CHAPTER 7

Natalie

A few days have passed since the party, and I wake up to the sound of my door unlocking. Before I know it, there are plenty of voices in my hallway. I don't even have time to wipe the drool off my face before it sounds like I'm getting robbed.

What is going on?!

I sit up in my bed like a rocket and slip into my morning gown.

"Hello?" a male voice asks. "Anybody home?"

I pick up my phone from the nightstand and wander out of my bedroom with confusion making my heart race. My jaw slacks to the floor when I find men clad in blue t-shirts taking down my paintings from the walls.

Am I still dreaming?

Hallucinating?

Holy pancakes, what was in those cereals I ate yesterday?

"Are you Natalie Gracen?" A man holding a clipboard is looking me up and down. He wears a cap like the rest of them, but a star is on the front. Is he the leader or something?

"That would be me... What is going on?"

The man blinks. "We are the moving company you hired? Your husband called us?"

Husband?

Wait.

Noah?

Oh-my-god, that idiot!

Noah texted me yesterday and asked if I wanted to move into the mansion. I said it would make things easier on me not to pay any rent, and this is what he meant when he said he got it covered!

"Give me a moment," I tell the moving company worker. "Let me just call my 'husband' to clear things up..."

The moving company worker smiles at me and starts directing people to carry out my bed.

What the hell?!

Angrily, I dial Noah's number. He can't have a life—he picks up immediately in his infuriating, charming voice.

"Hello, sunshine!"

"Noah..." I hiss into the phone. "Why did you hire this moving company without even asking me? And did you seriously tell them you are my freaking husband?!"

"Soon-to-be husband," He chuckles. "I figured it would speed everything up, and I want you living with me as soon as possible. So yes, I told them we are getting married, and they understood immediately."

My eye is twitching, and words erupt from my mouth before I can stop them. "We aren't even dating! We are step-siblings, Noah!"

"Are you saying you don't want to sleep naked in the same bed as me, step-sis?" Noah mocks me. "Because that's the plan."

My cheeks burn at the idea of waking up next to Noah every single day. Miraculously, I shove away the mental image of his sexy smirk and abs out of my head.

I'm trying to calm down but gasp when I see someone carrying my favorite teddy bear—Arnold, in their hands.

How dare they?!

"Give me that!" I snatch back the teddy bear, glaring at some poor dude who holds up his hands in surrender. "I'm watching you!" I do the two-finger thing from my eyes to threaten him. "No one touches my teddy bear without my permission!"

Noah cracks up on the phone. "What the hell is happening?"

"Someone from the moving company tried to kidnap my favorite teddy bear—my most valued possession. You can't trust anyone these days. Did you run a background check on these savages?!"

"You make me laugh..." Noah is snorting on the phone.

"Glad someone is finding entertainment in my misery. The moving company workers are in the middle of carrying out my wardrobe right now, and I'm wearing my pajamas!"

Noah is still laughing. I hate him. Hate how he gives me butterflies without even trying. Hate how he makes my stomach flutter. I'm melting into candy-floss but fighting like hell to stay mad at him.

"Do you want me to come and pick you up? We could go into town and get you some new clothes. Maybe grab a coffee?"

I inhale and hiss into the phone. "You snake—you planned for this to happen, didn't you?"

There is a light chuckle. "I admit nothing, but... I have a flashy credit card, and I know you're running around in a pair of yellow crocks."

My cheeks burn because Noah is right. I borrowed Bianca's clothes for the party because I'm dirt poor. Not even kidding. I'm living on dimes and pennies. I have enough money to pay rent but not to buy new clothes.

"I like crocks."

"I'm sure you do..." Noah says. He is walking somewhere, and I hear a car door opening.

"You're already on your way, aren't you?"

Noah ignores my question and changes the subject. "Do you want to eat Italian for dinner, or are you feeling brave enough to try the new Vietnamese place? They have excellent reviews."

"Both are too expensive."

"I'm taking you out, so I'm obviously paying," Noah laughs. "And I'm absolutely starving."

"I just woke up."

"You woke up now?"

"Are you judging me?"

"Hell yes," He snorts. "It's lunchtime. I just got out of the gym."

It's my turn to judge him now. "You go to the gym on weekends?"

"Uh, yes? This body doesn't stay this way by itself. I go for a run almost every morning, and then I hit the gym. I eat breakfast when I get back, but I skipped that today."

"It's not good to skip meals."

I can hear the smile in Noah's voice when he speaks. "Which is why you have to follow me to this restaurant to ensure I'm eating correctly. I'm supposed to be bulking right now."

"What is that?"

"Ah, I'm trying something to gain more muscle mass. Eat more to ensure my body has more to work with, but I'm also trying to cut to avoid losing any definition. It takes dedication to both bulk and cut simultaneously. The other guys are separating bulking and cutting into entirely different weeks, but I'm doing both."

"I didn't understand a thing you just told me..."

Noah chuckles. "You don't have to. Just know that I'm hungry, and if you leave anything on your plate, I'm stealing that."

"I won't even order anything."

"You will because food thieves are the worst thing I know. So yes, I'm getting you your own plate, sweetheart."

"You're spoiling me," I point out. "And I'm not even—"

"Do you remember our agreement?"

"Yes."

"This is included in that agreement: me taking you out and you not asking me any questions."

I laugh at the playfulness in his voice. Noah is changing the rules, and I shouldn't go out eating with him. But he makes me smile, and we are all entitled to some happiness in our lives.

"Fine, but only because I'm standing here clad in my pajamas."

Noah tries not to laugh but fails. I feel a tingle start at my feet and work its way up my body.

"I can't wait to see you wearing it. I bet you look cute."

I blush at his words and change the subject. "I want new crocks."

"Oh honey, I was thinking of taking you somewhere more... Luxurious..."