How to Love Your Neighbor

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How to Love Your Neighbor Page 23

by Sophie Sullivan


  Maybe focus on the immediate problem—like, where is she? Shoving back the sheet, he pulled on boxers, ran his fingers through his hair, stifling a yawn as he padded out of his bedroom.

  She wouldn’t have gone home … would she? He thought about all the times he’d left in the middle of the night. He’d never done so without saying goodbye. Apparently, neither did she. Her legs were pulled up on one of the stools. The only light came from her phone. Her hair was tied up in a messy knot, her chin tilted down. She looked elegant and adorable at the same time. If that was even a thing.

  “Everything okay?”

  She squealed, tossed her phone on the island. Noah hurried over. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

  He pulled her close, pleased when her arms went around his waist.

  “If that wasn’t the goal, then announce yourself. You nearly gave me a heart attack.”

  Noah leaned away, ran his hand down from her neck to the upper swell of her breast, letting it rest there.

  “Nope. Heart feels completely normal.”

  “Now you’re a doctor?”

  “Just making an observation. Here’s another one: you’re sitting in my kitchen at two A.M. instead of keeping me warm in my bed.”

  Grace tipped her head back, her hands moving up on his chest. She twisted her lips, staring at her own hands, making him more curious by the second.

  Noah put two fingers under her chin to lift her gaze. “Grace?”

  “Okay, well, I’m still not used to sleeping beside someone. I woke up and had that moment of where am I? Then I looked over and I was like, Oh, yeah. I’m right here. I tried to go back to sleep but couldn’t.”

  Okay. More cute. She was full of it. “Why didn’t you wake me?”

  She tilted her head. “To tell you?”

  He leaned in, kissed her forehead. “Who says you had to tell me anything. You could have just let me know you were awake.”

  “You look so peaceful when you sleep.” She averted her eyes again.

  He sensed the distance she was stuffing between them. Not physically. Which was worse.

  “Talk to me,” he said.

  Her fingers tapped against his pecs, tickling a bit. Noah had to press his hands against hers to flatten them so she didn’t completely distract him.

  “I convinced myself I could take it slow but my heart seems to have other ideas. We agreed to see where things go but I’m not great at that. I like answers. I like knowing.”

  Her thoughts echoed the ones he’d had earlier, making him more sure of this choice—this path they were on together.

  “What do you want to know?” He couldn’t stop touching her.

  She nibbled the inside of her cheek. “We’re exclusive?”

  He thought of all the times his father had walked away from a relationship, blaming the other person. Noah wouldn’t make those mistakes. He wouldn’t take her for granted but he also couldn’t assume she knew what was going on in his head. “I sure as hell hope so. Didn’t you believe me when I said you’re all I see? Didn’t you mean it when you said it back?”

  Her expression softened. “Of course.”

  He hated that while he slept, wrapped up in the memories of being with her, more content than he could ever remember being, she’d been running all of this through her head like a fidget spinner.

  “You know what I think?” He scooped her up in his arms.

  Her eyes widened before she put her arms around his neck. “What’s that?”

  “I think I didn’t exhaust you completely enough and should rectify that.”

  Because they were nose-to-nose, he saw the flicker of sadness. It was so often easier to go with his gut than his heart but Grace made him happy. She deserved the truth even if it scared him.

  “I also think this is new for both of us. So, we’ll need to be careful to talk to each other. Everything falls apart without communication.” He knew that well. “You’re the only person I want, Grace.”

  “Okay,” she whispered as he walked toward his room.

  Noah waited a beat. “Now you say it.”

  She smiled, soft and sweet. “You’re the only person I want, Grace.”

  He narrowed his gaze. “Cute.” Tossing her down on his bed, happy to hear her squeal of delight, he covered her body. “Try it again.”

  “I forget what you said.” Her eyes glittered with sass and sweetness.

  “Hmm. How ever will I remind you?”

  She pulled him close, her body aligning perfectly under his. “Say it again,” she whispered.

  Noah pressed his forehead to hers, held her gaze. “You’re the only one I want, Grace.”

  “You’re the only one I want, too.”

  His heart actually freaking soared. It felt like it was levitating in his chest.

  “As long as it lasts, it’s just you and me,” she said, arching up for a kiss.

  For some reason, her words felt like sandpaper on his skin. Did anyone think he had staying power? Did she think he wouldn’t stay? Or did she know she wouldn’t?

  Her lips pressed soft kisses along his neck, over his Adam’s apple, up along his chin. Noah did his best to push the thoughts out of his head. Focus on now. That had never been a problem for him in the past. What if you’re not the same guy you used to be? Grace was so sure she’d be the one walking away with scattered pieces of her heart trailing after her like bread crumbs. In this moment, even as he got lost in sensations unlike any he’d known, he felt a pressing worry that it might be him.

  35

  Grace moved the couch a smidge to the left, laying the deep blue blanket at just the right angle across it. She was right: the couch fit perfectly in Noah’s living room. The two wingback chairs sat closer to the reading nook. One side of the L-shaped couch had its back to the island, creating a natural division between the spaces. The fireplace mantel was a thing of beauty. Kyle and his guys had finished installing it this morning. Noah had been gone all morning but returned for the second magazine shoot. They’d spent every waking moment together, minus his meetings, trips into the city, her dog walking, and mandatory school days. Okay, maybe every night was more accurate.

