Page 56 of Noah's Reckoning

“Yes, Noah?”

“Can I call you again tomorrow night?”

She was biting her thumb. I knew that because I knew when Liv had to think about something hard, she bit her thumb pad. “Sure. I would like that.”

“Goodnight,” I said gruffly then quickly hung up the phone.

* * *

The next night

Olivia

It was almost ten-thirty. He wasn’t going to call. I threw my head back on the pillow and groaned in frustration. I hated feeling this way. I hated the fact that I was sitting in my bed with my prettiest nightgown on, as if that mattered over the phone, caring whether or not the almighty Noah Aikens called me—

My phone rang and I squealed. I looked down to see his name, which I probably should change, because I had him in there as first name Noah, last name, Asshole.

“Hi,” I said and hoped I didn’t sound breathless.

“Hey. Sorry I’m calling so late. I was out at the rig.”

“How’s it going?” I asked.

“Jackson’s doing his thing. Checking for leaks. Any type of water contamination.”

“He’s not going to find any because your containment design is foolproof.”

He huffed. “Nothing’s foolproof, Liv.”

“That is,” I assured him.

“What about on your end? The corporate wonks still squawking?”

“And the bean counters. Don’t forget the bean counters.”

“I fucking hate those guys.”

That made me smile. “Yeah, well, I’ve got your back down here. You just worry about Kurt and Fred.”

“Don’t forget about Brigita.”

I laughed. “Do the guys know you named your wells after the children inThe Sound of Music?” While I thought the story was sweet, I was pretty sure they would give him all kinds of grief about it.

“That’s cute you think they know whatThe Sound of Musicis.”

“But it’s a classic!”

“Babe.”

Right. Not necessarily a guy’s classic. Besides, who was I to talk? I’d never seenThe Godfatherall the way through.

“It’s late. I should let you go,” he said. “I didn’t want you to think I’d forgotten you, though.”

Probably. It was late and I meant it when I said I had his back with corporate. They weren’t happy so it was good that I could keep reminding them about the no-choice part. That, and the fact they still had three functional wells in the North Sea that Noah was going to work to get more productivity from.

Still, when he’d asked if he could call me, I had a thought these calls might go in a different direction.

“You mean you’re not going to ask me what I’m wearing?” I teased him. Because I had gone to the effort of putting on my sexiest nightgown.