Whatever He Wants by Eve Vaughn Read Free Book Online

half-expected Noelle to be gone by
the time he’d finished in the gym but there she was in the lobby with her hands
folded in her lap. When she spotted him walking towards her, her full lips
curved into a shy smile. The more he looked at her he could see she was more
than passably pretty. She was actually quite lovely. Noelle’s was a subtle
beauty that didn’t hit you all at once, but snuck up on you and slowly stole
your breath away.
            She stood up and smoothed her clothing
down. “I didn’t bring a change of clothing. But I didn’t really do much working
out after my tumble so I hope what I’m wearing is okay.”
            He took in the baggy sweats and smirked.
His women usually dressed to the nines in the latest brand name designs. Megan
wouldn’t have been caught dead in an outfit like Noelle’s but he liked how she
wasn’t trying to impress him. “You look just fine. We’re just going to a deli
unless you had something else in mind.”
            “Oh no, the deli is fine.”
            “Good.” He held the front door open for
her. “Shall we?”
            He noticed her plump backside as she
walked by him. What he found most intriguing about her outfit was imagining
what was underneath it. Noelle didn’t strike him as the type to reveal her
secrets so easily but he’d learned from an early age, everything had a price. As did everyone.
            “The deli is a few blocks away. We can
take a walk or I can drive us. You decide.”
            “It’s a nice night. I think I’d like to
walk,” she answered without making eye contact.
            “Walking it is. Mind waiting here a sec
while I put my gym bag in my car?”
            “No. Go ahead.” This time she did look up
at him but just as quickly, she turned away. He’d definitely address that when
he returned. James took his time walking to his car as he still tried to sort
out his attraction for Noelle. A little voice told him she wasn’t the type to
accept the kind of relationship he was willing to offer but then again he
hadn’t gotten to where he was by taking no for an answer.
            Noelle was propped against the building
humming a soft tune to herself when he returned. “All
ready?” he asked.
            “Yes.” As they started toward their
destination she whispered, “thank you.”
            “What are you thanking me for exactly?”
            “Thank you for asking me out. Simone says
I should get out more but I’m not really good at this dating thing.”
            “An attractive woman
like yourself? I find that hard to believe.”
            She smoothed the flyaway hairs that
escaped her short ponytail in a self conscious gesture. “You’re teasing me.”
            “I don’t tease…outside of the bedroom.”
            Her step faltered. “The
bedroom?”   Either she had little experience with men or she was a
hell of an actress. Everything pointed to the former which told him he should
tread lightly with her.
            “What I meant,” he hurried to cover his
faux pas, “is I don’t lie about things like that. Flattery has its uses of
course but it’s often mired in deceit. I promise I will never be anything but
honest with you.”
            She stopped walking for a moment to give
him a searching look. A long awkward silence fell between them before that
sweet smile touched her lips again. “You’re a nice guy.”’ They started walking
again.
            He chuckled with a shake of his head. “I
don’t think anyone has ever called me that before.”
            “You didn’t yell at me for bumping into
you. Speaking as someone who’s taken many spills in her lifetime, sometimes
into other people, your reaction was on the tamer side.”
            “I’ll admit you did look like you hurt
yourself when you tripped and fell on your face.”
            She winced. “You saw that?