They served the pasta and salad and sat down together.

Brenna smiled at him. He was definitely fighting his feelings. His grimace told her he didn't want any other men interested in her.

His voice lacked enthusiasm. "Okay, deal, but we're going as friends. Nothing more."

When he ravaged her earlier, she was glad she hadn't rushed home on Sunday afternoon. She was playing him, but only because she knew he needed her, even if he didn't. For a man who claimed not to care, he definitely missed her.

She had almost told Mia about their arrangement, but stopped herself, because Noah's past was private and it was the only reason she agreed. To an outsider, it would sound like she was being used. To her it was all semantics, because he treated her better than any other boyfriend. Besides, she had to keep up the friend's story or her sister would scare him away.

"I can be friends. Can you be friends when you see me dressed up? You barely let me in the door and that was a work dress."

"When is this party? I'll just have my fill of you before."

She almost choked on her water. He was fooling himself. She told him the date. "You promised, so you better rearrange your schedule."

He looked at his phone.  "I'm on days. What time is it?"

"Probably seven, so take the day off if you plan on having your way with me and being dressed on time."

"I'm sure I can arrange something, although it might arouse suspicion. People are talking about me, and your friend Molly is upset."

Brenna hadn't talked to Molly in weeks because she felt guilty. "Why?" She took a bite of her pasta.

He scrubbed his face with his hands. When he finally looked at her, his cheeks were tinted pink. "People have noticed I'm not brooding like usual."

She laughed. "Who noticed?"

"My friend, May Lin."

"The doctor you liked. Does she like you?"

He shook his head. "She's seeing someone. She fished around for answers and went to Derek."

"Did Molly overhear?" He nodded. "Oh great. Does she know it's me?"

"She suspects. Tell her the truth, we're just friends."

"So you're not brooding, because we hang out. Right, I'll have to tell her you're using me for my body and the sex is great so I don't care. She'll be shocked, because it's out of character for me."

"Will she be angry?"

"She'll probably never speak to me again."

"But she won't pull your hair and scratch you."

"Where did you come up with that? We're not thirteen and she's not my sister."

"Did you fight with your sister like that?" He looked amused.

"No, she fought me. I was the responsible one. I just yelled my head off for my mother. Speaking of mothers, I'm looking forward to getting to know yours better."

"Why?" She shrugged. "I think Bill was there before eight the other morning. And she was in bed. She has never ever slept in."

Brenna laughed. "Maybe ol' Bill wore her out."

"You know you're not helping!" He scowled.

Unable to control herself she leaned over and kissed the scowl off his face. By the time they had cleaned up the kitchen she was the one with the scowl, because Molly had texted her.

"She asked me if I'm seeing you? I'm telling her we're friends. Maybe I should tell her we met twelve years ago, so I've known you longer."

"Don't say that! She'll ask questions."

"I might have to, but I won't tell her we went all the way."

"Please try not to."

"It's a classic story.  A girl lies about her age and meets a cute older guy. She never forgets him and one day he shows up as her doctor."

"Jesus, it sounds like one of those TV movies my mother likes."

"Mia too! She made me cookies." She went to her oversized bag she carried to work. "Here. They're peanut butter, my favorite."

She watched as he tasted one. "Wow! Is she single? I might change my mind about settling down for those cookies."

"And I just invited you to a party to meet her."

"I'm kidding." He smiled before he devoured another one.

Brenna had put down her phone after her text to Molly about being just friends. Apparently, she wasn't satisfied because her phone buzzed.

"Should I answer it?" He shrugged. "Stay quiet." He smiled. "Hello."

Molly's voice was loud. "Did you go behind my back?"

"No, I told you to settle for just being friends. That's what I did, so we hang out."

"Derek is convinced he's sleeping with you."

"Did Noah tell him that or did he assume?"

"I don't know."

"See." She walked away from Noah. Once she was in his bedroom she continued. "I won't lie. I like him. Molly, if he decides he likes me too, I won't say no. I love you, but he's become a really good friend."

"May's convinced he has some deep dark secret in his past. You may be sorry."

She wasn't taking that bait. "Are we good?"

"No! I've loved him for a long time."

"You don't even know him. You see him at the hospital while he's working."

What about being sorry about his dark secret? 

Brenna's back was up, like when Pepper saw a dog walk by the window, because his secret was personal and sad. He shared it with her.

"You're hogging him."

"Tell me one thing real you know about him?" Brenna was determined to convince her he was a stranger.

"He went to Brown."

Brenna scoffed. "I told you that."

"If you marry him, I may never forgive you."

If she married him, she would be too happy to care. She was a horrible person.

When she came out of the bedroom, he was in front of the TV. "You told her didn't you?"

"No, not about the Cape. Don't worry your secrets are safe." Instead, she had told Molly her own secret. "She'll probably hate me."

Reluctantly, Brenna slipped back into her dress. Her dream was to wake up in Noah's arms. She kissed his cheek, because that was how friends said goodbye and their experiment proved a real kiss would delay her departure. As much as she was willing to tempt it, she had to tread carefully. Her end game was to change Noah's heart, so she couldn't push him.

Noah was still working and Brenna was home alone. She called Mia who had started her new job at the charitable foundation.

"How was it?" Brenna was excited for her sister.

"It was good. Everyone's nice."

"Even the woman, Bea's friend?"

"Yeah, she's definitely wealthy. Her life is like nothing I'll ever understand. She said I'm in charge of everything. It's so different from handling multiple clients."

"I'm glad. You were miserable before."

"It's all women, so I won't get hit on. I'll probably have a better idea of the job when I see you this weekend."

"Oh, um, I'm staying home this weekend."

"Why?" Brenna rarely skipped her trips to Onset.

"I promised a friend I'd help with an awkward situation?"

"Which one? Ashley or Molly?"

"Neither. A newer friend."

"You're acting weird. Do you have a guy?"

"He's a guy, but we're only friends, so don't get excited."

"And Bren, that's the way you want it to be?"

"Not really."

"Who is he?" She heard excitement in Mia's voice.

"Brown, my ER doctor."

"The adorable guy and you're just friends! Are you crazy?"

Brenna smiled. She was crazy in love.

"He's a great guy and just not looking for a relationship, at the moment." It wasn't a lie.

"Is he gay?"

"No, he's not. Listen, you can help me. He's agreed to be my plus one at the engagement party. Just remember we're only friends and back me up when Aidan or Mom assume otherwise. You know how Aidan can be."

"Yeah, okay. I'll miss you this weekend."

"Me too." She lied. Noah was off the whole weekend, and she was hoping they might spend their first night together.

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