“Why?”
Those big, blue, innocent eyes are my undoing, and despite all of the lies forming on the tip of my tongue, I can’t do anything but tell her the truth. “Because you just might be the most beautiful and frustrating woman I’ve ever met.”
“You think I’m beautiful?” Her voice is coated in disbelief, the annoyance and anger from moments ago gone.
“Absolutely.”
The breath hitches in her throat, and I suddenly want to keep talking just to see if I can get her to make that little noise again.
“You’re beautiful, Lennon. You have to know that, but that’s not why I find you attractive.”
She scoots closer on the couch, causing the buzz to grow stronger. “It’s not?”
“No.”
Beautiful girls in Texas are a dime a dozen. I should know, considering I’ve hooked up with my fair share of them. But Lennon, she’s different. There’s a side to her that turns me the fuck on—a side I haven’t seen in a woman, well, ever.
“I’m attracted to you because you were willing to drop everything to take care of a complete stranger even when he’s being an unreasonable asshole, and you brought me food. I’m sorry I ate your cookie, by the way. And I’m sorry for the way I’ve been treating you.”
It wasn’t that I was mad she was moving in next door; it wasn’t even that I didn’t want her help. In fact, it’s the exact opposite. I do want her help, and more than that, I want to fuck her.
Bad.
And that’s where the problem lies.
She’s sexy, sweet, and compassionate, and nothing good can come from that sort of combination. There’s only one thing I can offer a girl like Lennon, and it isn’t at all what she deserves.
I knew from the moment she ran across the highway and fell to her knees next to me that Lennon could be a distraction, and one I most definitely don’t have time for.
“You’re forgiven.” She smiles and then knocks me on my ass when she says, “And I’m attracted to you too.”
“See?” I point at her. “Blunt honesty, another thing I like. I didn’t need to know that. That just makes this so much worse.”
“But why?” Lennon furrows her brow, and damn it, now I want to reach out and smooth the lines of worry, bring the smile back to her face and see if I can get another little sound that makes my dick twitch.
“Because I already have someone in my life. And she’s my whole life.”
Lennon gasps, covering her mouth. “Oh my God,” she mumbles, slowly lowering her hand. “You’re married.”
Okay, I could have phrased that better. “I’m not married.”
She sighs, mumbling something about not going to hell, and looks up. “Girlfriend?”
“No girlfriend.”
“Then who?”
Visions of dark curls, belly laughs, and a big, toothy smile dance in my head, and my heart swells. “I have a daughter. Her name is Nova.”
“A daughter.” Lennon’s eyes soften. “Nova,” she says, as though she’s trying the name on for size. “It’s unique, sort of like Lennon. I like it. Where is she now?”
“My parents took her on a camping trip. They’ll be back later this week.” Since I can’t get up at the moment, I point toward a picture on the mantle. “That’s her up there.”
Lennon stands and grabs the picture. She studies it for several seconds before looking at me. “She has your eyes. And your nose. She’s adorable, Noah. Absolutely adorable.”
“Thank you.”
Lennon stares at the picture for a beat longer before putting it back. She turns to me, one eyebrow cocked. “So Nova isn’t your car?”