This Just In... (Harlequin Superromance) (23 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

I
T
TOOK
TWO
WEEKS
for Sabrina to realize that her tactic of giving Noah his space was having the opposite effect from the one she intended. Rather than realizing how much he missed her and that she was right there, he took advantage of the distance to make sure they saw even less of each other.

She only knew he was living next door to her because she saw his car outside in the mornings. Most days he got home after her and didn’t leave until she’d already gone. When he came into the coffee shop he was distant and always tried to time it so that he was served by whoever she was working with. She doubted anyone else noticed, but then they weren’t watching their esteemed mayor like a hawk, either.

He was there now and Sabrina studied him, counting the number of customers between him and the front of the line. It wasn’t a scientific process. Some orders were quicker than others so she might serve two while her partner served one and Noah was sneaky enough to do his own tabulating and kindly allow the person behind him to go ahead if it meant he could avoid her.

So maybe it was time to try something different.

When there was only one other person in front of him, Sabrina turned to the twenty-year-old college student working beside her who was taking a semester off from school to find himself. “It’s slowing down. Take a break.”

He glanced at the line still extending halfway to the door, then peeked at Sabrina’s face and shrugged. “You sure?”

Oh, she was sure. She was very sure. Her entire body snapped to attention—finally she was doing something instead of waiting for something to happen. Nothing too grand, nothing that would embarrass Noah in front of everyone. That wouldn’t serve her purpose, either. But a little nudge to let him know that she was on to his tricks and she wasn’t going to stand back anymore.

Noah barely looked at her when he ordered. She almost laughed. Did he know who he was dealing with? She wasn’t the type to sit by and let things happen to her, the past two weeks notwithstanding.

“Did you say a double shot espresso?” she asked as though he hadn’t spoken clearly and she didn’t already know the beverage was his lifeblood of choice. But it forced him to look at her, to speak to her since everyone was watching. Wouldn’t be very good for Mr. Mayor’s campaign to be seen deliberately ignoring one of his constituents. She stood, waiting, blinking her green eyes at Noah as if she was truly unsure what he’d ordered.

His eyes narrowed when he turned to face her. Good. Sabrina smiled. But aside from the brief whitening of his lips when he pressed them together there was no other indication of his irritation. “Yes.” His voice was calm, modulated. All kindly town leader and authoritative statesman. “Please.”

Oh, that “please” was a nice little touch. Sabrina could see the older generation looking proudly on their golden boy. So polite. So well-mannered. His mother had raised him well. Little did they know the true Noah. How he would look at her with demanding eyes, strip her clothes off and take her up against a door. Or when he’d lay back and let her take charge. Sabrina wasn’t sure which one she liked better. Good thing she didn’t have to choose.

She upped the temperature on the machine to ensure the water would be close to scalding. Not to burn Noah—the coffee would have cooled enough by the time she served it—but extra heat would give the coffee that lovely burned taste. Not very nice, but ignoring her wasn’t very nice, either. And since her sweet-as-pie act wasn’t getting her anywhere, maybe being a little more demanding would.

She stood watching Noah while the machine steamed and popped. There were other drinks she could make, counters to wipe, pastries to box, but they could wait. In truth, no one would mind. All eyes were glued to them, waiting to see what would happen next.

Noah appeared unaware or unmoved by the attention. He chatted to Mrs. Fields about her garden, assisted Mr. Rae to a seat and made sure the man’s cane was securely hooked on the table. Wasn’t he just the perfect and attentive soul? To everyone but her.

Sabrina called him when his drink was ready. Made sure to wrap her hand fully around the cup so that Noah had to touch her when he took it. Just the smallest of flinches before he thanked her and left the shop. Small and only a flinch, but it was something. Better than the polite veneer. And way better than pretending she didn’t exist.

But Sabrina wasn’t satisfied with her victory, though it did cause a sweet warmth to fill her. This was only the start, the first shot in their personal war. She spent the rest of the morning plotting as she poured drinks, made small talk and assured everyone that, yes, this time she was staying for good.