  “This looks kick-ass,” Noah said, staring down at the corner of his couch. “That’s going to be my spot, right there.” He turned and sank into it, then frowned. He stretched out his feet, setting them on the edge of the oversize ottoman. “Nope. Doesn’t feel right.” He got up, moved to the part that faced the fireplace directly. Doing the same thing, only this time stretching his arms along the back, he put his feet up. They reached easier, almost touching the rustic wooden drink tray she’d placed on top. “This is it. I need some masking tape.”

  Grace, amused by his antics, put one hand on her hip. “For?”

  He looked up at her like she’d lost her mind. “To put my mark on this cushion.”

  Shaking her head, she picked up her clipboard. “You’re a strange man, Noah.”

  “Ha,” he said, leaning farther into the couch. “Like that’s the first time anyone’s said that?”

  “You two have such an easy rapport,” Emily said, coming in from the kitchen area, where she’d been finishing up a call.

  “That’s because I’m so charming,” Noah said, reaching out and snagging Grace’s hand to pull her down next to him. They’d been seeing each other this way for two weeks now. When would the little belly flip she got every time he touched her, kissed her, looked at her, fade? If you’re lucky, never.

  Emily opened her small laptop. “Okay. I have a series of questions, just like last time, then I’d like you to walk me through the plans for the next reno.” She flipped through some papers. “It’s the rest of the downstairs, correct? There are three bedrooms, a powder room, and laundry area. Are you doing anything with the entryway?”

  Grace answered, seeing as she had the design plans memorized. They talked through a few of the plans, some of which were already in the works.

  “Okay, what’s the hardest part
of a design from your perspective, Grace?”

  She thought about that a moment. Not quite as easy to do with Noah’s thigh mashed against her own. “Listening to each other. Both the client and the designer are going to have several thoughts about each step of the process. Ideas and visions might change. You need to be able to trust in each other enough to listen to what the other is saying and to speak your mind. Everyone needs to remember they have the same end goal.”

  Emily nodded. “That makes sense. Noah, as the homeowner, what’s hard on you?”

  Noah curled his arm around Grace’s shoulder. “Getting actively involved without stepping outside my own range. I’ve never been this close to a project before. It’s never really been personal. Now that it is, I want my stamp on it but design isn’t my background. Being able to communicate with Grace so my vision can come to life isn’t always easy.”

  “Why is this the one that became personal?” Emily asked with a smile.

  Grace turned her face, curious about his answer.

  “I was actively seeking something different. Both personally and professionally. I moved here from New York to work with my brother and rebrand myself. I wanted a home base. I was staying not too far from here and one morning, I went for a run, took a break near this place and, this probably sounds cheesy, but, it called to me. I thought about waking up every day, seeing that same view. The idea made me happy.”

  “Would you say it’s meant to be?”

  Noah rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t know. Maybe. It’s been eye-opening. There’s so much pleasure to be had in going through the process. Really, it’s watching it go from something simple, like this room that had a wall up there.” He pointed toward the dining table that had also arrived. “It cut off the kitchen completely, except for a small doorway. The floors were dull, the walls boring. Now,” he said, shaking his head, looking from the window seat to the kitchen. “Now it’s magnificent and I got to see every step of the transformation. I even picked this couch.”

  Grace nearly choked on her own spit. “Excuse me?”

  He squirmed from side to side on the cushion. “Yup. Sat on it, knew right then, it was the one. I’m still learning but I think I have an eye for this stuff.”

  Emily’s grin suggested she knew Noah was full of it. “I’ll go off the record for this for a moment because I realize it’s none of my business and doesn’t tie in to the article, but, you two are clearly a couple now.”

  Grace’s cheeks warmed but Noah nodded. “She couldn’t resist me. At first, it was just my handsome face and amazing physique but I think what really caught her were my designing sensibilities. She had me design a canvas for her house.”

  Laughter bubbled up as Grace stared at Noah. “You are utterly ridiculous today.” She looked at Emily. “We are a couple now. Did you want to see the rooms we’re working on this week?”

  Emily stood. “Absolutely. For the record, but not the magazine one, you two are adorable together.” She shut her laptop and slipped it into her bag.

  Noah stood up, squeezed Grace’s hand as she got up. “That’s all Gracie. And for the record? So are all the wicked design ideas.”

  They walked through, with Grace showing Emily the front room. It was going to have off-white walls, a daybed full of luxury pillows, soft curtains, and a beautiful antique writing desk Grace found at Mi Casa when she’d gone back last week.

  “I’m calling this one Vanilla Essence.”

  “Lovely,” Emily said, writing it down.

  They moved past the middle room so she could explain the third bedroom. It would be deep grays and blues with dark wood furniture. The powder room would also get an uplift but was such a small space, she had to keep it basic.

  “This sounds like it’s going to be wonderful.”

