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A smile curls his lips. “Yes, I can do that.”

“I am on a short business trip, but I will make sure to give you a call.”

“Are you going to pick me up on Saturday?” he asks.

“Yes, I will pick you up. I’ll send you the details later.”

I cup the back of his head, gazing at him to know if I overstep any boundaries, but Noel just nods. It’s all I need to lead forward to capture his plump lips. They are so soft, tasting slightly like the last drink he had. Noel is holding onto my arms. There is a joy in his eyes I haven’t seen before.

I also can’t remember the last time I kissed someone so softly without going into action immediately. It just doesn’t feel right to do anything more tonight. I hold him for a moment longer, then I reluctantly let go, waiting for him to disappear through the door safely before I return to my driver.

What just happened?

Nothing I did tonight was like the usual me.

I came on this as a friend at best, not imagining wanting anything more than simply to get to know the guy behind the beautiful face. I was annoyed at his mind games, just to end up spending most of the night talking to him. I can’t remember the last time I just talked to someone for hours.

And I don’t remember ever following someone out of my car because I felt this suffocating urge to hold them in my arms.

My own actions are literally leaving me speechless.

Once back in the cab, my driver takes off. I am still trying to make sense of what just happened when my phone vibrates. It’s the private one, so either it’s Lynn or—I gaze at the display, seeing a notification pop up. A message from one of my brothers. Kayden. Sighing, I put the phone aside. It’s too late to deal with this, and my evening has been too pleasant to ruin it now.

ten

*NOEL*

Mateo and Ster look at me for long minutes, wordlessly just staring at me. “I know this is all kinds of weird. And I am weird, and the situation is…” I stop to think.

“Weird?” Mateo finishes.

“Well…” Ster shrugs. “I don’t think it is weird.”

“Of course you don’t!” Mateo exclaims. “This is so you. Are you aware that Aden Randall is your boss?”

“Obviously, he isn’t the typical type of boss. Plus, he is more like a mentor than anything else,” Ster says, and once more just shrugs.

“I can’t believe what happened,” I mutter, rubbing my cheeks. My night out with Aden was nothing like I planned it to be. I originally just wanted to get to know him, yet also be sure that he wouldn’t find me annoying and just leave me. But realityis, I found out that he isn’t a complete and utter asshole like everyone else I usually date. I fucked up majorly, yet it seems I somehow won him over.

And then I end the fucking night by almost crying into his chest.

Almost!

It wasn’t a full-blown meltdown. But at that moment, I just felt so insecure, so anxious, to leave and never see him again. He is so much more than I am, and he has much more to offer. I know that; I am not stupid. I just felt he would drive away and I’d never see him again.

And something about this just broke my heart a little.

Did he kiss me out of pity?

Oh fuck, I hope he didn’t just kiss me because I looked like a miserable lost pup.

“I didn’t even know you set up a date with him,” Mateo mutters.

“We just met as friends… first,” I admit. “He came to my bar.”

“You made him go to the bar you are working at?!” Mateo asks in disbelief. “Oh, how I wish you would have told us beforehand. We could have stopped you from that insanity.”

I scrunch my nose. “He wasn’t too happy either, but I think I managed to smooth it down.”