Enchanted (The Accidental Billionaires #4)(57)

“You know we’re around if you ever need to talk. I don’t know how much help I’ll be, but I’m here to listen,” Aiden said in a low voice as we hit the outdoors.

My relationship had changed so damn much with Seth and Aiden, and I was grateful for the offer. “Thanks.”

Maybe they couldn’t give me precise and easy advice, but I was glad they were there to listen when I needed to vent.

I was pretty sure I was going to need that.





CHAPTER 23

ANDIE



I’d never been a runner when it came to exercise.

Okay, I wasn’t even a jogger.

In all honesty, I was pretty much a walker, and speed was negotiable, depending on how energetic I felt that particular day.

But here I was, out on the beach, bent over, holding my side, and gasping for air like I’d just run a marathon.

Ha! I hadn’t even made it half a mile before I ended up so winded that I couldn’t breathe.

What in the hell am I doing?

I’d become tense after completing my work, and instead of meditating or yoga, I’d thought that a nice run on the beach would help with my sexual frustration.

It . . . hadn’t.

I was fairly fit, but I wasn’t prepped for a damn full-out sprint.

I stood up straight, my hand still on my aching side, and started to walk it out.

A shower was definitely in order for me at the moment, and I still didn’t know when Noah was going to show up.

He’d gone out with his brothers for lunch during the afternoon, but it was past dinnertime, so I was surprised that I hadn’t seen him yet.

I pulled my phone out of the back pocket of my yoga pants.

Nothing. Not even a text.

I put my phone away and kept walking back toward my house.

It had been my anticipation of seeing Noah that had left me panting for breath, literally, in the first place.

One more evening of acting like a teenager on a date with a cute guy was going to kill me.

I was ready to seduce him. My only reservation was that he might think it was too soon, which could screw up what we already had.

I hadn’t wanted to risk it, but I was getting desperate to spend some adult time with him.

In bed.

Under the covers.

On top of the covers.

On a kitchen counter.

The couch, maybe?

I thought I was throwing him enough signals; he should be seeing the big green light by now.

My respirations were returning to normal, and I dropped my hand from my side.

I’ll live. I just need to be patient. I’d do decades in hell if it means I eventually get Noah.

I wondered if I actually needed to tell him I was ready.

For anything? Am I ready to give him forever?

Over the last several weeks, Noah and I had both subtly changed.

He was becoming more comfortable with himself and figuring out what his priorities were in his life. He worked, but he did a lot of playing, too, and he’d figured out that he desperately needed to slow it down. At least for a while. I’d figured out that the whole bossiness thing was an inherent part of his personality. It had just been fairly absent while we were in Cancún because he’d been pretty lost. Noah was a leader. He’d had to be. However, I’d never had to get in his face for being high-handed, because he was also fundamentally kind and thoughtful.

Actually, he could take that whole alpha, demanding thing into the bedroom, and I certainly wouldn’t argue with him.

Don’t. Go. There.

I stopped myself just before I started having yet another sexual fantasy, forcing myself to focus on getting back to my house. Sunset was starting, and although there wasn’t a ton of crime in Citrus Beach, I’d rather not be alone on the beach after dark.

As soon as my little cottage was in sight, I noticed what appeared to be a male figure on my back patio.

Noah?

My heart rate increased just at the thought of seeing him again, and it had been less than twenty-four hours since we’d parted.

Whether we had sex or not, I wanted to be with him.

See how his day had gone.

Listen to that sexy baritone say my name.

Cuddle up to the warmth of his body.

See him smile.

I squinted into the fading light.

Not . . . Noah.

When I got to the gate, I swung it open and stepped into my backyard.

“Owen?” I said, surprised.

My best friend had found himself a house, and had been able to move in as a renter while the sale was closing. He’d been in his new place since right after we’d returned from Boston.

Since Noah and I were together, he didn’t stop by without calling . . . usually.

He looked relieved to see me. “I’m glad you’re home. I’ve been ringing the doorbell in the front, and you weren’t answering, so I decided to check the back. I was afraid you weren’t here.”

I’d known Owen since we were in grade school, so it wasn’t difficult for me to discern that something wasn’t right with him. “What’s wrong?”

“Aiden and Noah had an accident. They’re at the hospital. I thought you’d want to go with me.”

I froze as I reached him. What the hell? “Oh, my God, Owen. Are they okay?”

He shook his head. “I don’t know. The police called Skye, and she’s on her way there. The only thing the police would tell her was that Noah was in the ICU, and Aiden is in the ER right now.”