"My God!" 

Seeing her in her dress was worth the time Noah spent alone in a strange room. It was comfortable — too comfortable. The room was impeccably decorated in a calming green Brenna called sage. There was a blue accent to the green which reminded him of the ocean where blue and green water swirl together in the sun.

Still, he was in a stranger's house having only just met Sage the night before. It seemed like longer though. The emotions of their evening had left him raw but not being alone had smoothed the edges. Brenna was like a lollipop after a skinned knee, because somehow it hurt a little less.

Noah had fallen asleep on the luxurious bed. Jumping up, he would be late if he didn't start to get ready. The water in the shower fell like rain and helped take the edge off his nerves. He wasn't one for large gatherings and had never been to an estate before. His salary was well above the norm, but these people were so far out of his league.

He stepped out of the shower and she appeared in her dress, looking amazing. Her dress was purple, and it flowed to the floor but it had a large slit up the front allowing glimpses of her long legs. Her hair was up in twirls and her lips were painted. She rarely wore makeup, but what she had on looked perfect.

Her eyes scanned the length of his body. Not even God himself could stay flaccid, as her eyes caressed him.

"As much as I hate to ruin this view, you need to get dressed."

He had a snowball's chance in hell of getting her dress off her. "How am I going to control this with you looking like that?" He looked down at his erection and pouted.

She laughed, and it sounded like music, as he began his ritual of lathering his face with shaving cream. When he made his first swipe with the razor he saw her watching through the mirror. "What's so fascinating?"

"You." A wicked smile crossed her face. "I think watching you shave is one of the sexiest things I've ever seen."

He groaned, as he only got harder if that was even possible. He shook his head. The woman would literally kill him.

As he was cleaning the excess cream off, she reached over. "You missed a spot." She wiped just below his ear and then she ran her fingers along his cheek. "God! It's soft!"

"No, it's really not." He scoffed as he walked past her with his shaving kit into the bedroom. It had been a long time since he had worn a tuxedo. When he dressed for the prom, his date didn't help him fasten the tiny buttons with polished pearl nails. He wondered if another time, she would paint her nails red for him. Oh, God! He didn't know until that moment he had that fantasy.

When she stepped toward him to straighten his tie, her fragrance filled his olfactory glands with the heady scent. He put his hand on her narrow waist and looked into her emerald eyes. "Just don't leave me alone."

"Never." Her pink lips brushed his cheek.

Noah felt as if he should stand at the bottom of the stairs to watch her descend, but they were side by side like two friends.

When she led him into a large room, he thought it was larger than his mother's entire house. She followed him out onto a patio where he recognized Dr. Reilly with a small woman who looked like Mia.

"Dad, you remember Noah Gentry?"

His emerald eyes sparkled and smiled as he reached out his hand. "How exactly did you become friends?"

Brenna quickly answered. "Molly!"

The older doctor held up a hand. "Ah, say no more. Have you met my wife?"

He shook his head. "It's a pleasure, Mrs. Reilly."

"I see my youngest wasn't exaggerating about Brenna's new friend."

"Mom!"

Noah ignored her remark. "How is Mia today?"

"Still sore. She'll be home tomorrow."

Noah nodded. "She'll be feeling a little better every day."

"That's what Brian said."

Noah said dryly, "We're trained to say things to help you feel better."

Maggie Reilly laughed. "Brenna dear, I like him. You should really consider dating him. Instead, you let your friends fix you up."

"The last guy Molly tried to fix me up with was Mia's surgeon."

"He's a nice man."

Noah clenched his hand. "He's my friend."

Sage joined the group. She looked like she was already a bride in a white strapless dress. Brenna's face showed a hint of awe, but Noah didn't think she had any reason.

"Are you spending the night?"

Brenna looked at Noah. "I turn into a pumpkin well before midnight. I work in the morning."

Brenna laughed. "You're not a coach?"

"A what?" He hadn't a clue what she meant.

"In Cinderella, the pumpkin became the glass coach. You'd probably turn into a mouse."

He looked at his hands. "Good thing I'm still human."

Sage laughed. "Brenna, I like him. Come meet our friends. Jed was Aidan's roommate and Marissa was mine."

Noah said, "That worked out well."

Brenna laughed at his observation. He stood by while Brenna talked with the couple about her brother and New York.

Jed asked, "Have you been to Manhattan?"

Noah attempted to sound casual. "No, I never have." He didn't care to share his dislike for big cities. It didn't make sense considering he lived in Boston, but his emotions were rarely logical.

"You should come for a weekend."

He smiled at the suggestion, but before he could plan a response, he heard Brenna's calm voice. "Noah works weekends. In fact, he's working in the morning."

Marissa bought it. "My gosh of course with lives to save."

Brenna smiled. "He nearly saved mine."

Finally, he found words. "She's joking."

They laughed, and he looked around and found other guests had arrived. They were all elegantly dressed and reminded him he didn't belong.

He talked to an orthopedic surgeon. As they discussed some common injuries, Brenna moved away from him. He watched her cross the room and talk to Aidan and Sage. The doctor excused himself and moved on leaving Noah to cross the room to Brenna.

She met him halfway. "People are dancing."

He held out his hand. "Do you want to?"

She nodded, and he took her in his arms. His parents used to go dancing. His father taught him how. The memory was a good one. He saw her mother smiling at them and then Sage.

"Why don't people believe we're just friends?"

She looked at him and laughed. "Perhaps because you're holding me pressed to you and your hand is almost on my..."

He abruptly straightened up and moved his hand further up her back only to find bare skin. "Is this better?" He felt her heat under his palm. He released her completely. "Maybe I need some air."

She smiled, and he followed her. She stopped by the door and took something out of a bowl.

"What do you have?"

She smiled at him. "You'll see."

Noah followed her across the lawn and into a garden. He wanted some privacy to taste her pink lips. They reached a clearing with a fountain. A man was standing in the shadows and turned as they approached.

Brenna spoke to him. "You're Sage's friend. I'm Aidan's sister. Are we intruding?"

"No, not all. I was hoping someone might have been here. Have a lovely evening."

Brenna watched him walk away. "Hello!" Noah didn't like that another man drew her attention.

Brenna pulled on his arm. "Sorry but do you know who that is?" He stared at her with a raised eyebrow. "He's a Calhoun. His company's name is on every construction site I pass."

"You like him."

"He's Sage's friend. Hey, are you jealous, friend?" He shook his head, and she put her hands on his shoulders. His hands itched to be on her waist, but he resisted. "You shouldn't be. He's married."

She was tall enough in her heels it wasn't a stretch for her to kiss him. He may have bent his neck to meet her either way he claimed her mouth to the sound of the water flowing into the basin.

She smiled at him. "Now, we make our wishes."

She handed him a coin. A wish? He didn't want a wish. He just wanted the pain to go away.

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