Chapter 8
NOEL
I’m driving my truck with Hannah in my passenger seat and her father in the back, and I’ve never been more determined to make a good impression in my entire life.
Chris briefed me yesterday. Family dinner. Dysfunctional relatives who make Hannah feel like shit. She needs to show up with a hot boyfriend on her arm to shut everyone up.
Fuck, yeah. I can do that.
I went all out tonight. Hair down, falling past my shoulders instead of tied back like I usually wear it for work.
Didn’t shave this morning—figured the shadow would make me look more intimidating.
People find beards scary, and I want to look just dangerous enough that her relatives think twice before asking invasive questions.
Dark button-up shirt over a black tee, sleeves rolled to my elbows to show off the tattoos running down both forearms. Jeans that fit right.
Boots. And the beaded bracelets I picked up in Bali last year because I like how they look against my skin.
At six four, I’m going to stand out. That’s the entire point.
Hannah keeps stealing glances at me. Quick looks when she thinks I’m not paying attention, her eyes traveling from my hands on the wheel to my arms to my face.
I love it. Love that she’s watching. Love that she’s trying to be subtle and failing completely.
Lily’s plan was simple but brilliant. She rigged me up with an earpiece connected to her phone so she can feed me information all night.
Tell me things about Hannah, their relationship, details that’ll make me look like I’ve been dating her for months instead of pretending for one evening.
She was insistent that this would work, talking a mile a minute about how she’d be my inside source and ensure I didn’t get caught in any lies.
I grin thinking about what a firecracker she is. Hannah’s sister doesn’t do anything halfway.
The earpiece crackles to life. “Testing, testing. Can you hear me?”
“Loud and clear,” I murmur.
Hannah glances at me. “What?”
“Just confirming something with Lily.”
“Oh God, I can’t believe you let her rope you into that!”
“Insurance.” I tap my ear. “She’s feeding me intel all night so I don’t accidentally contradict your life story.”
Hannah groans. “This is going to be a disaster.”
“It’s going to be perfect,” her father says from the back seat. “So, Noel.” Her father leans forward slightly. “Hannah mentioned you’re a bounty hunter. That’s dangerous work.”
“Yes, sir.” I keep my voice calm, respectful.
First impressions matter with fathers, and I learned that the hard way with my own.
“That’s why I work in a team of three. We’ve got each other’s backs, do extensive research on every target before we move.
One of our rules is to never go in blind. No surprises.”
“Smart approach. Very smart.” He settles back. “I was actually caught up in a bank robbery once. Scared the hell out of me.”
Hannah twists in her seat, eyes wide. “Dad, what? You were in a bank robbery? You never told us this!”
“Oh my God, Dad was in a bank robbery?” Lily’s voice comes through the earpiece, excited and loud. “Tell him I want to know everything when I see him next!”
I chuckle. “Lily wants the full story later.”
“Of course she does.” Hannah is smiling despite herself. “She’s probably already planning to use it in one of her murder documentary theories.”
Their dad laughs. “Didn’t want to scare you girls.
This was before you and Lily were born, back when I was working at the credit union downtown.
Three guys came in with guns, whole hostage situation.
But there was a bounty hunter who got caught up in it, and he took the main guy down.
Just tackled him like he was made of steel.
Big guy, about Noel’s size. Very impressive. ”
“That’s insane,” I add.
“Well, the cousins are definitely going to lose their minds when they see you, Noel,” Hannah mutters. “Mission accomplished.”
Her father chuckles. “They need something to talk about besides your love life. Or lack thereof, according to them.”
“Dad!”
“What? I’m just repeating what they say.”
“Anyway,” Lily continues in my ear, “we’re arriving at the wedding, so I might be quiet during the ceremony. But I’ll be back for the main event.”
“Sounds good,” I say quietly.
Hannah turns to her father. “So you know the deal, right? Noel is helping me out tonight. He’s my boyfriend for the evening. Just for show.”
I grin, catching her father’s gaze in the rearview mirror, and wink. “Yep. Fake boyfriend. Playing the part. We all know the drill.”
Hannah stares at me. “Noel.”
Her father laughs. “Don’t worry so much, sweetheart. Just be yourself. Both of you.” He pauses. “So where did you two actually meet? For real?”
“In a roundabout way, through a bounty hunt,” I admit. “But it all worked out.”
“It’s a long story,” Hannah adds quickly. “I’ll tell you later.”
