Midnight Kiss (Virgin River #12)(80)

“Really? ’Cause I’m thinking Noah James is a stone-cold stud.”

Her face flamed and she heard Noah’s muttered “Damn it,” past a haze of static in her ears. But this was her fault. She’d spread the tale of Noah’s tryst with the flight attendants.

“Okay,” she whispered. “You’re right. He is. He’s a total stud, and I don’t want anyone to know I succumbed to that, all right? So just keep it quiet.”

“Hoo boy,” Tex breathed. “This is some crazy shit.”

“Elise,” Noah hissed, but she shook her head.

“Wow. All right,” Tex finally said. “I won’t mention this, but don’t expect me to keep my admiration a secret, man. And Elise…watch yourself around this dog.”

“Yes. Of course.”

“Wow,” he said again, shaking his head as he retreated from the doorway.

Elise rushed to shut the door behind him and turned to find Noah standing with his arms crossed.

“I can’t believe it. You threw me under the bus.”

“It’s only temporary! I don’t want to run the risk that we won’t be assigned to the same case. It’s just for a little while, I swear.”

“Oh?” He scowled at her, unmoved. “And then what?”

She cleared her throat. She’d had a lot of time to think while Noah had assembled his team and pored over mind-numbing numbers for hours. “I’ve been thinking I’m not cut out for this job.”

“What are you talking about? You’re damn good at it.”

“I am good at it. I’m great at it. But I don’t love it. And lately I’ve been eyeing Fraud and Counterfeiting.”

He dropped his arms to his sides. “The Secret Service?”

“Yes. There’s a big office in Denver. They’re short-staffed and I’m qualified. If I like the investigative side of it, I can apply to become a full-fledged agent next year.”

“You’re serious?”

“It would be a relief. There are bad guys and good guys. There’s nothing touchy-feely—”

“Hey, you’re pretty good at touchy-feely.”

“No, I’m not. And…my mom was from Kansas. I never knew her family. I don’t even remember her. But I thought… I thought now that my dad is gone, maybe I should get to know her story, her family. I’ve been in touch with my aunt…” She shrugged. “I’ve wanted a change. I love my uncles, but spending every weekend with them… I’m too young to live like that. And now…”

“Now,” he repeated.

“Yeah. Now.” She didn’t know what else to say. Her mind was doing that grasping, anxious dance. What was he thinking? What does he want me to say? She took a deep breath. She had good instincts. Look how this case had turned out.

She decided to take the plunge. “I checked out apartments last year. It wouldn’t take too long to arrange, assuming I can get the job. Maybe a couple of months. If, you know, we’re still…”

Daring a glance in his direction, she found him looking serious. Too serious. Crap. “Or—”

“We will be.”

“I’m shy,” she blurted out. “I never know what to say at parties.”

His eyebrows rose. “What?”

“And I’m not very girly.”

“Oh.” He nodded, and his mouth softened to something even sweeter than a smile. “We’re even, then. I’m a guy and I don’t like sports.”

“Really?”

“When have you ever heard me join in a discussion about March Madness?”

“Good point. Are you saying I could kick your ass at basketball?”

“Almost definitely.”

She thought of knocking into him on the court, their sweaty bodies tangling as they fought over the ball. “Maybe you just need more practice?”

He shrugged as if he didn’t care, and she decided she’d have to convince him. A rough hour on the court with Noah would be right up her foreplay alley. So much better than flowers and dancing. And she had the unshakable feeling that Noah James wouldn’t think there was anything wrong with that.

“But I have been thinking about trying bull riding,” he drawled.

That snapped her from her fantasies. “What?”

“The mechanical kind. Wanna go out tonight and try your hand? We’ve got a closed case to celebrate…and there are rumors going around that you’re an amazing rider, Elise Watson.”

He dodged the fist she threw at his shoulder and snuck his arms around her for a kiss. A mechanical bull on their second date? Yep, he knew her pretty damn well.

CHAPTER NINE

“IS THIS WEIRD?” Elise asked anxiously. “It’s weird, isn’t it?”

“It’s not so bad,” Noah answered. “I checked the view from your kitchen window and you can only see one corner of my bedroom from there. Not too creepy at all.”

“Oh, no,” she groaned, hiding her face behind her hands. Noah put down the box he was carrying and pulled her into his arms.

“You’re cute when you’re mortified.”

“I didn’t know I’d be able to see into your bedroom! I should’ve taken the place across town.”