Until Then

13. Noah

THIRTEEN

Noah

Maybe I shouldn’t have done it, pretended to be Hayley’s boyfriend. But it was better than the alternative—twenty years to life after I went to prison for murdering a man with his own necktie.

I’m still overheated, still twitchy with the urge to feel his stupid, synthetic jawline crack under my fist.

Rees was always the fighter between the two of us, but the way I went from cool and tranquil to practically volcanic for Hayley, I understand why Rees used his hands to shut people up more than once.

By the time Hayley shoves me into a small, empty room—I’m guessing a powder room or something—my skin feels as though someone keeps running a lit match over the surface.

I turn away, fingers raking through my hair until it stands on end. “What a douche canoe. That guy cheated? On you?”

Hayley makes sure the door is closed, then spins around on me. “You already know who he is, and yes, he cheated on me. Again, something you already know, so I’m not sure why everything is so surprising to you.”

Two strides and I crowd her against the wall. My palms flatten by her head. Her eyes are blown wide, but I don’t think any part of her is afraid of me standing this close.

“Did he always speak to you like that?” My voice is wolfish, ready to snap. I was raised by a man who was stern and rule-abiding, but one lesson Lee Hayden instilled in both his sons was how to respect a woman.

Our mom was the queen of the house before she died. Always seated first, always spoken to in gentle tones. It was the same with my stepmom.

“Hayley,” I say when she doesn’t answer. “Did he always speak to you like that?”

Her eyes narrow. “He was critical, yes.”

“You were going to marry him?”

“Don’t judge me, Noah Hayden.” She shoves against my chest, breaking out of the cage I made around her. “It was subtle. I hardly recognized it in the moment. It wasn’t until I actually left that I realized how much his small insults impacted me. Tonight was the boldest he’s ever been.”

I clench and unclench my fists. “He doesn’t deserve to even look at you.”

“You’re growling.” Hayley faces me, arms folded over her body, a frown in place. “What was that in there? Marking your territory?”

If she’d freaking let me. “I wasn’t going to hear all that crap and say nothing!”

“So your best idea was to say you’re my boyfriend! Everyone is going to see that picture.” Her breaths quicken. “They’re going to see me. With you. They’re . . . people will think we’re together and . . . I don’t know what to do.”

She’s panicking.

“I’m sorry, all right. I didn’t know anyone would take a picture. I just”—I wave my hands, trying to find the words—“wanted him away from you.”

Hayley presses her palms against her face, as though it might soothe the anxious heat in her freckled cheeks. “How do we handle this? Do we need to . . . I don’t know, make a statement? Ugh, then Jasper will know and he’ll never let it go. But if we don’t, then everyone will expect to see us in public.”

I lean against the opposite wall, head spinning. “We could let it blow over.”

“You’ve involved Jasper Barnes!” Hayley’s voice squeaks. “Embarrassed him. His ego is ten times the size of yours. He’ll boost every social media post, every article, all to get us to break. He doesn’t believe us, clearly. I doubt anyone would.”

I nod, rubbing the bridge of my nose. “True. It’ll be a hard sell to get people to believe it at first.”

For a moment, Hayley looks hurt. “Tell them you wanted a break from your supermodels, I guess.”

I lift my head off the wall, frowning.

“Stop it.” Her eyes widen at my tone. I barrel on. “You’re not the reason it’ll be hard to believe. It’s me. You’re a nice, beautiful therapist who helps people. Too good for what the media tries to make me—a rich, playboy, TV star who beds ?em and leaves ?em. Trust me, you’ll be told to run, and fast.”

Now, I’m grumbling. Can’t be helped. This is a narrative I’ve despised since my name started picking up after the first season aired.

Never once have I cheated on anyone.

Never once have I gone home with a woman I didn’t actually want to date. But it’s the behavior to be expected in my world.

Rees and his entire band deal with it constantly.

Tate has been accused of cheating on his wife so many times, Ellie has started to scrapbook the speculation articles and give them as a gag-gift to him at Christmas.

There was an entire report about Rees having a lovechild after Jude was born.

The supposed other woman didn’t even exist. image was some stolen profile picture from a twenty-something in Rhode Island.

It’s unfortunate the worst of people sells better than celebrities simply living quiet, family-oriented lives while doing their jobs.

A gentle hand touches my arm, drawing me back to the moment, to reality. I’m basically in a closet with Hayley Foster, after making her my girlfriend of six months.

I gave the world the scenario I wished had happened. And once more took a choice from her.

“Get off your martyr pedestal, Pretty Boy.” Her voice is firm, her touch is gentle, and her eyes are almost mischievous. “I’ll run when I’m good and ready, but right now we need to plan. It’s a pity you’re so pretty—rhyme,” she says, chuckling to herself, “but you are, and people like to look at every step you make.”

