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It was this degree of familiarity with her that alerted him to the need to tread lightly here. He didn’t quite understand why he felt that way, but the sensation was there all the same.
“Yes.”
“I didn’t know you two had been dating.”
“We didn’t tell many people. Especially here at the office. We thought it was best to keep our personal lives separate.”
“Hmm.” She inspected her bright red nails. “Where’s your ring?”
Shit. He hadn’t even thought about rings. But why did she care? “We haven’t shopped for rings yet. It was kind of a sudden decision and we just went to the courthouse.”
“I see.” Her green eyes met his. “You know David’s office is on the other side of that wall, right?”
What did that have to do with anything? The question seemed rhetorical, so he kept silent, discomfort clamping his jaw together.
“He came to my desk this morning, bursting with gossip I didn’t believe at first,” she said. “But you just confirmed it.”
Noah resisted the urge to do something with his hands, like run them through his hair or grip the armrests. He realized where she might go with this, yet somehow hoped he was wrong. “I’m not sure I like hearing my marriage referred to as rumor, and I definitely don’t like it being called gossip.”
Julia’s expression bordered on sympathetic. “Excuse my word choice, but that’s not the important part. David’s convinced he heard you and Mia talking a couple weeks ago. Said he came in early that day, and you two showed up and clearly thought you were alone. He claims you only got married so she can keep her insurance.”
Was the storm raging inside him visible? “What? That’s not true—”
She held up a hand. “I don’t need to know, Noah. I really don’t. I consider you a friend, and I’ve seen how you look at her. It’s why I gave up on you within weeks of meeting her. I believe you wanted to marry her. But David doesn’t, and we both know he can be kind of an asshole. I wanted to warn you and tell you to be careful. With your dad’s retirement announcement, everyone knows positions will shift. If he thinks he found something to use against you...”
“Thank you. But I—we—have nothing to hide.”
Her mouth flattened into a line, but she nodded and stood. “Congratulations, then.” She walked to the door and tossed one more comment over her shoulder before she left. “Can I give you one word of advice?”
He gave a terse nod.
“David is ruthless when he wants something. Do yourself a favor and don’t underestimate him.”
7
On Tuesday, Mia had to wait until Noah stepped out for lunch before she could hide printed photos of Nicolas Cage in every drawer of his desk. He’d seemed quiet last night—which for Noah, essentially meant silent—and she figured their whole situation was putting him out of sorts. It certainly was for her. It would take time for them to settle into a new routine, but in an attempt to keep things as normal as possible, she resorted to their usual antics.
Hopefully it would make him smile.
She was closing the filing drawer to the left of his chair when she looked up and nearly dropped the pile of papers.
Straight ahead, angled just right to be visible from his desk chair, was a photo of her and Noah.
On their wedding day.
Where had that come from? Claire must have given it to him, but when? She hadn’t offered one to Mia.
Mia straightened and picked up the frame. It was taken mere seconds before their kiss. She and Noah were facing each other, her right hand in his left, his other hand hidden in her hair. The longer Mia stared at the photo, the harder it was to breathe.
They looked...into each other. In love. Enamored, even. Mia remembered how nervous she’d felt in that moment—but you wouldn’t know it. Her eyes locked on his and the way her lips were parted just so—she looked desperate for him to close the distance between them.
And Noah? A tingle spread along the nape of her neck. His expression, normally restrained and serious, was bare and exposed, the longing on his face so apparent it was almost uncomfortable to look at.
Mia set the photo down and took a step back, though her gaze remained on the image. Was it real?
Or was he just a good actor?
His words from nine years ago echoed in her brain, so clear it was like he stood behind her now.I was drunk. It was a mistake. I just want to stay friends.
