Another reason he found her so hard to resist. She possessed confidence. Not because of where she was born. Or her family name. Or the size of her inheritance, a fat portfolio filled with stocks, bonds, and Lord knew what else included. A person bestowed with great wealth didn't automatically have confidence.
Bone-deep belief in oneself came from inside. Take every dime from her and Andi Benedict would still radiate self-assurance. Genetics made her beautiful. Her superior brain made her the sexiest woman Noah had ever met.
He brushed some dirt from the seat of her shorts and chastised his hand when it wanted to linger on her lovely ass.
"Don't change. Ever."
"Don't plan to." Andi's smile became thoughtful. "Noah. About your ambition. I could—"
"The second you offer me money is the second you see the back of me. For the last time."
Noah's hackles were larger than most. When they rose, look out. His anger wasn't a pretty sight.
"Well, duh." Andi rolled her eyes. "If I thought you were after my money, you'd be out the door in a heartbeat. Aided by my foot to your ass."
Andi's words were like fuel to his already heightened desire. She was, quite simply, spectacular.
"Then I guess we're on the same page."
"Same book," she qualified. "But more like page adjacent."
As they walked down flight after flight of stairs, Noah felt an overwhelming desire to hold Andi's hand. Odd. He wasn't the gestures of casual affection type. Too much, too soon, he decided and kept his hands at his sides.
"What needs to be done to get us closer to the same space?"
"Talking would be good."
Noah sent Andi a confused frown.
"Aren't we talking now?"
"You're such a guy," Andi sighed.
"Thank you." Noah took her censure as a compliment. Damn right, he was a guy. Flesh and blood, bone and sinew. All parts in perfect working order.
"Don't get me wrong. I wouldn't want a world without men. Constructed with proper care and the right skillsets, you guys are a lot of fun."
Maybe he wasn't evolved enough to let her comment pass, but Noah felt the need to defend himself—and his fellow men.
"Men are more than playthings. We're—"
Noah stopped when he heard the words come from his mouth—and cringed. Andi, bless her female heart, laughed her gorgeous ass off.
"Sorry." She wiped the moisture from her eyes. "For a second, you sounded like me at sixteen when I informed my date, with proper outrage, that my brain was just as important as my breasts."
"What did he say?"
"Fuck your brain," she growled in what Noah assumed was a proper imitation of her date. "Better yet. Let me fuck your tits."
"Give me his name. I'll track him down and whoop his ass."
Eyebrows raised, Andi shook her head.
"Nine years later?"
"No statute of limitations on crude and stupid."
"Very true." As they reached the landing above the foyer, Andi rested her hip against the hand-carved wood railing. Head tipped to the side, she smiled. "I appreciate the offer."
Crossing his arms, Noah mirrored her stance.
"But…?"
"Let's just say he didn't ask to copulate with another girl's tits or anything for some time."
Noah didn't doubt Andi. But for his own morbid curiosity, he needed details.
"Knee to the balls?"
"Really want to know?" she teased.
"More than my next breath." A bit of an exaggeration. But not much.
"I applied a triple whammy. First, hot cocoa to the crotch. He already had his jeans unzipped, so the liquid provided maximum impact. Second, I bit him." She paused. "Did I mention by then he had his tongue down my throat?"
Fascinated, Noah shook his head.
"Pretty sure I would have remembered."
"Third, I vice gripped his balls." For visual reference, Andi's fingers formed a fist. Her wrist made a quick shift to the right. "Then twisted. Hard."
Though Andi's date deserved everything she gave him, Noah grimaced.
"Did he walk again without a hitch in his giddy-up?"
"Sure." Andi shrugged. "Recovered in time to take the head cheerleader to the prom."
"Think he behaved himself?"
The sparkle in her eyes told Noah she had a prologue to add to her story.
"Before the dance, I gathered as many of my female classmates together as possible and shared what became known as the Cocoa Technique. Though I assured them any steaming beverage would do. And, if nothing hot was handy, move directly to step two."