Once home, she placed a pair of small potted evergreens on the porch. Staking her claim. Then she waited. Tonight, she would wait until Noah showed up. There were only so many places in Wheaton that stayed open after ten. So what if she had the early shift at the coffee shop tomorrow? Bleary, gritty eyes were worth it.

By ten-thirty there was still no sign of him and she was growing sleepy. Worried that she’d doze off if she stayed inside where it was cozy and comfortable, she pulled on her winter coat, gloves and a hat, wrapped herself in the couch blanket, and headed to sit on the porch.

The air was bitter outside and slipped through her layers like they were nothing. Sabrina shivered. She was definitely going to have to invest in something warmer before winter actually arrived. She’d grown used to the mild seasons of Vancouver, where temperatures rarely dropped below freezing and snow was a treat, not a test of fortitude.

At least she wouldn’t fall asleep. She hunkered down in one of the red Adirondack chairs, curling into herself to conserve as much heat as possible and keeping her eyes trained on the driveway.

After what felt like a year, headlights finally appeared. She heard the spin of the tires on pavement, the hum of the engine as Noah drove past her and parked. She tried to stand, realized her muscles had seized and quickly rubbed them with her hands before climbing to her feet.

He was halfway up the porch steps before he noticed her. “Sabrina? What are you doing out here?” She heard the note of concern in his voice. Oh, how she needed this little bit of warmth. Of course, that was sort of like saying that rainforests needed precipitation.

“What does it look like I’m doing?” She refused to be ignored for one more minute. Not even another second. “I’ve been waiting for you out here for over an hour.”

Even in the dim light, she saw the frown mar his features as he checked his watch. Good—she hoped he felt guilty. Forcing her out here to freeze to death. If he’d just come home at a normal time, like a normal person, she wouldn’t have been forced to resort to such measures.

“You’ve been sitting out here since nine forty-five?”

“What?” Her self-righteousness melted away. It couldn’t be ten forty-five. “That’s not right. It’s got to be midnight. At least.” Sabrina moved forward to see for herself, her gloved hands gripped his arm to see that it was indeed ten forty-five. A whole fifteen minutes of sitting. “Well, it felt like an hour.” She pulled the blanket more tightly around herself. “Since you refuse to talk to me I had to take drastic measures. I could have hypothermia.”

“I haven’t refused to talk to you. I just have nothing to say.” He reached out to touch the exposed part of her wrist between glove and coat. “Jesus. You’re freezing.” He wrapped an arm around her. “Get inside.”

Since his arm was around her and felt awfully nice there, Sabrina was inclined to do as he said. “See? Hypothermia.”

“You don’t have hypothermia.” Noah unlocked the front door and hustled her into the warmth of the entryway. Sabrina had never noticed how cozy it was before. “But you should take a hot bath.”

She put her hands on her hips, but the effect was probably ruined when she shivered again. “You’re just trying to get rid of me.”

“Sabrina.” He held up a hand. “I’m tired. Another time.”

“No. I want to talk now.” She followed him to his door, wiggling under his arm when he pushed it open. Rookie mistake on his part.

“I’m serious,” he told her.

“So am I. Noah.” She heard the crack in her voice and tried to cover it with a cough. “Please.”

He closed his eyes. He probably wasn’t lying when he said he was tired, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t using it to get rid of her, either. Well, she wouldn’t be so easily shaken. She’d risked hypothermia for him. Did that count for nothing?

Quietly, she let the blanket slide off her shoulders and peeled off her gloves. Then shifted so she was directly in front of him. Practically on top of him. “Noah?”

His eyes flashed with surprise, then pleasure and then worry.

She’d take the first two and do her best to eliminate the last. He needed her. He just wouldn’t admit it. She wrapped her arms around his waist, curved her body into his. “The best way to combat hypothermia is to share body heat.” Reminiscent of their picnic by the lake and dip in the cool water.

“Sabrina.”

“It’s true.” His body relaxed. For one long, glorious second, he sank into her. “I’m not going anywhere,” she told him.

Which was the wrong thing to say. He put his hands on her shoulders. Not to push her away. No, Mr. Mayor would never be so rude. But to hold her in place while he stepped back. “I’m not up for this tonight.”

She eyed him, careful to keep her gaze steady. “You don’t fool me.”

