There was a knock on her door and she looked up, her heart jumping into her throat. She frowned at herself, subtly shaking her head. She needed to stop this. She was safe. Aaron couldn’t get to her here.
“Hey, squatter,” a familiar voice called.
Noah rolled her eyes. She set her phone on the nightstand and stood up. There was part of her that wanted to make him wait, especially since his tone seemed to indicate that he needed to see her because of some urgent matter. Then, she remembered that there was a rumor floating around that they were now dating and she got him into a mess he helped her out with. She opened the door slowly, tilting her head to the side. To be honest, she was surprised Alec was even up at this hour, especially since there was no morning skate.
“Good morning to you too, sunshine,” she said.
Alec let himself into her room without asking for an invitation. She opened her mouth, ready to call him on it, when she immediately noticed his narrowed eyes, the way his hands were on his hips, causing his shoulders to square off. Something was troubling him.
“We have a problem.” He turned, and she took in the wrinkle in his brow. Noah immediately felt her stomach twist at the sight of it. He looked like a perplexed puppy. “Um, I don’t know if you’ve seen the paper or any gossip magazine, really.” Her words tumbled into each other and her cheeks pinched. She knew she was red, as red as a Christmas tree light, but she continued to push on because Alec deserved as much and she didn’t want this to catch him unaware. “Well, apparently, they picked up Pat Zummo’s story, and now everyone thinks we’re dating.”
Alec didn’t say anything for a moment and Noah held her breath. She thought it appeared like Alec was thinking about her words instead of just reacting to them, which seemed like a good sign. If he was thinking about them, certainly that meant he was considering them, right? And, if he was considering them, then that meant he was trying to figure out a way to get through this rather than blame her for it, even if it was her fault.
“Huh,” he said at last.
Noah blinked once, twice. Huh? That was all she got.
“Look.” She held up what she hoped was a placating hand. “If you need me to call your boss and explain everything, I will.”
“Everything?” Alec crossed his arms over his chest and cocked his head to the side. “You won’t even explain everything to me.”
“Not about that,” she said quickly. How was this conversation getting away from her? She needed to get back in control or she was going to fumble everything. “About the story. I can explain that you were helping me. I don’t want you to get in trouble for doing that. I know that you and her have tension because of your reputation and I’m sure this news isn’t helping, but whatever you need me to do. I’ll do it.”
Alec took a step towards her and then another one until he was directly in front of her. “Are you telling me that you’d do anything for me, Noah?” he asked in a low voice.
Noah furrowed her brow. She was not in the mood for Alec’s attitude. “You know what, Sinclair?” she asked. “I’m here, trying to tell you that I’m sorry, and you think it’s a big joke. Why do I even bother?” She scoffed, throwing up her hands in frustration. “What, do you want me to beg? Do you want me to get on my knees and ask you for your forgiveness?”
“I might be open to watching you get on your knees for me,” he said, his finger curled around his chin as he pretended to think about her offer. “But forgiveness isn’t what I have in mind when it comes to you and what I want you to do for me.”
Something came to life in the pit of her stomach. Instantly, she knew what it was. Desire. Part of her – a stupid, small, little bitty part of her – wanted Alec. Wanted to get on her knees for him. Wanted him to do things to her. She swallowed, trying to moisten her throat that had suddenly gone dry at the thought of Alec touching her, doing unspeakable things to her body.
“What?” His voice was a low croak and caused goosebumps to jump on her skin. “What is it you’re thinking about right now?”
Noah opened her mouth, but the smartass comment wouldn’t come. Her heart heaped in her throat. She didn’t want to admit that she was starting to panic, but she was. He couldn’t possibly know what she was thinking, could he? Alec was a lot of things, but a mind reader wasn’t one of them. Although, given his reputation, he must be able to read minds to some degree if the rumors were true and he was able to satisfy so many women. Not that she cared.
“You like me,” he said, stepping closer to her.
This time, Noah laughed. It eased the tension out of her. This, she could work with. Alec’s arrogance was something she always wanted to know down a peg or two. She could definitely do that now.
“You think I like you?” she asked. “And what makes you think that?”
“Well, for one, I’m a likable guy,” he said as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. “I’m charming. I’m making money. I’m on a hockey team. What’s not to like?”
“Oh, I don’t know, the fact that you can’t commit to anyone save for yourself?” Noah pointed out, raising her brows. Despite her tone, Alec continued to look at her with
