“Oh, please. Emily Dickinson practically invented the morbid female poet. Plath just made it hip. Where are those caramels?”
Noah ambled toward the kitchen to scrounge some snacks. He’d wanted her to stay and chat, despite himself, but now he was second-guessing himself. Women like that, intelligent, gorgeous women, didn’t just follow him into the Land of Stormclouds. And if they did, by accident, he escorted them out. And for God’s sake, if they wanted to stay, he didn’t offer them refreshments.
But here he was, hand out, offering not just the afore-mentioned caramels, but a can of Coke as well.
“So now you’re candying me over.” She popped a caramel into her sexy red mouth. Was she flirting? Because he could think of a lot of comebacks for that one, but they all seemed a bit too forward. He settled for just grinning at her. Let her take that as she would.
“So, Jaylene. Jay. What do you do for fun?”
“I like music. I try to go out on Saturdays when I can, see some local bands. How about you? Are you from around here?” She popped the tab of her soda and gazed at him expectantly over the top as she sipped.
“Oh, you know. I’m from around here generally. As for fun, I wouldn’t say I do much. There are a few shows I follow. I like to read, as you can tell, but I have to admit I’m pretty slow. If a story is skimmable, chances are I’ll regret wasting my time on it. So I pick books I have to kind of savor a few sentences at a time—are you laughing at me?” Her hand was over her mouth and it was kind of adorable. Even though he didn’t really enjoy being laughed at.
“Oh, gosh, no, it’s just that you’re so serious and I asked you about fun.” Her eyes were still gleaming though she composed the rest of her face. Noah gave her a flat look.
“Serious things can be fun.” She stared back. He held the glance, lost in the depths of her eyes as long as he deemed appropriate.
“Okay, fine. I don’t have a lot of fun. I don’t go out much,” he admitted.
“We should change that.” She winked. Definitely flirting now. Sweet. He opened his mouth to hit her with a bit of the old Noah charm just as she jumped up. “Ugh, I can’t believe it’s so late.”
Puzzled, he glanced at the clock. Ten thirty was late? Ten thirty was like his lunchtime. Which reminded him that the caramels were basically the only thing he had in the house to eat.
“You don’t live in the building, do you?” He thought he’d met all the neighbors now, all but the old woman who was apparently both on vacation and an alcoholic, according to the Dawsons. Who had accosted him at about minute three of living there. “Can I drive you home? I need to go grab a couple of things anyway.” He felt around his jeans to double-check on his wallet and keys.
“Oh, no. Thanks. I’m just the next building over. You can walk me if you want. I’m taking these caramels, by the way.” So he was definitely going grocery shopping, then. He opened the door for her, ostensibly to be a gentleman, but he would be lying if he said it wasn’t half to get a better look at her ass in that tight dress.
Jay hadn’t been kidding. Walking her home took exactly forty-five seconds, and that was at a very slow pace. Even though in some ways he was desperate to be alone and sort this out, he was also not sure he was ready for this—whatever it was—to be over.
“Would you like me to walk you up?”
She smiled up at him, dimming the streetlight with her sparkle.
“I can handle it. I’m just there.” She indicated with her hand.
Great. So now every time he walked by the first-floor apartment on the left, he’d be side-eying the window hoping for a glimpse of her even as he hoped she wouldn’t see him looking. Life just got infinitely more complicated, and he’d only been here for a few hours.
“All right, then. Well. Have a good night, Jay. I’m glad I met you.” Should he hug her? This was the crap he never knew if he was getting right. It was easier in books, where everyone knew just what to do and when. But before he had a chance to start overthinking it, she’d moved in and wrapped her arms around him.
Her scent was candy-sweet, sugar on honey. Forget whether it was too soon to hug, all he wanted to do now was grab her by the arms and kiss her hard. To see if it was even possible that she tasted as delicious as she smelled.
She was pulling away, thank God, before he’d acted on the urge.
“I’m glad I met you, too, Noah, I’ll be seeing you.” Since she didn’t look back as she climbed the steps and let herself in the front door (green), he didn’t have to pretend he wasn’t staring at her ass again.