Hidden

HIDDEN LEIGH SKARIN © Copyright 2023 by Leigh Skarin All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, including introducing it and storing it in information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author. The use of brief quotations in a book review is acceptable. The author acknowledges the use of trademarked statuses and trademark owners. The publication and use of these trademarks is not endorsed or associated with the trademark owners. This book may not be re-sold. If you wish to give this book to another person, please purchase it to give away, particularly if you enjoy reading thoughtful, steamy romance books featuring sexy, faithful men and the intelligent, authentic women they love. Cover design by the lovely Kate Farlow with Y’all That Graphic Formatting by the talented Keyminor Publishing Thank you both for making Hidden come to life! CONTENTS 1. Noah Steele 2. Noah Steele 3. Scrubs Girl 4. Noah Steele 5. Noah Steele 6. Scrubs Girl 7. Noah Steele 8. Hope Brighton 9. Noah Steele 10. Noah Steele 11. Noah Steele 12. Hope Brighton 13. Hope Brighton 14. Noah Steele 15. Hope Brighton 16. Noah Steele 17. Noah Steele 18. Hope Brighton 19. Noah Steele 20. Noah Steele 21. Noah Steele 22. Noah Steele 23. Hope Brighton 24. Noah Steele 25. Noah Steele 26. Noah Steele 27. Hope Brighton 28. Noah Steele 29. Noah Steele 30. Hope Brighton 31. Noah Steele 32. Noah Steele 33. Noah Steele 34. Noah Steele 35. Noah Steele 36. Noah Steele 37. Hope Brighton 38. Noah Steele 39. Hope Brighton 40. Hope Brighton 41. Noah Steele 42. Hope Brighton 43. Noah Steele 44. Noah Steele 45. Hope Brighton 46. Noah Steele 47. Noah Steele 48. Hope Brighton 49. Noah Steele 50. Noah Steele 51. Hope Brighton 52. Noah Steele 53. Noah Steele 54. Noah Steele 55. Hope Brighton 56. Noah Steele 57. Noah Steele 58. Hope Brighton 59. Noah Steele 60. Noah Steele 61. Hope Brighton 62. Noah Steele 63. Hope Brighton 64. Hope Brighton Epilogue Acknowledgments A Note from the Author ABOUT HIDDEN Noah - I’ve carefully stayed hidden for years…until Hope crashes into my life. From the minute we meet, I can’t stand her. Her vibrancy awakens what’s been dead in me too long. When I’m around her, I feel again. Annoyed. Angry. Alive. In a moment of weakness, I offer to be her fake fiance when she needs help. Problem is, I’m genuinely falling for her. She's infinitely more than I bargained for. But I’m nobody’s hero. The sooner she realizes that, the better. Letting go is my only option. 1 NOAH STEELE PRESENT DAY - 2007 Standing in a little coffee shop waiting for my order, my feet nervously tap the wood laminate floor. Scaling a mountain with zero climbing gear doesn’t faze me, but thinking about the meeting I have this morning makes me break into a cold sweat. Every one of these meetings causes pain to rise to the surface like a newly exposed nerve ending, and anxiety tumbles around in the pit of my stomach. “Noah,” my name is called to pick up my order, and I ignore the barista writing her phone number on the cup before she hands it to me. I don’t date, and I abhor being around people, so that’s a hard pass. At least, I can drink my favorite coffee today. When I exit the coffee shop, a little bell on the door dings, and a harsh wind chills my skin. The dark clouds blanketing the sky open, and fat raindrops dot the sidewalk. I grip the strap of my laptop case tighter with each step toward the impending meeting. The first sip of my fresh coffee coats my taste buds with a dark, smooth acidity, but dread still blooms in my chest. As I round the corner of my building, someone runs straight into my chest. Steaming coffee pours down my front, and instincts take over. My body goes into high alert, and my free hand rises in a fist. “Sorry,” says a young sounding female voice. My eyes travel up to see a girl strongly resembling a bumblebee, dressed in light yellow scrubs and a black jacket zipped up. She’s definitely not going to attack me. Mentally, I urge my body to calm down, but my racing pulse and sweaty palms don’t get the message. I look at the brunette girl’s black bomber jacket with a couple of minor splatters compared with the dark brown coffee stain running like a racing stripe down my khaki coat. “Oh Mylanta, yours is much worse.” Her eyes drift over my coat, and she covers her mouth to stifle a laugh. I glare at her and fail to see the humor in this. Giant raindrops are pelting us and I’m wearing my coffee instead of drinking it. My chest rises with an annoyed breath. “I’m sorry,” she waves her hand as if to stop herself from laughing. “It’s not funny, but your face is incredible.” Her face morphs into a serious look, mimicking what I assume she thinks I look like. It’s definitely not funny. “You’re like those soldiers in front of Buckingham Palace. Unflappable. Very impressive.” Scrubs girl glances down at her watch and hops in place. “I’m gonna be late. Sorry. I’ve gotta go.” She hurriedly picks up a folder that’s now wet. “Do you by chance know where 407 Clover Drive is?” She’s going into the building I own. With a deep sigh, I wordlessly point to the building we’re standing in front of. Good thing I’m rarely here. She squints up at the red brick front in the rain. “Glad I ran into you. I was in such a hurry, I almost passed it. Thanks.” She scurries ahead of me into the building. I grunt and blink as rain gets in my eyes. I open and close my hand several times, willing my blood pressure to