He moved back a little farther and removed his hands. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m not trying to fool anyone.”

“Yes, you are.” She’d seen that light of hope that flashed across his face before his old fears got in the way. Marissa had been right. He was afraid she was going to leave. “I’m not leaving and I don’t mean just tonight.” She took a step forward to close the distance between them. “I’m not leaving Wheaton. It’s my home.”

Her announcement didn’t ease the tension in his shoulders or erase the lines around his mouth. Instead, he dared to cock an eyebrow at her. “Is it? Until when?”

Sabrina flinched. A direct hit and one she probably deserved. “Ouch.”

Immediately, the smirk disappeared from his face. “I shouldn’t have said that.” He shook his head. “Sorry. I’m tired.”

She blew out a breath. “It’s okay.” And strangely it was okay. Even though his anger had been directed toward her, at least it wasn’t his picture-perfect mayor face. She could work with anger and irritation and annoyance. What she was handcuffed by was his insistence on presenting a false front. Time for a little more nudging. “I think you missed me.”

Noah jerked, as though he’d been hit by lightning, and frowned at her. “What are you playing at?”

“I’m not playing.” She dared to place her hand on his chest. “I think you missed me.”

He picked it off and put it by her side. “You’re wrong.”

Now she was the one to cock an eyebrow. “Then why won’t you talk to me?”

“The two have nothing to do with each other.”

“No?” She put her hand back on his chest. His heart was pumping faster than usual.

“Sabrina.” His voice rolled over her, delightful even when deepened in irritation. “Stop it.”

She took off her hat and ran her hands through her hair. She knew how much he loved touching the strands, letting them slip slowly through his fingers while she rested her head on his shoulders. How he liked to wrap it around his palm when he kissed her. How he sighed with deep pleasure when she drew the ends across his naked body.

Noah’s hands clenched at his sides, but he resisted the urge to touch. Clearly, he had superhuman willpower.

She twirled a lock around her fingers. “I just want to talk.”

“I don’t.”

She untwisted her finger, letting her hair bounce back into place and lifted a hand to his face. His cheek was warm and a little rough. She loved the feel of that stubble. She let her thumb run over the tight seam of his mouth. She couldn’t get enough of the feel of him. He felt it, too, she knew. He was just too stubborn to admit it.

“Sabrina.” Noah didn’t raise his voice, but the command was all the stronger for the lack of volume. “Enough.”

She ignored the warning. “See how nice it is to talk?”

He caught her wrist, pulled her hand away, the movement sharp and short. When she looked into his eyes there was no hint of play there. No sign that he was hiding some deeper feeling or desire. There was just pain before he shuttered it with a cold blink.

Fear lanced through Sabrina’s belly in a cold arc that made her evening outdoors seem like she’d been tanning on a Hawaiian beach.

“We’re not talking.”

“Why?” She tested his grip. Loose, but firm.

“Because you didn’t want to stay. You don’t want to be here and I do. There’s nothing else to talk about.”

A low heat crept up the front of her chest, but did nothing to warm her inside. “I came back.”

“For now,” he said and dropped her arm. Like an exclamation point.

“I’m staying this time.” She started to reach for him and then paused when he shook his head at her. Heat crept up her neck to her face. Noah didn’t believe her. He thought she was lying.

“That’s what you say, but what if you get an offer from another paper?”

“I won’t, Noah. I’m staying.” She’d never lied to him and she wasn’t planning to start now. They’d talked about her job in the city and she’d been very clear about her intention of going back. She realized she should have talked to him about the offer before taking it, but she hadn’t lied. Not about anything. So when she told him she was staying, he should realize she was sincere.

“Really? What if L.A. calls? Toronto? New York? You’re telling me you wouldn’t even consider them?”

Even as Sabrina told herself these were impossibilities—newspapers were laying off reporters, not hiring them, as their audience was carved away by bloggers and other online sources—excitement lit within her. She’d been satisfied in Vancouver, but she wouldn’t have been averse to more. Bigger cities, more readers, better pay. She shook off the thoughts. Dreams. Fantasies that had no basis in reality. She was here in Wheaton. For good.