50. True
I did not like Noah’s father. I mean, I knew that before we ever met. But the second he stretched his hand out to me and said, “ Michael Hunt, Hunt Toyota of Charlotte. We’ll hunt you down a deal ,” it was solidified.
Who the fuck introduced themselves like that? And at his daughter’s reception? Not even five minutes passed after the couple of honor had made their entrance before a familiar petite woman and a tall, brown skin man were walking our way.
Greyson had kissed my temple and easily sidestepped them, making himself scarce while they closed in on me and Noah.
“This one must be serious, it’s my second time seeing you with her,” his mother pointed out as soon as her husband finished his spiel, her critical gaze sliding over my form, lingering when she got to the dramatic slit exposing my thigh. I’d gone with the deep red, long-sleeved chiffon dress. It hugged every part of me just right and had it been any other person, I would have welcomed the attention.
Noah stiffened beside me, the hand at the small of my back gripping a little tighter while he cleared his throat.
“ This one has a name, mom. And it’s True St. John. True, this is Mischa Hunt.”
“You can call me Missy.” She gave me an artificial smile, wrapping her hand tighter around her husband’s bicep as they regarded us.
I was happy when neither one of us extended our hands to shake. I did not want that woman touching me. Her husband’s clammy palm had been enough.
While we were under the microscope of their scrutiny, I took my time looking at them.
Noah was a carbon copy of his father. Same height. Same athletic, but lean build. Same sharp jawline and almond eyes. But where Noah’s eyes were friendly and warm, Michael’s were cool and cutting. And where Noah’s wavy, jet black hair flowed past his broad shoulders, Michael’s was cut low with grey dusting his temples.
Lottie, who I’d finally seen tonight, had more of Mischa’s features. Smooth dark skin, round eyes and a curvier build.
Either way, it was clear they were both related to the man beside me, but their energy was enough to make me want to find wherever Greyson had ducked off to and join him. Unfortunately, there was no way in hell I was leaving Noah alone with them after the way they stormed into town this morning.
“So…” Mischa trailed coolly, startling me out of my thoughts. “What exactly is it that you do, True?”
Noah let his hand travel from the small of my back to grip my waist, holding me close. I melted into him and a sincere smile split my face.
“I’m a romance author,” I said. “I’m here to write a book.”
Mischa’s voice was deceptively sweet when she tilted her head to smile at me. “Well, isn’t that something.” Her eyes flashed to Noah, then back to me. “You don’t live in Bliss Peak full-time?”
“So, you’re leaving soon?” Michael rocked on his heels and he looked at us like he was putting puzzle pieces together in his head.
“I—”
“Ah, that makes sense,” Mischa cut in, nodding knowingly.
Irritation made me take a deep breath every time they cut me off.
His mother carried on, oblivious to—or ignoring—how cold my stare had turned. “Noah’s not really the settling down type, so it makes sense that he would be drawn to you. Did he tell you he was almost engaged?”
“He ran out on that one, so be careful,” his father added laughingly. Like his son wasn’t right fucking here and that relationship hadn’t been traumatic as fuck.
I took an involuntary step toward them and felt Noah’s grip on my waist tighten when their eyes rounded at my advance.
“I don’t understand the relevance of you bringing that up right now, but my timeline with your son is honestly none of your concern if you think it’s okay to?—”
“Let’s go say what’s up to my sister,” Noah said against my ear. His hold on me made it easy for him to pull me away from his wide-eyed parents, so I pursed my lips and nodded, getting the hint.
Now wasn’t the time nor the place.
“Mom, dad, we’re going to find Lottie and Cal.”
I wanted to say more. More was sitting right at the tip of my tongue, but…the optics. This was my first time meeting these people and just because I despised the way they talked to Noah didn’t mean it was my place to put them in theirs. At least not here.
So, I let him lead us away from them, reaching behind my back to thread my fingers with his.
A five-minute interaction already had my blood running hot. And Noah hadn’t blinked, clearly used to the way they came out the gate swinging when all he deserved was love from them.
“Are you okay?” What I really wanted to ask was, why did you let them talk to you like that?
Noah squeezed my hand before lifting it and stamping a kiss against the back. “Yea…they aren’t worth it, Red. Don’t worry about me.”
That was the problem. I didn’t know how not to worry about him. I couldn’t stand the way they looked at Noah like they were seeing through him.
Just the thought made a shiver run through me. It was going to be a long night.
An hour later, I stood at the glass door of the reception hall, two seconds from pressing my nose against the glass to watch every flurry of snow kiss the ground outside. It’d been snowing off and on for the past week and I was still just as in awe of it as I had been the first few days. The gazebo in the distance was blanketed in a fresh coat of snow, creating a picture-perfect backdrop for the peaceful night outside.
Noah and Greyson were around here somewhere, but I’d dipped off to catch my breath after four rounds of introductions. Compared to his parents, the rest of his extended family was like night and day. I was still trying to chase away the bad taste Michael and Mischa left in my mouth with the bubbly champagne hitting my tongue.
Turning away from the window, I took in the mahogany, ivory and gold accented decorations, feeling as if I’d stepped into a Black winter wonderland.
Candlelit centerpieces. Champagne roses everywhere. And multiple food vendors from around town set up on the perimeter of the room, letting guests choose between fast casual options between dances and drinks. There was a hot chocolate station I had my sights on before the end of the night…
This was their ten-year anniversary. A decade. That was the kind of longevity I wrote about in my books. The kind of longevity my parents and grandparents had but I never got my hopes up for. I tried to imagine being with someone for that long and two someones popped into my head.
I was just about to go looking for one of them when golden-blonde curls bounced in my line of sight. A second later, Goldyn’s face was all I could see as she grinned up at me.
“Dance with me?” She held out her hand, waiting for me to take it.
I set my empty champagne flute down and locked arms with her while she led us to the dance floor. “I didn’t know you would be here.”
“Lottie works for Rome and I’m his plus one. Oh, and Sincere did the dessert cart. It was meant for me to be here,” she sang gleefully, pulling me into the small crowd of dancing guests.
“Always be my Baby” bled into “Return of the Mack” and before I knew it, I lost myself in the DJ’s mix. In front of me, Goldyn bunched up the material of her dress and danced with me like we were the only two people in the room.
Our usual six-inch height difference was almost nonexistent tonight because of the sky-high heels she had on her feet. She danced in them like they were flats, not missing a beat. My face hurt from smiling by the fourth song.
When “Heard It All Before” came on, her arms were locked around my torso and we mouthed the lyrics to each other like lovers scorned.
“You look so happy,” Goldyn whispered in my ear when a quieter Joe song came on. Her arms had migrated from my waist to hang loosely around my shoulders. “Does that mean writing is going good?”
Writing was going great . I spent my days writing at my desk by the fire in my cabin and all my nights loving on the two men I never expected. Bliss Peak had given me the exact refuge I was seeking, and the thought of leaving when I typed “The End” made my stomach sink.
“Come on, let’s get more champagne,” Goldyn prompted before my thoughts sent me spiraling.
I took one sip of my champagne before a hand landed on my shoulder and Goldyn’s face fell as she looked behind me.
“True, there’s something I need to talk to you about outside, dear.”
The champagne tasted bitter on my tongue when I turned to match the face with the voice I knew after one interaction. I tamped down the snarl that wanted to curl on my lips and gave her a tight smile. What the hell did Noah’s mother want to talk to me about?