Part 87 (2/2)

So I went out to see to ”our girl.”

”Frannie, get away from the window,” Noc ordered.

”They can't see me,” I retorted.

”Don't you think you've spied on them enough?” he asked.

I looked from the window, having been watching Dax and Circe as they stood on Noc's front porch, to Noc.

”No.”

”He might kiss her,” Noc said, leaning against the brick at the side the mantle of his fireplace, his expression cross, his eyes on me.

”Good,” I replied, turned back to the window and peered through the blinds. ”I don't want to miss that.”

I was barely able to swallow my surprised cry when, seconds later, my hand was seized and I was yanked bodily from the window.

I was then twirled, pinned with legs to the arm of the couch and finding myself falling, ending with my back to the couch and Noc on me.

”Leave them alone,” he demanded.

I caught my breath and decided not to be annoyed by Noc's machinations (or t.i.tillated by them) and further annoyed at perhaps missing Circe and Dax's first kiss.

Instead I decided it'd be just the thing to dissect the entire evening.

”Once Dax broke the ice on your deck, they barely looked at either of us all evening.”

Noc stopped looking severe and started grinning. ”I know, gorgeous. I was there.”

”And when we were in the kitchen refres.h.i.+ng drinks and they were hidden behind your fireplace and they'd been standing so very close and had to separate when we arrived, Dax was so infuriated we broke their moment, I thought he was going to aim a punch at you.”

Noc kept grinning. ”Yeah, Frannie, caught that too because I was there.”

”She came well into herself,” I remarked. ”She was most amusing. And then she'd be bashful in all the right ways. It was delightful how she often couldn't meet his gaze and that becoming blush would hit her cheeks. Dax couldn't take his eyes off her.”

”You're determined to do the blow by blow,” he murmured in defeat, still handsomely grinning, therefore, I knew, not minding a bit.

”Of course,” I returned. ”The only thing better than a successfully executed plot is, commending yourself at length on your genius at successfully executing a plot.”

Noc started chuckling, doing this rolling toward the back of the couch and adjusting us so we were both sitting up but with me tucked so closely to his side, I was nearly on his lap.

I gave a sidelong glance in the direction of the door and murmured, ”I hope he's asking to see her again.”

”He's so totally asking to see her again.”

I refocused on Noc and smiled.

I then proclaimed, ”This will mean we'll need to take her shopping for the perfect outfit. None of this attempting to decide something from garments you already own.”

”A woman doesn't need a new outfit for every date,” Noc decreed.

He was very wrong in that but I sensed I'd never convince him of it so I didn't try.

”All I know is,” Noc went on, ”if Circe wants something new, she'll have to take you. I start work tomorrow so our trips to the mall have become your trips to the mall.” As an afterthought, he finished, ”Which means we need to find more time to get you back behind a wheel.”

”I do believe it would be beneficial if Josette or I were able to traverse the city on our own and I do think, at first, that will need to be me,” I agreed.

”You down with that?” he asked.

”I quite like driving. Your interstates are somewhat alarming but we'll work up to that.”

He gave me a proud smile. ”Yeah, we will.”

The door opened and both of us turned to it, me having to twist exceedingly to look over my shoulder, Noc simply having to turn his head to look over my other one.

Circe was inside.

And oh.

My.

Word.

”He so totally kissed her,” Noc whispered in my ear.

He so totally did.

She seemed barely awake. Sleep walking.

And dreaming good dreams.

”Circe, babe, you good?” Noc called quietly.

For a moment, she was lost in her own world and neither Noc nor I said anything for it was clearly a good place to be.

Suddenly, she started and looked to us.

”I'm sorry, what?” she asked.

”Did he kiss you?” I asked back.

”Frannie,” Noc clipped.

”I...he was...” Circe stammered and then started beaming. ”Yes.”

My word.

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