“All I heard was you think I’m pretty.”

“I thought that was established a long time ago.”

“I’m famous. I have a fragile ego and need to hear it every twenty minutes.”

Hayley snorts. “Already a needy boyfriend.”

I shove my hands back in the pockets of my pants. “I’ll make up for it in other ways.”

She rolls her eyes. “Can you not insinuate anything about your remarkable physical abilities for ten seconds?”

“Remarkable?” I waggle my brows. “I prefer indescribable, mind-blowing, devastatingly perfect, but remarkable will do.”

For the first time since this disaster unfolded, Hayley laughs. The sound is a little delirious, but it’s a laugh that embeds in the center of my chest all the same.

Hayley lets her back hit the opposite wall. We’re face to face, both a little slouched in defeat. Her smile is resigned. “What are we going to do, Noah?”

I walk back, sliding my back up the wall until I straighten. “Option one—I admit I lied. But I make no promises about not explaining why all to expose that douche for how he treated you. Option two—we . . . go along with it for a little while. Save my stupid face from some scrutiny.”

Hayley cocks her head. “So it’s all about you, huh? What do I get out of it?”

“Besides this arm candy?” I gesture to my body. “I’ll bring attention to your ranch, your therapy services.”

For a moment there’s nothing but silence. Hayley’s lips part and she looks at me as though she has no idea who I am.

“You heard?” she whispers.

She’s embarrassed, and there isn’t a need for it. “I heard. I’m sure it’s a tough business.”

“No.” Her lashes flutter when she blinks rapidly. “My . . . my grandpa had cancer and not great insurance, so it’s not that the ranch isn’t good, it’s . . . bills and things had to?—”

“Hayley.” I trap her face in my hands. “There’s nothing to be ashamed of. I’m not so detached from reality not to realize how hard people like you work to make ends meet. I happen to believe what you’re doing is . . . amazing.” When I realize how close we’ve come, I force my hands down, force myself to take a step back. “I’m also really rich, so there’s that.”

She lets out a wet laugh. “You don’t need to do anything for the ranch, Noah.”

“You’re helping me out . . . unless we’re going with option one. I don’t mind helping you out too. I thought you might remember, I never achieved my dream of being a cowboy.” I pull out my phone and pull up one of my socials. Millions of followers. “I’ll post pictures of us. I’ll talk about what you do. I’ll help financially.”

“Time frame,” she blurts out. “I can’t be draining your accounts forever.”

If she only knew how much it didn’t bother me in the least. “How long do you want me?”

The question is loaded, and she knows it.

Hayley fiddles with her skirt—one of my favorite of her quirks. “I don’t know. I think a little spotlight could do wonders to help people know our services are even there. And . . . stories blow over pretty fast in Hollywood. A month? That’s equal to like a decade in celebrity relationships, right?”

I chuckle. “Basically.”

A month. Thirty days to convince her to stay for good. It’s better than nothing. “So, option two? For a month?”

She blows out a breath. “I can’t believe this. What happens when we break up and people start throwing eggs at my ranch?”

“It’ll be my fault,” I say without hesitating. “I’ll be the reason. A big scandal where you find, I don’t know, provocative messages. Dax is a genius with tech stuff, he can fabricate direct messages easy enough.”

“Noah.” She shakes her head. “That isn’t fair to you.”

“As you said, Wildfire, news blows over. It will give you a pass to walk away, but it’ll basically be expected of me. I’ll survive it, cross my heart.”

I mean every word, but the deeper plan is to make it so we never use my little contingency scheme.

“What do you say? Save my face and gain access to my fame and fortune for a good cause—think of the kids, Wildfire. The kids —while you play the part of my stunning new love interest. Or, do we walk out of here with our tails between our legs, and I admit the truth?”

She drags her bottom lip between her teeth and I wish she’d stop.

The motion makes me too focused on her mouth.

“A few rules,” she says, holding up her hand. “One, we act for the public, but don’t lie to me in private.”

I force a smile, uncertain how to deliver on every potential question that might come up. “Agreed.”

“Two—you can’t say things like you love me for the look. It’s too personal, too . . .”

“Real?”

Hayley nods. “And third, don’t get my mom and Nan hooked on you. In fact, I think it’s best if they don’t really find out. You’ll be a new, friendly investor they flirt with sometimes. They just . . . they fell in love with Jasper, and I don’t want them to get hurt either.”

The truth is a little heartbreaking. I dip my chin. “I don’t want to hurt you or your family, Hayley. That’s not what I’m about, I promise.”

Another pause, another heartbeat. Then, Hayley holds out her hand. “All right, Pretty Boy. You just got yourself a girlfriend.”

My chest heats when I take her palm and shake it.

This is either going to be a total disaster, or the perfect ruse to get the wildfire that started so long ago to devour me all over again.