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“You’re serious about this.”

“Extremely.”

Noah nodded solemnly. “Good to know our relationship has conditions.”

“Only one,” Claire said. “Choose Luke.”

CHAPTER 28

Market Day

Claire woke up in her own bed in her own apartment. She walked across the hall to Noah’s apartment still in her oversized t-shirt, pajama pants, and messy bun.

She let herself in using the spare key.

Didn’t knock.

Biscuit barely even looked up at her entrance. He had gotten used to her coming and going just as much as Noah.

She started a pot of coffee and while waiting on it to brew noticed Noah’s plants looked dry, so she watered them.

It was then Noah emerged from his bedroom shirtless in sweatpants with messy hair. He was still waking up.

Claire forgot what she was doing.

Which was ridiculous. She had seen shoulders before. Arms. A chest. None of this was new information.

Unfortunately, Noah Carter seemed determined to make all of it feel extremely relevant.

He looked at her, then at the coffee brewing, then at the plants. “Morning.”

“Morning.”

“How is it that you have an expensive, fancy espresso machine and every morning, we make coffee with my Mr. Coffee coffee pot?” he asked her.

“Your coffee is better.” She shrugged.

“You can admit you just want an excuse to see me.”

“Keep telling yourself that.”

“You look really cute,” he said softly.

She scoffed. “Like this?”

“Yes.” He opened the fridge to pull out the oat milk for her. “Seriously.”

“Put on a shirt.” Claire turned back toward the coffee before her face could give her away. “This is unfair.”

“You’re unfair.”

“But I’m clothed.”

“Fine.” He gave her a brief kiss before disappearing back into his room to put on a shirt.

The man didn’t even have morning breath. Unfair.

She made their coffees while he was getting dressed.