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We were in the back of Noir, in their private event room. Alone and painting. And all the blood in my body had just rushed to my dick because of an innocent change in her posture.

Unaware, she kept staring over her canvas at me, her nose wrinkled from the easy smile she always aimed at me.

“This is fun,” she whispered. “How did you get this room for our date?” The excitement in her voice was cute and I knew I would spend my days finding ways to hear it again.

“I went to college with the owner. I used to cut his hair when we lived in the dorms. He owed me a few favors.”

Her brows jumped and a hint of admiration entered her tone. “You know how to cut hair?”

“Yea. I’ve had a lotta hobbies,” I confessed, studying my painting of Main Street while I felt her eyes rake over me.

“Like what?”

We made eye contact and I started running through the list of things I’d done before I moved to Bliss Peak.

“Cutting hair, dog grooming, private concierge, and I worked for a moving company for three days before I quit.“

Her laughter filled up the space between us. “So you’ve done it all.”

When I nodded, a thoughtful look passed over her face.

“You keep finding ways to surprise me, Noah.”

“That’s a good thing?”

True tipped her head and the weight of her attention was all I needed. But then she said, “It’s a great thing. You’re a great thing, Noah,” and suddenly it felt like I was floating.

Nine words and she sealed what I already knew before this damn date. This wasn’t temporary and I wasn’t letting this woman go in two and a half months.

I didn’t care if I had to follow her to King’s Town and start a new life there. True St. John wasn’t someone I wanted to live without.

I was in trouble.

I knew that already. But IlikedNoah. Liked him so much, everything else in my head kinda turned to static when he focused his attention on me for too long.

Liked the way he wanted to take me on dates.

Liked the way he gave me his undivided attention.

Lovedthe way he held my hand tighter and moved me to stand behind him when Beetlejuice walked into Noir as we were leaving and called out my name like he was a fucking sports announcer.

“True? Is that you?”

Noah’s broad shoulders blocked his view of me when he tried to step around him and invade my space. “Who are you?” he questioned, an unfamiliar hard edge entering his voice.

“Ask her,” was all Beetlejuice said, a little too cockily.

I rolled my eyes and tried to drop Noah’s hand, but he held onto me tighter, pulling me closer to his side.

I groaned. It was bad enough Greyson had seen me on a date with this man, now Noah had to witness it too?

My guardian angel had a twisted sense of humor and I knew her name was Promise St. John.

“I don’t know his name,” I said coolly. It was the truth. His real identity was still a mystery to me.

Before he could hit me with a response that was probably a lie, a short woman with pretty sienna skin walked up and let her gaze dart between the three of us.

Noah’s whole body was rigid except for the hand he had wrapped around mine.