Enchanted (The Accidental Billionaires #4)(9)

My heart clenched just a little. Granted, the guy had some wide shoulders to take on plenty of burdens, but didn’t it ever cross his mind that he could let his guard down?

It was pretty evident that it probably didn’t.

“Because it’s not good for you to sit in the same position for hours,” I answered. “What do you do other than work?”

If I was going to figure out how to pull Noah out of his current state of mind, I had to know more about him.

“I exercise and lift in my home gym,” he said defensively.

I frowned. The resort probably had a gym, but that wasn’t exactly what I wanted to know. Working out was still . . . work.

“What else?” I pushed.

“I take care of my family.”

Was that it? He lived and breathed work and his family?

“Hobbies?”

“None. I’m too busy for them,” he answered gruffly.

“What do you do at night? After work.”

“There is no after work,” he answered sharply. “I work in the evenings, too.”

I slowly got to my feet and put my hands on my hips. “Why?”

The look on Noah’s face after I asked that one-word question might have been amusing if he hadn’t looked so damn confused.

He looks so serious. Like he doesn’t get the question.

“It’s just what I do. I keep my head down and work.” His expression was deadpan.

I rose to my feet and went back to my chair. “Noah, you don’t have to work like that anymore. In case you missed it, you and every one of your siblings are filthy rich.”

“That doesn’t matter. They’re always going to be my responsibility.” His expression was grim as he rubbed his palms over his weary face.

Does he really believe that? “They’re grown, and Owen just became a practicing physician. He’s the youngest. When it comes to your family, your work is finished. You’ve done a good job taking care of all of them. But their happiness is their responsibility now, Noah.”

He grumbled something incomprehensibly and frowned before he opened the lid of his laptop again.

Oh, no you don’t!

I realized that what I’d said had been completely dismissed as he became absorbed in his work again.

Look up!

We’d had one golden moment of conversation, and then, like he was programmed to do it, he’d immediately and completely immersed himself in some project again.

What is he doing?

Does he truly believe that his siblings are going to remain his responsibility forever?

Maybe at one time, he’d needed to work like this, but he couldn’t possibly maintain the same pace forever.

Owen had said his older brother had no life, but I probably hadn’t completely believed that until right now.

I surveyed his expression curiously.

Does he even recognize that I’m still here?

Look up!

The guy looked almost frantic.

He wasn’t just interested in his work. He was obsessed.

“What are you working on?” I asked, trying to draw him back out of himself again.

There was a silent pause, but I was relieved when he rumbled, “Dating app.”

At least he wasn’t completely oblivious to my presence.

I snorted. I couldn’t help myself. “You’re developing something you’ve probably never used?”

I didn’t know it for sure, but I’d bet a delicious plate of tacos that Noah didn’t make the time to use a dating app, if everything Owen had said was the truth.

Honestly, I was seeing for myself that Owen hadn’t exaggerated.

“It will be beta tested. I don’t have to use it,” he said, sounding like he wasn’t the least bit daunted, but he didn’t deny that he never made the time to date.

I reached across the empty seat and snatched his laptop, closed it, and then slid it down between my seat and my body. “Stop, Noah. Talk to me. What have you been doing with your life since I left for college?”

Maybe his fervid stare did unnerve me, but it was better than watching him lock himself away inside of his own head.

He glared at me. “Nothing very interesting. Give the computer back.”

“I’m interested,” I said firmly. “We’re going to be together for two weeks. I’m going to be your tour guide. I know Cancún. You’re going to have a great time.”

“You can go and have your fun. I’m working,” he growled, a sound that probably should have sent a chill down my spine, but it didn’t.

It was his now-frigid look that sent a prickle of unease through my body.

Not that I was afraid of Noah, but I was starting to get concerned that I wasn’t going to be able to draw the real man out of his intimidating, workaholic form.

Something wasn’t right with him.

I could feel it.

I could sense it.

And I wasn’t going to ease up until he did.

“Give. The. Computer. Back.” His tone was cold and unwavering.

I shot him my best megawatt smile. “Not until we catch up. I like to know my traveling companion. Owen did tell you I was coming, right?”

Noah shrugged his broad shoulders. “He might have. I vaguely remember him saying something about some Andy coming along. At the time, I thought you were a male friend of his, and I didn’t care if somebody tagged along. At least this entire trip wouldn’t go to waste if somebody could use it to have a good time.”