“You’re picking up dates while running my errands? Cool. Guess you get points for multitasking.”
“He picked me up.” That defensive fire reentered his eyes. “And it wasn’t on purpose. We were talking about cars, he asked me if I wanted to get a drink, and I said yes.”
“When?”
“Tonight. Now, actually.”
“And where’d you find this winner? Which shop?”
“Out in the world. What does it matter?”
“I think I have a right to know who’s gonna be strolling up to my gate to pick you up for dates.”
“He doesn’t have your address. I’m meeting him at the train station.”
And now I was out of ammo.
I dragged my phone against my lower lip and looked him up and down, wondering whether he was going to get laid.
“What’s he like?”
Noah was starting to look incredulous, which turned into him giving me this hilariously sassy eyebrow arch. He really was cute as hell.
“Is this a real question?”
“Yup. I’m curious about the type of guy my snotty assistant swoons for.”
“First off, I don’t swoon. Second, my personal life isn’t up for discussion unless we’re also going to talk about yours.”
I snorted. “That’s easy. I don’t have one. Do you see anyone lining up to come visit me?”
Noah looked all geared up to say something mean but frowned as if realizing my point. “Do you have friends who aren’t football players?”
“No.”
“Well then, there you go. They’re all at training camp, aren’t they?”
“Yes,” I said, pointing at him. “And I thought you didn’t know anything about football.”
“I don’t, but my father is a fanatic and doesn’t stop talking about it. So.” Noah shrugged, but his expression flickered when he mentioned his father. “Anyway, I’m going to go now.”
“You’re really not going to tell me about your mystery man?”
“I’m really not going to tell you,” Noah said.
I crossed my arms over my chest and studied him. I’d been lounging around in states of undress for the past week, and despite checking me out from time to time, he still seemed to hold me in at least some contempt. My personality was enough to detract from my looks, and always had, but my ego still chafed at the thought that some rando had caught his attention with barely any effort. I didn’t even know why I cared. He was hot, but not my usual type, and high-strung as fuck.
“Well,” I drawled, because I couldn’t let it go. “If you start spending nights on the Island, I hope you’re going to start being on time.”
“We’re just getting a drink, not moving in together.”
“Yet. You look like the hit-it-once-and-settle-down type”
Noah gave me a flat stare. “You must be really bored.”
“Wouldn’t you be?”
“Yes, but I’d try my best not to be insufferable to others. That might be the reason no one is rushing to come visit you.”
Ouch. That had actually stung. I slumped lower on the couch since no witty retort sprang to mind.
Noah sighed. “Sorry. I need to work on not being an asshole.”
“‘S’okay. It’s not like I don’t bring it on myself.”
His eyes opened wide, shocked that Gavin Brawley would admit to being wrong. His lips moved like he was working out a good response, but instead of addressing my pity party, he changed the subject.
“Is there anything you want done by next Monday that I can get a head start on during the weekend? It would just be more time efficient if I could research mechanics and service people at home and then arrange for them to come in advance.”
“That would be going outside of your hard-won schedule,” I pointed out. “Isn’t that what we said?”
“Yeah, well, obviously, that doesn’t work with a job like this. I can be flexible.”
“I bet you can. Lover boy will probably benefit from it tonight.”
Noah gave another of his award-winning flat and unimpressed stares.
“Don’t be so uptight,” I said.
“Stop commenting on my private life.”
“You brought it up,” I said. “But I guess you finding dates at work is sort of your MO.”
Noah’s face went blood red and the veins in his forehead bulged. Likely from the way he was keeping himself from cursing me out. I wouldn’t blame him if he did. I was being a miserable bastard just because I was lonely and depressed.
“I’m going,” he said. “Text me if you need anything.”
He turned on his heel, shoulders tense and hands curled into fists, and I was struck by a sudden desire to not have him be incredibly pissed at me. I’d been giving him a hard time for days, and he’d yet to truly complain. Not to mention, he’d done everything I asked except show up on time.
“Hey.”
“What?” he snapped.
“Can you look up some charities? My agent wants me to pretend I’m a philanthropist so people can stop thinking I’m a monster.”
Noah glanced at me over his shoulder. “You want me to do this?”
“Yeah. That’s your thing, right?”
“Right. And you don’t have any particular preference?”
“No.” I frowned. “Well, maybe have it be for kids.” Another pause. “Kids in group homes or homeless kids. That’s a thing, right?”
All traces of his irritation were replaced with curiosity that was clearly piqued. He’d half turned back to me with his head cocked. “It’s definitely a thing, and I’ll enjoy doing it.”
“Good.” I looked down at my phone but could still feel his eyes on my face. “Now go get laid. I expect an entertaining anecdote on Monday morning.”
“Not gonna happen, Gavin. Text me if you need anything else.”
I said nothing and, once again, stared at his ass as he walked out. Even if he didn’t give me the details, his hookup would be fodder for me later. Trying to figure out whether he got loud in bed, or if he just laid there and bit his lip trying not to give anything away, would make for fun fantasies.
Which was a pretty good indicator that I needed to get laid myself.
Chapter Six
Noah
Gavin Brawley was trying to drive me insane.
Monday had started with him in an awful mood. He’d been barking orders at me one minute and then asking me probing questions about my life the next. In fact, after all that, Case had rescheduled our date at the last minute, but Gavin would still not let go of the topic. Then he’d sent me back and forth to the store because the bread I’d purchased was two grams of protein off from the perfect kind. Not to mention he’d finally let me into his “office” so I could start organizing the space and had failed to mention there were literally thousands of envelopes sitting in a giant Rubbermaid container on the floor.