  “Why won’t you tell her what the second room is going to be?” Noah leaned on the hallway wall.

  Grace grinned. “Because then I’d have to tell you.”

  They spoke more about the second and third issues of the magazine. The first one had sold well. Grace had a list of calls to return. She’d had business cards made up and gone over the remaining projects with her teachers to see which assignments had criteria that could be met by what she was doing.

  “Oh, I almost forgot. You were on the phone, Noah, when Jack left. He asked me to give this to both of you.” Emily pulled out a manila envelope, passed it over. “I’ll touch base and send a copy by the end of next week. Grace, if you can email me the particulars, like a website if you have it, I can include that in this issue.”

  Nervous excitement swept through her. They were headed over to Josh and Rosie’s tonight to work on the website. She and Rosie would also finish up a partner project they had for one of their classes.

  Noah tapped the envelope against his palm. “Thanks for everything, Emily.”

  She looked at him a moment. “You have no idea how very much I mean it when I say, it’s my pleasure. Turns out my boss, who’s about one hundred and four, interviewed your father back in the day. He’s very excited about having the next generation featured.”

  Grace saw the slight twitch under Noah’s eye. He didn’t want praise that came connected to his father, but still, he could be proud of his legacy. Couldn’t he?

  When Emily left, Grace nearly tore the envelope out of Noah’s hand. “What is it? What is it?”

  Noah laughed as she opened it. Grace’s breath got stuck somewhere between inhaling and exhaling. There was a yellow sticky note on the black-and-white photo:

  Not to be intrusive but the sun was just right & this moment felt like magic. ~Jack

  It was a photo of them kissing and it was magic. Noah’s head was tipped down to Grace’s, hers tilted up toward him. One hand cupped her jaw while the other sat at her waist. Their lips weren’t touching, but they were close, and the emotion simmering between them, the heat she could still feel, emanated from the glossy image.

  “Damn. We look good together.” Noah curled his arms around her from behind, staring over her shoulder.

  She had no words. She’d never been photographed with a man in this way. She didn’t even have photos with old boyfriends. Mostly because she’d been on such a straight and specific track, she hadn’t veered off for more than moments of time. She hadn’t connected with anyone enough to take the relationship to the picture-taking level. Every guy she’d dated had been on the periphery. A momentary distraction from the ultimate goal.

  Though it was a profile picture, she could see the depth of emotion in her gaze, feel it in Noah’s. This wasn’t one of those high-society glamour photo ops. This was raw and real. They were both so in the moment the world had fallen away. She’d slipped under the surface and truthfully, she hadn’t even seen it coming. All that caution she’d exercised for so long? It didn’t exist in this picture. This picture was Grace, all in. It was as terrifying as it was stunningly beautiful.

  Noah reached up, moved the picture. “There’s two. One for me and one for you.”

  A lump lodged itself in Grace’s throat, so she nodded.

  “You’re a beautiful woman,” he whispered against her cheek.

  She nodded again. “So are you.”

  It took her a second to figure out why his body was shaking behind hers. Turning in his arms, she smiled up at him. “Only, you know, a man.”

  “Thanks for noticing. You’re so sweet,” he said wryly.

  She didn’t want to get overly emotional about a photo. She liked the fun they were having and just because she looked all wrapped up in all things Noah in the photo didn’t mean he was everything. His house was proof that she’d held her laser focus. She hadn’t lost herself.

  “I need to go get ready to go to Josh and Rosie’s.”

  “Right. I still can’t believe my assistant lives with your best friend.”

  “I know. Life is full of strange things. Them moving in together, you thinking you picked the couch, and evidence of you falling hard for the girl next
door.” She waved the pictures, trying to sound like she was mostly joking.

  “The girl next door is pretty hard not to fall for,” he said, kissing her one more time. “Go get ready so we can head out. I’m starving.”

  “You just ate.”

  “I’m a big guy. I need food. We can stop and get brownies.”

  “You had me at brownies.”

  His laughter followed her out of the house. Lean into the fall, Grace. You’ve got this and you’re not alone.

  36

  Rosie and Josh had moved into his apartment, since hers was smaller. It was on the other side of town, farther from the beach but in a nice neighborhood. Noah carried a bottle of wine while Grace held the brownies. When they approached the steps, he looked at Grace before pressing the buzzer to their apartment.

  “What? Want to eat the brownies before we go in?” She bounced her eyebrows.

  “I might have to stage an intervention for you and those brownies.”

  She held them closer to her chest and angled her body away. “Watch yourself, Jansen.”

  “I just realized I’ve never done this. I want you to know you’re not the only one in uncharted territory,” he said, looking down at his feet.

  “You’ve never brought wine and brownies to someone’s house before?”

  He looked up with a smile. “Actually, not together, I don’t think, but what I meant was, I’ve never…”

  When he trailed off again, her curiosity spiked. “Never what? It can’t be that bad.”

  “It’s not bad. I haven’t visited a couple as a couple.” He said it like he was ripping off a Band-Aid.

  Because she was having to put effort into keeping a leash on her heart, she decided to lighten the mood and his obvious discomfort.

 

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