Boss Me (Private Listing #3)

Noah never released me. Not when the others came. Not when the police came. Not when the paramedics came. He touched me or held me the entire time.

Jimi left the benefit. But the police took my statement, and Patrick told them we’d come down to the station to answer questions tomorrow afternoon. Thankfully, the paramedics determined I didn’t need to go to the hospital.

My panic attack caused the fainting. I just stopped breathing.

They kept the whole thing away from the benefit. Blake had security let them in through a back door. I’m sure the dancing and laughter continue down the hallway like none of this happened.

“I’m so sorry.” Kayla grabs my hand and squeezes it for the twentieth time.

Noah holds my other hand and sits close to me on the bench. Coop paces back and forth in front of us, his brow furrowed. Seth and Blake lean against the wall, silently taking in everything.

The police just left, and Patrick assured us he would come with us to the station tomorrow before he headed out. I can’t help but feel grateful to him. He stopped Jimi from doing anything more.

“He would have found me alone at some point. I just hesitated too long.” I give Kayla a smile to let her know I don’t blame her. We were trying to help Sara. Speaking of. “Where’s Sara?”

“That guy Dante, she left with him. She told me it was okay.” Kayla glances nervously at Noah. Probably worried about his feelings for Sara.

“She told me there was a guy she was trying to make jealous.” Noah’s brown eyes meet mine. “She and I both went on this date for appearances only.”

I take a deep breath in as a pressure releases from my chest. I like Sara, but she and Noah were getting along so well. He squeezes my hand like he knows my thoughts. I want to rest my head on his shoulder, but I don’t.

As much as I want to bask in his warmth, I have to stay aware of appearances. It’s okay for my friend Noah to comfort me, but he can’t look like my lover Noah.

Besides, I seriously need a shower after being groped by my professor. Unlike Jeff, he didn’t leave any visible marks on me. The paramedic passed me a card for trauma counseling, which is tucked in Noah’s jacket pocket. The jacket I’m wearing. Being wrapped in his outdoor scent and warmth comforts me almost as much as his hand in mine.

“We should head home.” Seth pushes off the wall.

We all rise, preparing to leave. Noah doesn’t release my hand and Coop takes my other one. I’m too exhausted to think or care about how it will look.

“We’ll drop Kayla on the way.” Blake joins us and looks at Seth.

“I’ll see Elizabeth home and then meet you all at the apartment.” Seth’s blue eyes search mine. I want to fall into his arms and let him make me feel safe. Instead, I nod and lean my head against Noah’s shoulder.

I don’t want to be separated from any of them right now.

But it makes sense. I’m not up for dealing with Elizabeth or even acknowledging that I’m leaning on Noah and holding Coop’s hand. She wouldn’t understand, and the guys don’t need to deal with all the consequences from this.

Kayla hasn’t said much about Noah and me, but I can tell she feels bad for accidentally leaving me alone. I don’t blame her for leaving me. Sara might have been in trouble.

Tim gives me a nod as he holds the limousine door open. After we all get in, Tim drives us to Kayla’s hotel. As she gets up to leave, Kayla hugs me tight.

“Don’t stay a stranger,” she whispers in my ear. She pulls back and sighs. “Are you sure about dick? I mean, sure Coop is pretty. They all are. Not you, Blake. But I’m pretty too.”

When she winks, a laugh bursts out of me and some of that tension inside me unwinds.

“Stop hitting on my woman, Kayla.” Coop draws me into his side.

She laughs and turns to wink at him. “I wouldn’t mind both of you.”

“Come on.” Blake holds his hand out to her. “I’ll walk you in.”

The door shuts, and it’s just Coop, Noah, and me. Tim puts up the privacy screen, leaving us completely alone.

“Are you okay?” Coop’s fingers brush my jaw.

I release a breath. As much as I’m hating those words, his heart is in the right place. “I’ll feel better when the police have him in custody, but yes, I’m fine.”

“Bath and bed?” Noah lifts my hand to his lips and presses a kiss to my knuckles.