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He held the car door open and helped me inside before braving the traffic to get in the other side. “If we were dating. If you did see me as husband material—would the money be a good thing or a bad thing?”

Was he wondering if women were going to use him for his money? “Are you asking if the money makes you more attractive?” Could anything make him more attractive?

“Yeah. I guess.”

“For me, it’s more that you’re passionate. I like that you set your sights on something and then go out and achieve it. Although that side of you is . . .” It was all these parts of Noah that made him so special, that I found so attractive—exactly the parts of Noah that made it necessary for me to set boundaries. “But no, the money isn’t the thing that’s attractive about you.”

I glanced across at him to find him grinning at me. “What?” I asked.

He shrugged. “Inside and out, I find everything about you attractive.”

Boundaries, I told myself as my stomach swooped. High, high walls. Electric fences. Barbed wire.





Perhaps it was the light that sparkled from the huge chandeliers above us, maybe it was Noah in black-tie attire, sitting beside me, or maybe my dress was just too tight. Whatever it was, I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt so happy. I’d nailed the speech, announced the spinal injuries unit as the main recipient of this year’s donations, and to top it all off, the auction was only halfway through and had already raised what it had last year. I couldn’t believe I was here at the end of the year, past target, and all of it achieved without Abigail.

I turned to Noah and grinned. “Thank you. I meant it earlier when I said I couldn’t have done it without you.”

He brushed his thumb over my cheek as if I belonged to him. “As I said, you’re wrong, but I’m happy to share the glory.”

“Next lot up for auction is a weekend in Paris,” announced the portly auctioneer who did this event each year. “You’ll be staying at the re-opened Hotel de Crillon in Paris. Who’ll start the bidding at a thousand pounds?”

“Ten thousand,” Noah bellowed beside me.

The ballroom filled with gasps and a thousand eyes turned in our direction. “You don’t need to do this,” I whispered, trying to keep the smile on my face. He’d done so much for the foundation already. I didn’t want him to think he had to donate.

“But I want to,” he said. “You deserve to get away.”

What? “No,” I said, grabbing his wrist. “You can’t bid on this for me.”

“For both of us,” he said.

Christ, I wanted to climb into his lap, wrap my arms around his neck, and love this man. That feeling was always just a couple of seconds away. Being with him hadn’t cured me of him. I hadn’t grown bored or disinterested or disenchanted. I hadn’t rewritten our relationship into something that meant less to me. My walls were close to crumbling. Things needed to change, or I was going to end up with a broken heart.

Now the fundraising year was over, I had a wardrobe of acceptable office-wear and I’d gotten used to being the face of the foundation, I’d have less reason to see Noah. That would be a start.

The only person who was going to get hurt in this situation was me. But what could I do? Walk away when I was so happy? It was a lose-lose situation because either way I ended up without him. My head told me it would be easier to rip the plaster off now. Escape while there was still hope I wasn’t irrevocably in love with him.

No one countered Noah’s outrageous bid of ten thousand pounds for two nights in Paris. And while he was giving his details to a foundation staff member, I watched as someone made a beeline for our table from across the room.

“Noah?” A man came up from behind us just as Noah had finished making his payment. Noah pushed back his chair and stood.

“Morgan?”

“I thought that was you! We finally meet.”

“Truly, you know Morgan Davis from Pickwick Healthcare,” Noah said.

I stood and shook the stranger’s hand. Although I’d never met him, his reputation preceded him. “You must be talking to Noah about epidural stimulation. Your company has done amazing work. Delighted to meet you.”

“You’re Truly Harbury? How wonderful to meet you. I’ve known your sister for years, of course. It’s such a shame she couldn’t be here tonight.”

“I’m taking lots of pictures for her. And of course, I feel like I know you because of all the wonderful support you and your company have given the foundation over the years. We really appreciate it.”

“Well, we believe in the work you do. It’s very complementary to our business.”

I grinned. “Your product is going to change lives,” I said.

“We really hope so. Even more if Noah accepts my offer.”

I kept my smile in place as I glanced at Noah, inviting him to explain.

“Morgan wants someone to be a European ambassador for the project,” Noah said, grinning.

“And the Middle East,” Morgan corrected. “Noah would be perfect, wouldn’t he? With his background, he can speak with real experience. And with his thirst for adventure, the travel is bound to appeal to him.” Morgan clasped Noah’s shoulder. “You’ll help me convince him, won’t you, Truly?”