Her father’s smile turns soft, watching Hannah. “Your mother would’ve loved this. The chaos, the absurdity. She always said the best stories come from the strangest circumstances.”
Hannah’s expression shifts, the corner of her mouth lifting. “Yeah. She would’ve.”
We’re climbing higher into the mountains now, Whispering Grove fading behind us, replaced by dense forest and winding roads. Snow is heavier up here, coating everything in white.
I’m watching Hannah and her father banter, and I feel something twist in my chest. Something that’s not quite envy but close to it.
I never had this with my parents. Every conversation ended in arguments, slammed doors, them telling me I was throwing my life away with bad choices and worse friends.
I brought cops home more times than I could count as a teenager from fights, stupid shit I did because I was angry and didn’t know how else to be.
When I left at eighteen, they were relieved. I saw it in their faces. And they’ve never reached out since. No calls. No messages. Nothing.
Chris and Kane became my family. The only family that matters.
But watching Hannah with her father, seeing this easy affection, I can’t help wanting that. Wishing I’d had it.
“Your mom would be proud,” her father says quietly. “That we keep the tradition alive. That we still show up even when it’s hard.”
Hannah reaches over to take his hand. “She always said showing up was an act of love.”
“She had more patience than all of us combined.” He grins and clears his throat. “You two got my stubbornness, unfortunately.”
The road curves, and suddenly houses start appearing through the trees. Big houses. The kind with circular driveways and landscaping that requires a full-time staff.
Then number thirteen comes into view. Martha’s house sits at the end of a long driveway, and I actually slow down to process what I’m seeing.
The house itself is a Victorian mansion, three stories of white-painted wood with green shutters and a wraparound porch. But that’s not what catches my attention.
It’s the decorations.
Every single window glows with colored lights that make the house resemble a stained-glass cathedral.
The gutters drip with icicle lights, thousands of them, bright enough that I’m surprised passing planes don’t mistake it for a landing strip.
The lawn is covered with inflatables, but these aren’t normal snowmen.
These are life-sized carolers with moving mouths and blinking eyes, arranged in perfect choir formation.
“Oh, geez.” Hannah’s voice is strangled. “She’s upgraded since last year.”
The neighboring houses are visible through the trees, equally large, equally expensive, but their decorations look almost restrained in comparison. Tasteful wreaths. Simple white lights.
“Did she hire a theme park crew?” I ask jokingly.
Hannah’s father chuckles loudly from the back seat. “I think she became one.”
“I’m counting eight—no, ten—new animatronic reindeer.” Hannah sounds genuinely disturbed. “And is that a nativity scene made of holograms?”
I park behind a row of luxury cars. Mercedes, BMW, a Porsche, all of them pristine.
Her father whistles low. “She put a projector on the roof.”
It kicks on as if on cue, casting a twenty-foot glowing Santa waving across the yard. Music blares from the speakers with “Jingle Bell Rock” at a volume that could damage hearing.
“Is that a snow machine?” Hannah is still staring, transfixed by the show.
Her father sighs. “Welcome to the family, Noel.”
We climb out of the truck, and I immediately move to Hannah’s side. She’s wearing a dark green dress that hugs every curve, hits just above her knees, paired with black tights and heeled boots. Her hair is down in waves, and she looks gorgeous and nervous and like she’d rather be anywhere else.
I take her hand, threading our fingers together.
She resists slightly, trying to pull away. “Noel—”
“Relax,” I murmur. “We’ve got this.”
Her father reaches the door first, knocking, and a woman in her mid-thirties answers. She’s wearing a knitted dress covered in snowflakes, and her mouth literally drops open when she sees me.
“Hi, Patty.” Hannah’s father moves forward, carrying his baked casserole. “Good to see you again.”
Patty doesn’t respond. She’s staring at me, eyes wide, taking in my size, my tattoos, the entire package.
I step forward, keeping Hannah’s hand in mine, and lean down slightly. “Hey. I’m Noel. Hannah’s boyfriend.”
Patty makes a squeaking sound.
Hannah opens her mouth, probably to add something diplomatic, but I lean closer to her, press a soft kiss near her temple, and say, loudly enough for Patty to hear, “Actually, I’m her scent match. Her Alpha.”
Hannah looks up at me, whispering urgently, “Don’t need to say that part.”
I smirk down at her. “Oh, I do.”