International Player(59)

It was easy for a man like Noah to do casual without getting feelings involved. He’d had plenty of practice. I’d decided that we could be friends or we could be lovers but being both was too close to perfect to be healthy for me. So the boundaries were in place despite Noah continually testing them.

My door buzzed. Shit, who could that be? I needed to leave. “Noah?” I asked, peering at the screen. We’d agreed to meet at the venue. “What are you doing here?”

“I was running early. Thought I’d pick you up.”

“You didn’t need to. It’s not like we’re going on a date. But come on up.” Noah wasn’t to know that every time he stepped over a boundary, he made my life a little more difficult.

I buzzed him in and started dropping lipstick and money into my evening bag, so I’d be ready when Noah arrived. If he was like this with girlfriends, I didn’t understand why his relationships only lasted a few months. He was always so thoughtful and considerate, open and giving.

A bang at the door caught my attention. How did he always get up here so fast?

I opened the door and stepped back as he held out a bunch of flowers. Red roses? That was so nice—romantic, even. I began to grin and stopped myself. He made it so difficult to keep him in my casual box. Everything got more and more blurry around him, however hard I fought to keep things clear.

“You look completely beautiful,” he said.

“Why?” I asked, still distracted by the wall-crushing flowers.

“Well, it’s difficult for you not to be beautiful, I suppose. It’s just who you are.”

“Thank you,” I replied. “I meant the flowers. How come?”

He paused as if he were about to say something, and I turned and headed back to my bedroom.

Noah followed. “I thought we should mark tonight. It’s the final hurdle. You did this. You thought you would drown and tonight you collect your gold medal for the one hundred meters freestyle.”

I pressed my lips together to stop my grin from taking over my face. “Yeah. It feels good.” Noah was right. I’d never thought I’d get to this point. It had been such a huge mountain to climb, and with his help, I’d done it. I’d conquered a thousand new things each entirely out of my comfort zone.

“It should. You’ve done fantastically.”

Noah had been so encouraging. When I’d had no confidence in myself, he’d had enough in me to make me believe I could take the next step. Without him, I wouldn’t be standing here, looking forward to this evening. I owed him so much. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“That’s not true. I’m pretty sure you could do anything you set your mind to.”

More compliments. This man.

I pulled out the blue-and-black evening sandals that I’d bought for this dress. “We only need to make a third of what we did last year for us to hit our fundraising target.”

Noah sank to his knees and guided my foot into the shoe. Boundaries. He was always crossing them.

“I can do that,” I said, unwilling to accept his help.

He smoothed his hand down my shin and circled my ankle with his fingers. “I know, but I’m here and it’s easier this way.”

Not in the long run, I wanted to say. Instead I watched as he guided my hand to his shoulder to ensure I was steady, then expertly fastened each strap.

If only being with Noah wasn’t so easy. Wasn’t so enjoyable. If only I didn’t feel exactly like the best version of myself when I was with him.

“So after tonight, your job will be done,” I said. “All your good deeds for a lifetime wrapped up into five months.”

“You’re saying you won’t need me?” he asked as he stood so close his suit skimmed against my body.

“You’re not to be needed.” I looked away before he overwhelmed my focus. We needed to get going.

He slid his hand around my back. “Hey, what does that mean?”

“Have you seen my keys?” I asked, glancing around. There was no point in having this conversation. I didn’t want to insult him and ruin the evening.

“Truly,” he growled. “What did you mean?”

I stepped out of his arms. “There they are.” I spotted my keys on my dressing table and dropped them into my bag. “Are you ready?”

He frowned but nodded. “Yeah, the car’s downstairs.”

I rolled my eyes, teasing him, despite being delighted I didn’t have to stand outside and hail a cab in the cold.

“Seriously, does the money thing bother you?” he asked as we rode downstairs in the lift.

“Does it bother me that you have money?” I asked as I stepped into the lobby. “No,” I said as he shook his head. “Should it?”

“But you make comments. Tease me.”

I shrugged. “All in fun. You’re the same guy either way as far as I can see.”

“Most women would be impressed and enjoy it.”

“Well, first off, I’m not most women.”

A sexy smile curled his lips. “That’s the truth.”

“And second of all, it doesn’t affect me. We’re not dating. You’re not husband material.” His stare bore into my cheek, and I turned to him. Did he care what I thought? “It’s handy. You know. To have a driver. But really, it’s nothing to do with me.”