Chapter 98

And then, there he was. Standing in the middle of the foyer in an impeccably tailored tuxedo, hands clasped behind his back, Noah looked…amazing. His broad shoulders strained slightly against the jacket, his waist narrowly defined.

Our eyes met, and I watched his gaze roam over me, a slow appraisal that sent my stomach flipping. For a fleeting moment, his expression softened, his lips parting. It was so brief, I almost dismissed it as imagination. But then he composed himself, his features resuming their usual inscrutable mask as he strode toward me.

Stopping before me, close enough to smell his cologne, Noah held out his hand, palm up. "Shall we?" he asked.

I stared at his hand, utterly perplexed by this gentlemanly demeanor. Part of me wanted a witty retort, something biting to elicit his usual harshness. But I couldn't. Instead, I nodded and placed my hand in his, noting how perfectly it fit against his larger one.

He gave my fingers a gentle squeeze before leading me to the front doors, where a sleek town car idled. A servant hurried forward to open the door, and Noah paused, gesturing for me to precede him. "Go on," he said, his voice gentler than I'd heard in months, maybe years. "Ladies first."

"Thank you." A bewildered frown creased my brow as I entered the car, settling into the soft leather seats to make room for him. He slid in beside me, the servant closing the door with a quiet click.

The cool evening air excluded, I became acutely aware of Noah's proximity. His thigh touched mine through my skirt.

"Where are we going?" I asked, partly from curiosity, partly to break the awkward silence.

"You'll see." Noah nodded to the driver, who pulled away from the curb.

As the car rolled down the pebbled driveway, Noah's arm brushed mine again. The crisp scent of his cologne filled the air, and I felt a flush creep up my neck as his piercing green gaze settled on me—truly settled, not just a glance. "Are you excited?" he asked.

I licked my lips nervously, unsure how to respond. Of course, I wanted to be excited, but I was also wary of his motives.

All I knew was he'd scheduled an impromptu event, and many people would be there—even Viona, Amber, and Emma, following me. But that was it. I didn't know the reasons behind the event, or this lovely gown, or Noah's surprisingly gentlemanly behavior.

Before I could respond, Noah spoke, his voice a low rumble barely audible above the engine's purr. "You look beautiful tonight, Hannah." His green eyes met mine, and he brushed a stray strand of hair from my face. "Truly."

My breath caught. A flush warmed my cheeks, his touch sending a shiver down my spine. I nearly swooned into his lap. He was just buttering me up, he had to be. That was the only explanation for… all of this.