Newish. Not over the top, but better than where she lived. All those facts registered in the nanosecond it took him to answer and open the door after she knocked. “Hi,” she said, unable to muster more than the single word as she stood at the threshold, clutching her purse. He was motionless for a moment, eyes locking with hers, before he took a step backward, pulling the door wide open. He wore jeans, a t-shirt and socks; it was the most casual she’d ever seen him dressed, and somehow, his apparel made showing up at his home seem even more intimate. “Come on in.” She did exactly that, stepping inside and catching her toe on the doorframe because she just couldn’t break eye contact. At least she didn’t trip. Diverting her gaze from Noah’s, she stared around the living room. The white walls, beige carpet and moving boxes didn’t provide much fodder for comments. A scruffy orange something peering out at her from behind one of the boxes did, though. “Oh, you have a cat.”
