Page 57 of The Cinnamon Bun Book Store

‘Hazel, who did you date before ... this?’

‘A few different guys, why?’

He scooted up to a seat, leaning against the headboard. ‘Were they all right? I mean, did they treat you okay?’

Hazel shrugged. ‘They were fine.’

‘Fine?’

She twirled a curl around her finger, avoiding his gaze before bringing her eyes back to his. She was still without her glasses and he could see the silver ring around her pupils in the morning light. ‘I’ve never really felt ... I don’t know ... like I turned them on. No one has ever called me hot before ... before you.’ Her cheeks turned red as she spoke.

She was sitting now too, and he tugged her closer, wrapping an arm around her waist. ‘I don’t know these guys, Haze, but I can only assume they were idiots.’

‘They were all really intelligent, actually.’

He huffed. ‘Then how did they miss what was right in front of them?’

She shrugged against him. ‘Maybe it was me? I didn’t feel very sexy ... I mean I never really have.’

He rolled her over then and she squeaked in surprise. He caged her in with his arms. ‘And how do you feel now?’

She smiled that mischievous smile he was addicted to. ‘Sexy.’

He dipped his head and kissed her neck. ‘Good.’ He sucked on the delicate skin and Hazel arched into him, her legs came up to wrap around his hips and he cursed himself for not running out to buy condoms last night.

But the moment didn’t last long, anyway.

His phone buzzed on the nightstand where he’d tossed it the night before.

‘Should you get that?’ Hazel asked, as he continued his ministrations on her neck. He reallyshouldget that. He was a one-man business. It could be someone wanting to book a tour, and with the summer winding down he really needed to take all the work he could get.

But Hazel was so warm and she wasn’t wearing a bra. He could feel her peaked nipples against his chest.

His phone stopped and immediately started up again. He groaned and pushed himself away from Hazel’s welcoming body.

‘Sorry.’

‘It’s okay.’

Noah glanced at the screen. It was an incoming video call from his sister’s number. Damn it. He tugged on his shirt before answering. There was only one person this could be, well two, actually, and he never ignored their calls. He glanced at Hazel apologetically once more before accepting the call.

Two little faces filled the screen.

‘Uncle Noah! You didn’t answer!’ Ivy’s voice was full of six-year-old indignation.

‘Hi, Uncle Noah!’ Cece was the more forgiving of the two cousins. His sisters had given birth to a girl each only a week apart and now the two were inseparable, unless they were fighting and then they were sworn enemies. Until they weren’t anymore. Similar to how his sisters had been his whole life. And he had been the baby brother they doted on. Until he ditched them.

He cleared his throat. ‘Well, excuse me, ladies. I was ... busy.’

Ivy frowned. ‘You said you were never too busy for us.’ This kid knew how to go for the jugular.

Cece nudged her cousin. ‘Maybe he was pooping,’ she suggested and both girls collapsed in a fit of giggles. He glanced up to find Hazel with her hand clapped over her mouth stifling her own laughter.

He rolled his eyes. ‘What are you two little menaces calling me for, anyway? This is not our usual chat day.’

His nieces both immediately looked guilty. He’d tried to teach them about poker faces but it had gone terribly. ‘Well, Mommy doesn’t know we have her phone.’

‘Ivy...’