One Last Time(15)

Ugh.

I need this job, though.

Before I can make a move either way, the glass door slides open and Noah walks through the threshold.

My legs start to quiver as his eyes meet mine. All I can think about is how I’d like to climb him like a tree and shake his coconuts. I thought he was hot in the photo, then he was better through the window, but up close, he’s otherworldly.

“Hi.” Noah’s throaty voice floats around me. “You must be Kristin.”

Instead of speaking, I stand here with my mouth hanging open. Some small sounds that could be words escape, but they aren’t coherent.

Kill me now.

“Noah, this is my best friend, Kristin. Who we told you about.” Heather elbows me.

“Yes. Me. Hi. Kristin. I. You. Hi.”

Smooth. Someone should video this because I’m sure it’s highly entertaining.

“Right.” Noah flashes a blinding smile. “I hear you’re a reporter?”

Okay, Kristin, you have to speak in more than one-word increments or grunting noises.

I grab Heather’s glass she just poured and hope it’ll act as a talisman. “Yes, for a small blog, but I’m that. A reporter. For a blog. I write.”

And a bumbling idiot.

Noah’s green eyes are filled with humor. He moves a little closer and places his hand on top of mine. “Eli filled me in a little. I’m happy I came.”

I’m pretty sure I just came. At least we’re all coming.

“Me, too.”

His lips turn up as his eyes rake my body. “See you out there.” He winks and walks back out.

My ovaries have officially disintegrated.

I turn back to Heather, who bursts out into a fit of laughter. “Oh, that was epic. You all said I was starstruck when I met Eli? You should’ve seen that!” Heather continues to laugh at my expense. “Yes. Me. Um. Blog. Er—” She mocks.

“Shut up.” I laugh—because, really, what else can I do—and bump her hip before moving around the bar and grabbing a glass. “Now, pour me a shot before I drink straight from the bottle.”

There’s only one way to get through tonight.

Alcohol.

Lots of Alcohol.





Chapter Six





Noah





I’ve been around beautiful people for a long time, but Eli failed to mention Tampa seems to grow their own breed of hot chicks. Fucking hell, that girl is gorgeous.

Her deep blue eyes are hypnotizing, her dark hair is the most beautiful shade of chocolate brown, and those plump lips have my balls tightening.

“Did you meet Kristin?” Eli asks when I walk over with the beers from the wet bar.

“Could’ve warned me she’s hot as fuck.” I laugh as I take a seat.

He smirks. “All of Heather’s friends are hot.”

“Good to know. What’s her deal?”

I’m hoping Eli reads between the lines of what I’m asking. If I’m going to spend some time hanging around Tampa, it would be nice to maybe have some company.

Eli studies me and sighs. “I wouldn’t get any ideas, Noah. She’s had it rough, and I’m not sure you’d have a chance in hell. Plus, Heather will have your nuts in a jar if you played any kind of games. And she just got out of a pretty fucked-up marriage. Kristin isn’t a girl I’d chase if I were you.”

“Right.” I look through the window and catch a glimpse of her smile. The way her whole face looks brighter before she throws her head back and laughs without any reservations.

Eli clears his throat. “Don’t be stupid, Noah.”

I give him a look that causes him to laugh. “Maybe casual is what she’s looking for.”

“I’m warning you.” Eli’s eyes are serious. “She’s not a girl you fuck around with. She’s got two kids, a piece-of-shit husband, who is going to make her life hell through their divorce, and if you hurt her . . . I’ll beat the shit out of you before Heather has a chance to.”

The threat doesn’t go unheard, but I’m not sure I’ll be able to stay away from her. Instead of saying that to him, I take a swig of my drink and keep my eyes forward. The last girl I had this strong of a pull toward was my high school girlfriend. I loved Tanya with everything I was, and if she were still alive, she and I would be married. I know that in the depths of my soul. She was taken too soon, leaving me unable to move on.

“Shots!” Heather yells as she and Kristin bounce out of the house, halting our conversation.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Eli grumbles. “Baby, you know you can’t hold your liquor.”

Heather laughs and curls up on his lap. “Kristin and I did four already!”

Kristin sits on the lounge chair next to me and sips her margarita. “You’re such a lightweight, Heather.”

“Whatever, Eli likes what happens when I drink.” She runs her finger from his lips down to his chest. “Don’t you, honey?”

He laughs and looks at me. “This is going to be a very interesting night.”

I look over at Kristin and can’t help but agree. “It seems so.”

The girls continue to drink and do shots through the next hour, but then Eli takes the bottle back into the house, cutting them off. Now they’re dancing—sloppily. Kristin tries to move her body seductively against her friend, but they keep giggling and almost falling over.