself that I wouldn’t listen to anything else he had to say.

The room stayed quiet and I finally fell fast asleep.

The next morning I woke up and noticed two things.

Noah was already in the shower.

It was still dark outside.

I went to pull the pillow over my head and go back to sleep when I caught a glimpse of his naked body in my peripheral vision. Though his package wasn’t in view, the rest of his body was. His ass, so fine and muscular. I couldn’t stop looking at him, running that small towel over his tall body. His hair was a mess on the top of his head, and even sexier than when it was dry.

Of course he knew I was looking. It was proven when he put that tiny towel over the front of his junk and came walking out in front of me. “Oh, good mornin’. I didn’t know you were up.”

I couldn’t even speak. Aside from probably having to go into the bathroom and change my underwear, I was completely embarrassed for getting caught staring.

I kept my head turned until I could hear the zipper on his jeans being pulled up. “I’m goin’ to grab some breakfast. You want to get up and join me?”

“Has it occurred to you that it’s still dark out?”

“It will be light soon enough. Come on, we’ve got a big day ahead of us.”

“What do you mean? I thought we were going to practice all day.”

“Woman, I don’t need practice. Besides, all eyes are goin’ to be on you anyway.”

I stood up, not realizing that I was in only my underwear. I turned to see him looking, without regret. He seemed very pleased for me to know he was checking me out. I hurried up and grabbed my clothes before shutting the bathroom door and making sure it was locked.

Then I proceeded to calm myself down enough to be able to get ready for God only knew what he had planned for me. I dressed in my second pair of jeans I’d purchased and a t-shirt that was a little more tight than I was used to.

After putting my hair up in a loose ponytail, I brushed my teeth and put on some makeup. Given the little resources I had, I was happy with my appearance. Plus I assumed he’d been joking about the long day.

We sat down at the restaurant downstairs and he paid attention to his menu instead of me. I kept glancing at him, seeing if he was checking me out. He never once looked at me, and it was driving me insane.

An older woman approached the table, pouring us two cups of coffee and sitting tiny creamer cups in between them. “My name’s Flo. What can I get ya this morning?”

“Good morning, ma’am. I’d like the pancakes with bacon, a little on the crispy side, a large orange juice and a cup of home fries.”

I giggled about all of the food he’d ordered. “I’ll just have a bagel with cream cheese, toasted please.”

She closed her little book and left us to put the order in. “Do you always eat that much for breakfast?”

“Depends if my mom makes breakfast or not.” He sipped at his coffee and then started adding sugar. “On the weekends I probably eat more than this. I burn it all off by lunchtime, though.”

“So you live at home?” It seemed like a good time to ask him something personal about his life.

“No. I have my own place.”

“You drive to your parent’s house every day for work?”

He took another sip of hot coffee. “We live on the same ranch. It’s hundreds of acres. So – no, I don’t drive to my parent’s house. My mom cooks for everyone. She’s been gettin’ up with my dad and taken care of him since they got together.”

I rolled my eyes, imagining a life like I only saw on television. “She sounds like Joan Cleaver. I didn’t know women still tended to men like that. It’s kind of crazy to me. I mean, what could your dad ever give her that would equal the amount of work she’s put into that kind of life?”

He cocked his brow. “For starters, three kids, a beautiful home, anything she’s ever asked for, and his undyin’ love.”

He’d taken offense to my comment and it shocked me. “Sorry if I upset you, Noah. You just seem like you were trying to get away from them, yet clearly you care deeply for your family.”

“My dad and I don’t see eye to eye. His idea for my future ain’t what I want.”

I understood why he hadn’t mentioned it when we talked the day before. “Coming from someone whose family is a cluster-fuck, I’d say your lucky to have them, even if they drive you crazy. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t give to have my mom back.”

I shouldn’t have mentioned it knowing that he’d want to know more. “What happened?”

“She died when I was thirteen. She’d been sick for a while and stopped responding to treatments.”

“Treatments for what?” It puzzled me why he seemed so interested.

“Breast Cancer. Well, it started with that. Eventually the cancer spread to other places and that’s what killed her.”

Noah looked down at his coffee and got real quiet. “Hey, it’s okay. You didn’t upset me. She’s been gone a long time.” I reached over and tapped on his hand, but he stood up and walked away. I watched him head out of the restaurant and pulled out his phone. He spoke for a couple of minutes and came back in and sat down.

“Sorry about that.”

“Are you alright?”

He still refused to look at me. “When I was around eleven my mother was diagnosed. She went through hell, but made it through remission. Every year she gets checked, and I can’t imagine how scary it is for her.”