Enchanted (The Accidental Billionaires #4)(55)

CHAPTER 22

NOAH



“I think I’m about to lose my damn mind, or what little of it that I have left,” I confessed to Aiden and Seth as we sat around a table in Skye’s restaurant.

We’d decided to meet here since all of us were hungry, and the bistro had some of the best food in town.

Andie had needed to do some work on her blog, so we’d pushed our meeting time to later in the day.

Probably better for my sanity.

“You guys look happy,” Aiden said right before he wrapped his mouth around the sandwich special.

I smirked. All of Skye’s specialties were piled so high that it was almost difficult to take those first few bites. “That’s the problem,” I grumbled. “I’m happier than I could have ever imagined. My life would be perfect if I could just lure Andie back to my bed.”

Seth started to choke on his sandwich, and reached for his water. It took a few minutes before he commented. “No offense, Noah, but you can’t just say that shit without some kind of warning. I’m not exactly used to you talking about getting laid.”

I glared at him. “You talk about it.” Yeah, he didn’t exactly give us the details, but Seth and Aiden had no problem talking about sex in general.

“We actually get laid,” Seth pointed out. “You generally . . . don’t. And you sure as hell have never discussed it if you have.”

“Well, feel free to proceed,” Aiden joked. “I want to hear about it. Seth and I can share our vast knowledge about women.”

I let out a bark of laughter as I dug into an enormous homemade potpie. “Your women have both of you tied around their little fingers, and you know it.”

“Riley does,” Seth admitted happily. “But she never uses the way I love her against me. That connection goes both ways. So what’s up with you and Andie?”

“I’m having difficulties with my patience,” I said uncomfortably. “I promised her that we’d take one day at a time, get to know each other, date, and that I’d stop thinking with my dick.”

Aiden shot me a dubious look as he took a break from devouring his own plate of food. “You haven’t had sex with her since Cancún?”

I shook my head. “No. And I’m not sure it’s a good idea right now. Once we start that kind of relationship again, I’ll lose my shit over her. I’ll get possessive, protective, and greedy. The same way I did last time. I’ll want a damn commitment from her.” Not that I didn’t already want that, but it would probably get worse if we slept together.

Both of my brothers nodded like they knew exactly what I was talking about.

Seth took another gulp of water to wash down his food before he spoke. “Look, I’ve seen you two together. She looks at you the same way you look at her. Maybe this isn’t easy for her, either.”

I didn’t have a single doubt that Andie felt the same way I did, but I was worried about my timing. “You know her history, and her problem with long-term commitment.”

Aiden nodded. “We get it. I can’t even imagine what she’s gone through. I’d probably feel the same damn way if it were me. I wouldn’t want Skye to be burdened with a sick guy who might very well leave her alone in the near future. But she’s passed all of the possible crisis points. The likelihood of her getting sick again is about what a normal person’s odds are of getting sick. I think she’ll realize that eventually, as time goes on. Right now, I think I’d just be coming to terms with the fact that I didn’t have to fear that anymore. She’s not a selfish person, Noah. I think the fear is all for you and not for herself.”

“I already know that,” I said flatly. “That’s why I don’t want to put any stress on her with my demands.”

I knew once I possessed her body and soul, there was no going back for me. Dammit! There already was no going back, and I knew it. I just wasn’t sure how Andie would handle it if I told her that.

“I think she can take it,” Aiden said firmly. “The woman has a great head on her shoulders. And I know she’s crazy about you. She’s not going to walk away from you again, Noah.”

Aiden touched on a nerve that I hadn’t wanted to acknowledge, a thought that I’d been thinking for a while now, whether it was rational or not.

If I don’t push to have sex, she won’t go anywhere.

“Is that what you’re worried about?” Seth asked in a serious tone.

I nodded. “Yeah. I think it is.”

“Then stop being so paranoid,” he directed. “That woman isn’t going anywhere. She’s in love with you, Noah. Head over heels. And I wouldn’t be saying that if I didn’t know she feels the same way you do. God knows the last thing I want is to see you end up hurt.”

I raised a brow. “What makes you think that? She’s never said it.”

Aiden rolled his eyes with apparent annoyance. “For one, she puts up with the whole lot of us. She even seems happy to see us. Andie wants to please you, Noah. She wants to make you happy. Don’t you see that?”

I was quiet as I looked back at the last several weeks that Andie and I had spent together.

Her desire to see me fit back into my family, in the right role for the present time, had always been one of her priorities. Not only did she put up with all of my family, but she seemed to throw herself into the group with gusto.