"Wonder what happened."
"Between the cheerleader and my one-time date?" When Noah nodded, Andi chuckled. "They married right out of high school. Still together, last I heard. Every year, she sends me a Christmas card simply inscribed, thank you."
"Happily ever after?" Noah scoffed at the idea.
"Their version, I suppose."
Noah knew Andi's background. At least the surface details. She's seen more than her share of cheating, divorce, and all the crap in between.
"You actually believe in one man, one woman, forever?"
"Not a man and a woman exclusively. But, yes," she said without hesitation. "Why not?"
"Because no matter how good their intentions, people are human. And humans screw up. Continually."
"So, we should toss the idea of love and commitment out the window?"
Noah hadn't given the idea a lot of thought. But now that he did, he couldn't think of a reason good enough to argue in favor of what he saw as a broken concept.
"Marriage is an outdated institution."
"Yet, our society is structured around the idea," Andi fired back. "Do you know how many wedding dress orders I have on the books? Over a dozen. Not to mention the brides I had to turn down. I only have so much time in a day."
"Weddings aren't the same as marriage." Noah warmed to his side of the debate. "One is supposed to be a lifelong undertaking. The other is an overpriced party."
"True."
"You agree?" Noah's gaze narrowed. He doubted his argument won her over so easily.
"About how some people approach a wedding? Absolutely. They worry more about the cake and place settings than what will happen after the honeymoon. However…" She held up a hand before he could crow over his victory. "I believe most couples listen to their vows and try to make their marriage work."
"Most marriages end in divorce."
"I'm aware." A shadow darkened Andi's normally bright-green gaze. "As you said, people are human."
Not exactly his forte, Noah wanted to comfort her. He wanted to drive every bad memory, every sad thought from her mind. But how? Instinct told him to take her in his arms. Lack of experience made him hesitate.
"Rather than apologize, or feel remorse, some use the term human as an excuse for bad behavior." Noah kept his arms crossed. "I say, man up—pardon the expression—and admit you made a mistake."
"Wrong and sorry are not part of my parents' vocabularies. They prefer to shift the blame whenever possible."
"I grew up around a lot of people with the same problem."
Noah didn't know what he said to make the darkness leave Andi's eyes. But, the beam of light from her smile made him feel ten feet tall.
"We talked."
"Sure." Noah shrugged. "Open your mouth, let the words flow. Pretty much the definition of talking."
"Must you be so literal?" Andi started toward the foyer. "We shared our opinions. Marriage. Commitment. I gave you an insight into my screwed-up parents. Next time, you can tell me about your ambitions. Your dreams."
"Dreams?"
Noah would take as much time as Andi wanted to give. However, he wasn't big on sharing what he'd hoarded for so long. His dreams were private. Something few people knew about.
"I'm better at non-verbal communication." He waggled his eyebrows
. "If you know what I mean."
"I have a good idea." Andi's lips twitched.
At the door, she placed a hand on his chest. Her touch, even with the cotton of his shirt between them, felt like heaven. "Give my idea some thought while I'm gone."
Frowning, Noah placed his hand on Andi's hip. He'd grown used to seeing her every day—even from a distance.
"Where are you going?"
"Milan. A couple of public runways and a few private showings for some high mucky-muck fashion elite. Europe is a huge market. Plus, buyers from Asia and Australia make the trip. I used to go as an observer."
"Now you're a star."
"Not quite." Andi waved off his assessment. But she looked pleased. "I believe the word is rookie. Some might say, wannabe. I'll go with up and comer."
"How long?"
"Couple of weeks. I can't go and not stock up on essentials for future designs. Italian leather and lace are some of the finest in the world."
"Have dinner with me when you get back." A statement, not a question.
"You sure?" Andi stepped closer, her hand the only thing between their bodies. "I ask a lot of questions."
"You can ask," Noah assured her. "No law says I have to answer them all."
"Oh, I do like you, Noah Brennan."
"And I—"
"Noah? Yoo-hoo."
