A short laugh burst from her. “What makes you think I won’t just let her have you?”
He eyed her for a moment, before his lips parted in a full smile. “I’ll take my chances.”
Caught off guard by the sexiness of that smile, she could only nod. Chastising herself for the unwanted jump in her pulse, she turned back to the side window.
Sabrina squared her jaw. She’d have to stay on guard to keep from being fooled by Noah’s nice packaging. She definitely wasn’t interested.
After ten minutes of silence they pulled into Cliff’s drive. Sabrina’s gaze drifted over the pristine lawn fronting her brother’s house. Well-tended flowers winked at her from window boxes set along the lower level of the two-story structure. It was a complete picture that reflected Cliff’s life. He had it all—career, house, loving bride-to-be.
Longing welled up inside her. Hadn’t she worked as hard as he to achieve that? So why didn’t she have it?
Noah got out and moved around to her door. “Coming?”
She hesitated for a moment, then couldn’t resist the image of him at Opal’s mercy. “Why not?” Again, his easy smile sent ripples of awareness through her. She set her teeth and preceded him up the walk.
With a clinking of keys he unlocked the door, then motioned for her to enter. She stepped into the dark interior. “That’s funny. They always leave a light on for that dog.” Turning, she felt along the wall for the switch plate, alarmed by his nearness as he pressed through the door behind her.
Her heart hammered. How could she still react to him after his uncouth behavior? Her anxiety rose as the light switch eluded her. The last thing she needed was to be alone with this man in the dark.
She swung her arm in a wider search. Relief flowed through her as her fingertips grazed the plate. She let out her breath and flipped the switch. Light flooded the room.
“Surprise!” A chorus of voices greeted her.
Blinking, she turned, astonished by the sea of familiar faces filling Cliff’s great room. A huge banner spread across one end of the room, wishing her a happy birthday. Balloons of every hue added spots of color throughout the lofty space.
“Bess? What is this?” She returned Bess’s exuberant hug.
The stereo came alive with the strains of an old Jimmy Buffett song. Bess drew back, smiling as the crowd of well-wishers swarmed Sabrina. “It’s your surprise party, silly. Happy birthday.” She laughed and hugged Sabrina again.
“Sabrina.” Mona pushed forward, her blond curls framing her flushed face. She pressed a kiss in the air above Sabrina’s cheek. “Were you surprised? Noah didn’t give it away?”
“Noah?” Sabrina twisted around, but he’d melted into the crowd. She turned back to Mona, strangely disappointed. “No…I had no idea.”
“He gave us a start when he called. We really had to scramble. We weren’t expecting you so soon.”
Heat again filled Sabrina’s cheeks. “We finished early.” Her traitorous stomach announced its emptiness at that moment.
Whether or not Mona heard the rumbling over Buffett’s crooning, she took Sabrina’s arm to lead her to a table laden with food. “Try these crab cakes. I’m working with a new caterer, and I need your opinion.”
Sabrina turned to Mona. “I can’t believe you had time to plan this with the wedding next weekend.”
“I didn’t want your birthday to get lost in the shuffle. I never had a sister, Sabrina. I wanted to get us off on the right foot.”
“Thank you.” Sabrina’s gaze swept the room, while unwanted emotion clogged her throat. “This was very thoughtful of you.”
Guilt tightened her chest. Maybe she hadn’t given Mona a fair shake. It wasn’t her fault that ever since Cliff had met her, Sabrina’s emotional state had taken a downhill slide.
A smile lit Mona’s face. “Actually, you’ll have to thank Uncle John. This was his idea.”
“Uncle John?”
“He’s just dying to meet you. I’ve told him so much about how great you are with Cliff.”
Shifting, Sabrina pressed her hand to her rumbling tummy. “It’ll be my pleasure. He’ll be at the wedding?”
Mona laughed. “He’d better be. In fact, he’s flying in early to help me tie up the loose ends. I’d never get through this affair without Uncle John’s organizational skills. The man just knows how to get things done! He’s a real planner.” She gestured to the spread of food. “Eat!”
At her stomach’s insistence, Sabrina put aside her questions about Uncle John and took Mona’s advice. She ate her fill, then mingled with her friends. She’d caught little more than fleeting glimpses of Noah in the hour since their arrival. Putting thoughts of him aside, she lifted her chin and accepted a wine cooler from Pete Henderson, one of her neighbors.
Two years ago, Pete’s wife had left him for another woman. Sabrina had gone out on one uneventful date with him. Though they remained friends, neither had pursued a second outing.
She eyed his thick auburn hair and ready smile. By most standards, her neighbor passed as an attractive man. Had she dismissed him too quickly?
She studied his lips and the shape of his mouth. How would it feel to kiss him?
He swiped a napkin across his mouth. “Have I made a mess with that dip?”
Her gaze swung to his. “No. You’re fine.”
“Oh…the way you were staring…”
“I just…” She shifted. Warmth spread across her cheeks. Why hadn’t she ever learned to flirt? “You have nice lips.”
A deep groove formed between his brows. “Thanks.” He straightened. “There’s your brother. Where’s he been?”
She turned. “He had business in Boca.” Cliff greeted Mona near the door. Sabrina narrowed her eyes. “Excuse me. I need to have a word with my dear brother.”
A look of relief crossed Pete’s face as she turned to leave. She squared her shoulders, her earlier anger returning. Had Cliff shared her secret with Pete, too?
Making clipped responses to several greetings, she crossed the room. Cliff moved off down a back hall, briefcase in hand. Sabrina followed, her anger growing with every step. Brother or not, he had no right interfering in her affairs.
He entered his study, leaving the door ajar. She hurried her steps.
“Cliff! You made it.” Noah’s baritone stopped her in her tracks.
“I see you two found each other. I hope I wasn’t interrupting.”
A low feminine laugh drifted through the doorway. “Of course you were, but I won’t complain, since you set us up.”
Sabrina maneuvered closer to peer through the opening. Noah stood beside a high-backed chair, his arms folded across his chest. A curvy blonde pressed into his side, while her hand possessively climbed his arm. Outrage filled Sabrina.
The blonde ran her red-tipped finger along his chin. “When Cliff told me I was your bribe to get his sister here, I was flattered beyond words.”
Bribe? Sabrina clenched her fists. Fury blurred her vision. Cliff used this blonde to bribe Noah to take her out? Now, here he was, like some hormonal teen, hanging out with the bimbo, while still on their date? Who did he think he was?
She straightened. Why was she upset? The bimbo could have him. They were probably made for each other. Noah Banks was the last man Sabrina needed.
She turned and stormed down the hall. To think she’d imagined