Just as quickly as she touches him, Daisy releases her grip, turning back to us and letting us know our orders will be out shortly before she disappears into the kitchen again.
Returning my gaze to my stepbrother, I find him watching me, a weird heat in his gaze, those ocean deep blue eyes pinning me in place, making me feel like he can see right through me.
‘I think we’ll take our food to go’ I mutter quickly, averting my gaze from the man across from me, and pushing my empty milkshake glass toward the centre of the table. Shoving back my chair, I stumble to my feet, trying not to fall over in my haste to get away from the brooding man who makes me feel completely out of my comfort zone. Noah copies me immediately, draining the last of his milkshake quickly, and jumping to his feet with a nervous look at the man beside him.
Without giving Caleb another glance, I stomp over to the counter, meeting Daisy as she comes out with our plates.
‘Sorry, can we have these to go?’ I ask, forcing a smile, ‘we need to get back for class.’
The woman nods, placing the plates onto the counter and fishing out some paper bags and placing our food into them.
‘Thanks Daisy’ Noah mutters, shoving some money at her before grabbing the bags and heading toward the door, me a few steps behind him.
Once outside, I feel like I can breathe again, sucking in a lungful of air as I hurry toward Noah’s car and climb into the passenger seat.
‘So’ my friend huffs, handing me the bags so he can pull on his seatbelt, ‘that dude is scary.’
I shrug, ‘he’s an ass’ I bite back, ripping open one of the bags and pulling out a sub. Tearing a chunk from the end, I shove it in my mouth, chewing angrily as if the sandwich has done me a personal disservice.
‘Care to share or do you need to murder the entire thing?’ Noah teases making me glance at him before smiling sheepishly.
‘Sorry’ I mutter, tearing off a second chunk and holding it up to Noah’s mouth as he throws the truck into gear and starts to back out of the space.
Opening his mouth, Noah waits for me to pop the morsel into his mouth before giving me a wink.
‘Wow, I could get used to a girl feeding me, I might have to invest in some grapes’ he grins, ‘tell me, do you own a gold bikini and are you interested in a position that involves sitting at my feet for hours?’
I laugh, my shoulders relaxing as I shove him playfully, ‘yeah, you can keep dreaming’ I snort ripping off another piece and holding it out, ‘I’m only doing this because you are giving me a lift back to college.’
Wrapping his lips around my fingers, Noah grins as I pull them out, shaking my head at the crazy boy beside me.
Wiping off my fingers, I quickly tear another bit and pop it in my own mouth, my gaze moving to the window as we pass by the bistro we were just in. My heart jumps as I see a familiar brooding figure staring at me, expression unreadable, his gaze not leaving me.
‘You OK?’ Noah asks, tapping my knee and making me jump as I turn back to him, forcing a smile.
‘Yeah, I’m great’ I squeak, ‘just thinking about what classes I have this afternoon, hoping not to get lost.’
My new friend grins, nudging me with his elbow, ‘hey, I’ll walk you to your class, I told you that, you won’t be getting lost on my watch.’
We are soon pulling into the college packing lot, Noah throwing the vehicle into park before hopping out and coming around to open the door for me as I gather up the trash from our sandwiches.
‘Don’t you be stealing my cupcake’ he warns me as he opens the door and I slide out, our cupcakes held safely in my free hand.
‘Your cupcake?’ I ask, raising an eyebrow, ‘I don’t remember either of them having your name on them, and I am currently holding the bag. I’m sure that in this country, possession is nine tenths of the law . . ‘
The jocks mouth falls open slightly before he tries to snatch the bag, I laugh, turning my body to protect it, already anticipating his move.
‘Nuh uh uh’ I scold, ducking away from him and waving the bag, ‘my cupcakes.’
Noah groans, shutting the door to his truck and pouting at me, ‘you are heartless woman, what have I got myself into by befriending you?’
I giggle, walking over to a nearby trashcan and dropping our litter inside before opening the bag and pulling out one of the treats.
I hold it out to him, smiling sweetly, ‘here you go you big baby’ I tease.
The jock huffs but sidles up to me, taking the cake and pulling off the wrapper before shoving it whole into his mouth.
‘Oh my God! So good’ he moans loudly though his mouthful as I wrinkle my nose.
‘Just to let you know, girls don’t particularly want to see the inside of the washing machine when it’s in cycle’ I grumble, pointing at his mouth.
Noah, grins, swallowing the cupcake before throwing an arm around my shoulders and steering me toward the front doors.
‘Good to know gorgeous’ he replies easily, ‘see, helping me already, Rosa will be putty in my hands with your guidance.’
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.