"Are you kidding me?" With an exasperated sigh, Andi's forehead landed on Noah's chest halfway between her hand and his chin. "Billie."
Glancing over Andi's shoulder, he spied Billie Benedict, decked out in a form-hugging dress that barely covered her ass, slinking down the stairs. She paused mid-way—for effect, he supposed—to drape herself over the railing. The effect was more cringe worthy than alluring. Yikes.
"Your mother is…" He struggled for just the right turn of phrase. "She's something else."
"Very diplomatic of you." Andi pushed him toward the door. "Save yourself. I'll head her off at the pass."
"You're a saint." Noah kissed her open palm, lingering as long as possible.
"I'll call you when I get back."
"Safe trip." He caught sight of Billie closing fast. "And good luck, Anderson."
Andi closed the door with a wink. Slowly, he walked to his parked truck. Two weeks wasn't long, but he knew he'd miss her. And think about her. And want her. Nothing different from what he experienced for the past month. Except now he had the promise of more. Dinner definitely. And perhaps dessert? Just the thought made his mouth water.
Noah checked his watch. The job downtown wouldn't take long. An hour at the most. After, he could head home. An idea for his project swirled in his brain. Like most of his ideas, just a kernel at the moment. One day, he'd crack the problem wide open, and when he did, nothing would hold him back.
The image of Andi popped into his mind. A distraction he couldn't afford. Yet, what could he do? She was an undeniable reality a smart man would forget. Starting the engine, he eased his truck into a steady stream of traffic. Noah wasn't a gambler. But for the first time in his life, he was about to throw the dice and let fate take care of the outcome. Was Andi a mistake he'd always regret, or the best decision of his life? Time would tell.
Noah grinned. Either way, good or bad, he planned to enjoy the ride. Why was she the one to bring him to his knees? High class, refined, and so far out of his league, the comparison wasn't worth making. From the moment they met, Noah was lost. If he'd known the danger she represented, he might have stopped before they exchanged a single word. More likely, arrogant in his ability to walk away from anything and anyone without a backward glance, he would have considered her allure a challenge.
~~~~
"DAMN IT, ANDI!" Billie, hands on hips, gave her oldest daughter the dirtiest of dirty looks. "You knew I wanted to speak with Noah. And yet, you practically pushed him out the door."
Rather than tell the truth—a concept Billie had little interest in—Andi circled around to something she knew her mother would understand—an excuse.
"He was late for an appointment."
"No wonder you didn't want Noah around me. I'm like catnip to men. And you're…" Billie looked Andi up and down. The shorts and t-shirt. The flyaway ponytail. The bare feet. "Honestly, you could make a little effort. Then again, you never could compete with what I have to offer."
Andi rarely shot back at her mother, but today, she was just in the mood.
"What you have to offer? You mean sex?"
"Sex is part of the package. I have the skill to make a man like Noah beg," Billie purred like a contented cat. "What good are brains where men are concerned? Worthless. I've taken men from you before. And you never put up a fight because you know you can't win."
"I didn't fight because none of the boys you took were worth the effort." Andi wanted to make herself perfectly clear. "Noah isn't a toy, Billie. He isn't interested in what you have to offer. And he isn't up for grabs."
"I can have him with one crook of my finger."
"You can try. But you won't win."
"Really? How can you be so sure?"
"Because for once, I'll fight. Down and dirty in the trenches if necessary. And mark my words, Mother." Andi made the title sound like a curse. "You won't like the outcome."
Shock covered Billie like a blanket from head to toe. Satisfied she'd made her point, Andi turned and walked away without a backward glance.
CHAPTER NINE
~~~~
GOOD WINE. GOOD food. Even better company. After two weeks of running herself ragged with work, Andi wanted nothing more than to forget about everything fashion related and the unreasonable, arrogant, me, me, me, people involved with the industry. Top of the list? Andi Benedict.
