He remembered the shirt she’d been wearing that morning. It had been in the closet before that. Directly on top of the box. The box that was open for anyone looking to see into. It would have been hard for her to miss it.
Wait. Did she say…? “You thought I was a drug dealer?”
She let out a strangled sort of croak. “Yeah. Funny, right?”
“Because you thought my books looked like drugs?”
“Bricks of cocaine. Yeah.”
He burst into laughter. It was too ridiculous not to. “Why on earth would you assume that?”
“Because there’s a rash of drug crime here. And why else would someone have packages wrapped up in brown paper?”
His anger had faded in the exchange. How could it not? He shook his head and tried to explain. “I send those for giveaways. People don’t always want other people—”
“—to know what they’re reading,” she finished with him. “Got it. Now. This also makes more sense when I think about that cougar you were talking to. She wanted you to sign her book, not refill her coke stash.”
“Yeah, I don’t get recognized on the street very often, but my fans are very sweet. I always take a moment for them when they do notice me. No cocaine involved.”
She bit her lip. “So I did something shitty, and you can punish me for it later if you want to, but can we talk about the more important issue here?”
There was a more important issue than a possibly trafficking charge? Good grief. But. Her suggestion of punishment had his thoughts drifting naughtily. Probably not the right time, but he was a guy, after all.
Jay held up the book, flashing it in his face as if he’d never seen it. “You wrote this, Noah. You wrote this and you didn’t tell me.”
She already knew, so why was it still so hard to admit?
And why was it hard to admit at all? This was his work. He wasn’t ashamed. In fact, he loved his fucking book. And so did half the women in Boston. Like that blond lady, like a million more like her. He threw his shoulders back. “Yeah, I wrote it. I write sexy books. And I read them, too. And I didn’t tell you because I knew you’d get all narrow-minded again, and I’m tired of it, Jaylene. Not just from you, but from everyone. It’s why I don’t tell people. I don’t tell anyone.” He exhaled heavily, as if the weight of his sigh could somehow convey all his feelings to her. She made a face.
“I wish I could say that I didn’t deserve that, but I can’t. I’ve been wrong about things. I see that now. But I’ve tried to change. I’ve trusted you, and you didn’t trust me. Were you going to keep this from me forever?” Her own sigh was just as weighty as his, reminding him that he wasn’t the only one feeling betrayed.
“Maybe.” No, he would have told her. Eventually. Probably. But he was still feeling a tad bit contrary.
“That’s no way to have a relationship. Keeping secrets from each other? I thought you wanted to have something real. Or was I mistaken about that, too?” Her arms crossed, as if to protect her heart. It broke his.
“No. No, you weren’t mistaken. I do want to have something real with you.” His hands moved futilely, wanting to hold her, to reassure her, but knowing it wasn’t going to be okay.
“Good. Because I want to have something real with you, too.”
“You do?” He froze, certain he’d misheard that. Judgey Jay still wanted him, even after this?
“Yes. I do. Which is why I spent all evening reading your book. It’s good, Noah. It’s really good.” Her arms fell to her sides, the book no longer a barrier between them.
“You liked it?” He still couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“I loved it.” She smiled, for the first time, and his heart started to put itself back together.
“Even though you think it’s demeaning to women?” he clarified.
“It’s not demeaning to women. I made some incorrect assumptions.” Her grin spread, those cherry-red lips exposing her white teeth. Maybe instead of a barrier, his book could be a bridge.
“You know what they say about assumptions.…” He grinned back, already planning their makeup sex. Maybe it was too soon, but his relief was so palpable.
She laughed. “It’s assume, you dope. It doesn’t work with the word assumption. Some writer.”
“You got my reference, though. And am I right that you’re now thinking about my ass?”
“I’m thinking you are an ass.” She crossed to him and threw her arms around his neck.
Without hesitation, he pulled her closer, wrapping her into his embrace. Finally, he could show her how sorry he was. Yeah, he should have done this awhile ago. Forward women were definitely awesome.