I stepped out of the bowling alley after Noah. Lucy waved me off and motioned to call if something happened. Outside, the sky had turned dark. Chilly air nipped my bare arms, and I wrapped my hands around myself. A fresh, musky scent permeated the air. It smelled like it would rain soon.

Noah and I sat in his car. The sleek black ride whirred to life, and we pulled out of the driveway. “We should arrive in three hours.” He turned on the navigation. “Will you be okay?”

“Yes, sir,” I reassured him. “Should I call Sarah? Patrick?”

Noah’s phone rang before he could reply. He looked at the caller ID and handed me his phone. “Patrick.”

I took the call. “Mr. Smith? Hi, Isla here.”

“Ms. Rose?” Patrick sounded tired. A baby was crying in the background. “Why do you have Mr. Jung’s phone?”

I hesitated to tell him about bowling. “Work emergency. I’m messaging you the location. Can you leave now?”

“Shit,” he mumbled. “My wife isn’t home, and my daughter is with me. I’ll arrange something.” He hurried to shush the baby and ended the call.

“Is he coming?” Noah asked.

“Hopefully soon,” I said. Noah’s phone rang again. “It’s Mr. Carter. Should I take the call?”

“Go ahead.”

“Hello? Isla Rose from Jung Group speaking.”

“It’s a mess over here!” Mr. Carter shouted. “Is Noah coming? Hand him the phone.”

“Mr. Jung is driving, sir. But we are on our way.”

I winced as he muttered some expletives and threatened to sue us. “This is all this damn yacht’s fault!”

“I apologize, sir. But let’s please make sure all passengers are safe first and foremost,” I said in an even tone and took out my small journal from my purse. “Are there any casualties?”

“Nothing major,” he grumbled.

“That’s good.” I made an okay sign to Noah, and he relaxed. “Could you share the model of the yacht? And if it was a collision with another boat, please take their information too.”

Mr. Carter narrated the details grudgingly. “When will you be here?”

“Please call the emergency services for now,” I said as I noted everything down. “We’ll be there soon.”

He threatened us some more before ending the call. I massaged my hot ear and sighed. The car stopped at a signal, and I turned to Noah to explain the situation. My voice faltered when I saw his intense gaze. Why was he looking at me like that? I tucked my hair behind my ear and hastily narrated the details.

When Noah remained silent, I prompted, “Sir?”

“You know the emergency protocols,” he said. Not a question, but an observation. 

“I helped Sarah and Henry whenever they were short-staffed.”

A small smile played on his lips. “I see.”

The light turned green, and we were off again. I attended more calls and informed the project managers. The pitter-patter sounds on the window made me look outside. Lightning flashed in the sky, and it began to rain in earnest. I shivered as the temperature dropped and leaned forward to turn on the heater.

My fingers brushed against Noah’s hand. I looked up at him in surprise. He was reaching for the heater too. He gave me a dimpled smile—as if in apology—and I pulled my hand back. My cheeks warmed, and I swore it was because of the hot air from the heater and not from swooning.

“Warm enough for you?” Noah asked.

I nodded. I fiddled with the pen in my hand, suddenly aware of just how congested cars were. Traces of Noah’s scent lingered everywhere. In the small space, his presence felt even more pronounced. It did funny things to my heart. Things I knew I should stop feeling—before I made a fool out of myself.

Unable to bear the silence, I turned on the radio. “Do you mind, sir?”

Noah shrugged. I switched the channels until I found a familiar song. “Closer by Phantom Sea," both of us said in unison.

Surprised, I asked, “You listen to Phantom Sea too?” 

Noah met my gaze and whispered, “A little too much.”

My heart skipped a beat, and I looked away. Where did the aloof, brooding Noah go?

Maybe it was the music, or maybe I’d left some of my inhibitions behind in the city, but I heard myself say, “I used to listen to this song on repeat.”

Noah raised his eyebrows, waiting for me to go on.

“It pulled me through high school.” I smiled and then chuckled. “Though I had to fight my sister for the iPod. She usually won.”

“You have a sister?”

“Olivia,” I said. “She’s in college.”

Noah looked thoughtful as the song ended. I waited for the next one to play, but the radio jockey came on. The woman narrated in a seductive voice, “Can you hear the rain? Do you feel it on your skin? Go out on a long drive with your lover tonight. Who knows? Maybe you can get cozy in the backseat—”

Startled, I switched off the audacious radio. But it had done its sorcery. Images of Noah and me in the back of his car—doing some not-so-professional stuff—flashed through my mind. I blushed. Why did she have to be so spot-on?

I peeked at Noah. He stared straight ahead, frowning, but not at all affected by any of this. I closed my eyes. Of course he wasn’t. Why was I even expecting anything?

Taking a deep breath, I repeated, Get a hold of yourself, Isla! This is a work trip—Noah stepped on the brakes, and the car screeched to a sudden halt. I held onto the dashboard and gasped. “Sir?”

Noah unbuckled his seatbelt, and it snapped back in its place. I jumped. Without a word, he leaned towards me. My mind went haywire. What was he doing? 

We weren’t going to get cozy in the front seats, were we?

I held my breath as he raised his hand and inched it closer to my chest. Wasn’t this too fast? Should I ask him to stop?

Do I want him to stop?

In a dilemma, I watched as Noah’s hand snaked past me and towards my door. Huh? He rolled down the window and shouted, “Is there a problem?”

I blinked and looked outside my window. A man stood hunched over in the heavy rain, wearing a raincoat. He flashed the torchlight inside the car and said, “The road is flooded. You can’t go ahead!”

I looked at the barricades on the road and winced. So that’s why Noah had stopped. What was I even thinking…

“When will it open?” Noah asked.

“Maybe in a couple of hours. Or five!” The man motioned us to take a U-turn. “Depends on the rain.”

Noah pulled back and groaned. Lightning cracked again, and the cold wind swept the rain inside the car through the open window. I sneezed. Rubbing my nose, I asked, “Any other routes?”

“No.”

“What should we do?” I closed the window. “We can’t return to the city.”

“I saw a hotel some miles away.” Noah gave me a fleeting smile. “Let’s wait there.”