"Between the runway shows, and the meetings, and the buyers, and the other designers who acted as though they were anxious to help me grow my business but secretly wanted to disembowel me and use my guts to stitch their clothing?" Andi took a deep breath. And a long drink of wine. Breathing helped. Wine helped more. "I became a micro-managing wild woman."
"Hate to tell you, beloved sister. You were born a micro-managing wild woman."
"Well, sure." In a comparatively Zen-like state, Andi clinked her glass with Destry's. "But under the crazy, I always maintained a cool, collected demeanor. By the time I exited Milan, I looked like a cross between Medusa and that old mug shot of Nick Nolte."
"Who?" Destry, eyes closed, a small frown formed between her eyebrows.
"The guy from the Barbra Streisand movie."
"Right. Prince of Tides. A little overwrought for my taste, but a decent way to pass the time on a Wednesday night. He was arrested?"
"Google him."
With a poor-me sigh, Destry picked up her phone. A couple clicks later, and her sister's horrified expression said everything.
"You did not look like an eighty-year-old homeless man."
"He wasn't eighty at the time. Or homeless. And I wasn't myself in Milan. Something was off."
"I'm sure you exaggerate." With deliberation, Destry turned off her phone, tossing it into her bag, and resumed her closed-eyed, relaxed position. "As always, you came, you saw, you conquered. My sister, the twenty-first century Julius Caesar. Without the toga."
Andi chuckled as the last of the tension drained from her body. She was so glad Destry could join her in Italy. They met in Florence, one of Andi's favorite cities, and settled in for a few days with nothing to do but enjoy the ambiance and each other's company.
At the moment, they lounged on the balcony of Andi's suite. Shoes off, hair down. In a few minutes, they'd stir up the energy to head out for dinner. For now, they were content to enjoy the company and the view.
To have one of her sisters near meant the world was in its proper orbit. As Andi sipped her wine, she watched the sunset over fields of Tuscan vineyards in an array of reds and golds. Beautiful. Serene. Breathtaking.
Yes, life was good.
All craziness a
side, the time she spent in Milan had to be called a major success. The reviews were positive, the buyers effusive, and, despite her grousing, the more established designers were kind and welcoming. She should have enjoyed herself. Instead, she let every little thing bother her until she lost her perspective.
"I blame the heated words I had with Billie."
"Long overdue." Destry topped off her wine from a nearby bottle. "We pussyfoot around Billie. And why? Because she's our mother? And I use the word in the loosest of definitions."
"We avoid confrontation because when Billie goes on a poor-me rampage, she takes down everyone and everything in her path. Remember when Bryce called her out a few years ago? Something about taking things from our rooms without asking. Billie railed, and sobbed, and generally made life miserable for a week."
"Easier to avoid her as much as possible," Destry agreed with a resigned sigh. "Do you think our parents are the price we have to pay for an otherwise blessed life?"
"You mean to even out the scales of justice?" Andi shook her head "I refuse to believe all good things have bad twins lurking in the shadows. Billie didn't become who she is after we were born."
"And our fathers were varying degrees of useless long before they fell in love with dear old Mom." Destry took another drink, giving herself a shake. "Luckily, their DNA combined to make four stunningly spectacular women."
"Well said."
"One more thing about your run in with Billie before we put the subject to rest." Destry turned her head, her dark eyes filled with love and understanding. "You don't care if your words upset her. You're worried she'll take what you said as a challenge and up her pursuit of Noah."
"Yes." Destry knew her well because for all their outward differences, their brains worked the same. "She'll see my words as a challenge, and her ego is too big to let Noah go without another go at him."
"Or two, or three." Sympathetic, Destry patted Andi's hand. "Noah's a full-grown man. He can handle whatever silly Billie lobs his way. Unless you're worried he'll catch her pitch?"
"Obviously, I can't be one-hundred-percent certain." If Andi could find a man she could trust without question, she'd hold on for dear life. "Instinct tells me Noah is immune to our mother's brand of vampiness."
Three Wishes_A Second Chance at Love Contemporary Romance Page 9
