Page 30 of Stolen Salvation

Charlie laid a hand on her stomach, the gap in her waistband already feeling tighter. “Uh, I feel like such a glutton, eating that whole pack of biscuits.”

“It’s good to treat yourself now and then.” Noah leaned back in the chair, the front legs coming off the ground and stretched his arms above his head, allowing the hem of his tee to ride up and give her a glimpse of his muscular abdomen. “Want a picture, Charl?”

A blush stole across her cheeks as her gaze swung to his face to see him smirking at her. God, he was beautiful. “No need. I still have the ones from Spain saved on my phone.”

His feet landed with a hard thud as the chair dropped to the floor on all fours. “You do not.”

She was crazy admitting this to him but knew she wouldn’t lie. Spain had been where Freddie was conceived and a perfect two-week holiday. Sun, sangria, and spectacular sex with the man who owned her heart. “Yep, I do.”

“Show me.”

Charlie shook her head. “No way, buster.” She stood, suddenly having the urge to get some fresh air.

Noah followed and she realised she didn’t want to leave his company, the easy truce between them something she didn’t want to walk away from.

“Any chance I can get some fresh air? I love this place, but I could do with a walk.”

Noah moved closer so he was almost touching her, and she stood her ground, not wanting to back away but wondering if she could resist the urge to throw herself bodily at him. The last few days with the emotion from the clinic and then the wild delicious sex had her craving things she couldn’t have.

“Let me just clear it with Bás and I can take you for a walk over the mountains if you like?”

“Oh, I don’t want to drag you away from work or anything important.”

His hand lifted slowly to cup her chin and force her gaze to his, the amber flecks in his tawny eyes twinkling with an emotion which made her catch her breath.

“You’re important, baby.”

Tilting her head into his hand she closed her eyes and just let the perfect moment wash over the chaos of her mind. “Noah.” She wasn’t sure why she said his name, but he was her anchor, he always had been.

“Take a walk with me, baby. Let me show you the mountains.”

It felt like he was asking for so much more, but that was just her desperate imagination, so she would take what she could get. “Okay.”

A sigh from his lips blew across her face and her eyes opened as he leaned his forehead to hers and kissed her head gently. “Two minutes, Charlie. Give me two minutes to clear it with the boss man.”

Her nod had him releasing her and sprinting for the door, a grin so wide on his face it brightened the room.

As she leaned her ass against the console she thought of the last few days and guilt assailed her that she was enjoying this time with Noah when her sister was possibly in danger, but there was literally nothing more she could do.

The team had cameras at the clinic now, Watchdog was checking into Dr Joseph and trying to figure out who really owned the clinic. Until they got a lead, she had nothing to go on.

“Ready?”

Her head snapped up to see Noah standing in the doorway watching her. He held out his hand to her and she knew there was nothing that would stop her from going to him. “Do I get the bag over the head again?”

“No, Bás cleared you.”

Her eyes flashed to his as they entered the elevator that would take them up above ground again. “Really?”

“Sure, you won’t rat us out. We trust you.”

Three simple words that almost broke her with the impact they had on her heart. “You trust me? After everything I did?”

Noah reached across the space for her hand and terrified of getting burned she hesitated before clasping onto his and allowing the connection to ease the ache in her chest.

“I trust you, Charlie.”

Not knowing what to say in response to that, she was relieved to see the doors of the elevator open. Stepping out she saw climbing equipment hung on hooks and realised where she was. “The Mountain Rescue Centre?”