Chapter 3
Chapter three
ROMAN
“Wow.” Noelle leans forward as the wrought iron gate opens. Through the trees, we can see hints of the house.
“The manor is sitting on twenty-five acres of land.” Am I excited to be here?
No. In fact, I should have stayed my ass home.
But fuck Cole for inveigling me to get an escort to act as my fiancée.
Look at me now: four hours driving and listening to mind-numbing music, a fake fiancée who has no idea that she is going into the lion’s den. I should turn back.
“Don’t worry. I will follow your rules. We got this,” Noelle says as she gives my arm a little squeeze.
Don’t worry? The rule is “no touching,” and here she is, squeezing me.
Even when I stopped for food, she squeezed by me to get to the bathroom.
At the florist, she touched my arm, thanking me for paying.
The problem is, I don’t mind it. In fact, I want her to squeeze me some more.
I like how she smells when she is close to me—cozy and vanilla-ish.
Maybe this is the effect of hiring an escort.
She is trained to seduce me. But the truth is, she is coordinator not an escort. I keep forgetting that.
“Look at that,” Noelle says under her breath.
“Welcome to Voss Manor.” The stone monstrosity always takes people’s breath away.
It was designed to intimidate the average man, or so my grandfather would say.
The French manor is a perfect balance of limestone and has a slate grey roof.
The house stretches as far as the eyes can see, with large, perfectly balanced windows.
The pale yellow lights in the house shine from many chandeliers. The driveway splits into a circular courtyard. Well-manicured green bushes, shaped into round topiary, are covered in flurries of snow. At the heart of the driveway sits a marble fountain.
“This is beautiful. Cold, but beautiful,” Noelle says as I bring the car to a stop.
“You’ve seen a lot of manors in your time?” I ask. It’s like I can’t stop myself from being a dick.
She shrugs and smiles.
“Trust me, it’s a beautiful house with a malignant foundation,” I reply.
Noelle looks at me like she wants to ask questions, and I’m happy that she doesn’t.
“We will be fine.” I don’t know if I am reassuring myself or Noelle at this point. This was a fucking mistake. Maybe I can turn back. The front door opens, and I realize it’s too late. My mother and dad stand at the door.
Sometimes I forget that despite her shortcomings, my mother is so excitable.
“I am guessing the blonde lady in the light blue sweater is your mom,” Noelle says as she smiles and waves.
“Yup.”
“The tall, debonair man is your dad,” Noelle says as she unbuckles her seat belt.
“Debonair?”
“Yes, your dad got that dark, sexy, debonair look.” She reaches to the backseat for her bag and the flowers she got for Mom.
It shouldn’t affect me that she found my dad to be debonair; it’s not like I am jealous. But…I think I am.
“Don’t call my dad sexy or debonair. He is married. Your focus is on me.” I unbuckle my seatbelt, watching as my parents come down to the car to meet us.
I jump out of the car and round it to open Noelle’s door. Putting my hand out, I ask, “You ready?”
She smiles mischievously. “Yes, Daddy, I am.”
I should stop her from calling me “daddy.” I never liked it, but maybe it’s her accent; it sounds sexy now.
I help her out of the car. Closing the door behind me, I pull Noelle to my side. Her smile seems genuine and bright. She places her hand on my chest for a moment, and through the layers of clothing, I swear I can feel her body heat.
“I was wondering when you would get here,” my mother says with her arms outstretched to me. I pull away from Noelle.
In the corner of my eyes, I see my dad stretching his hand forward to meet Noelle.
“My name is Cliff. Welcome to our home.”
“Thank you. It’s nice to meet you,” Noelle replies to my father’s greeting.
My mother slaps my chest and says under her breath, “No wonder you didn’t reply when I asked about the ship.”
I groan internally. “Mom.”
She shrugs and whispers. “I didn’t know she was Black. You could have told me. I have no problem with Black people; my masseuse is Black.”
“Mom,” I grate through my teeth.
My mother moves from my side. “I am Elizabeth. Thank you for bringing our son back to us.”
“I am Noelle; it’s a pleasure. These are for you,” Noelle replies as she gives my mother the bouquet.
My mother looks down at the blooming white peonies.
“These are lovely. Thank you. I am a hugger,” my mother says and opens her arms for a hug, and in true fashion, Noelle hugs her back.
Maybe the next two weeks wouldn’t be so bad. Then I hear it: the pounding rock music blaring through the trees. The engine revs, and the lime green car finally comes into view. It speeds down the driveway, then drifts around the fountain to a perfect park.
My heart begins to race. Not because my baby brother hops out of the car and slides across the hood. No, it beats because he opens the door, and the woman that I once loved steps out.
She is as beautiful as ever. Dark hair, blue eyes. Tessa Marie still had the power to take my breath away.
My brother wraps his arm around her waist and pulls her to his side. He kisses her forehead, and I remember why I am here. It’s for their wedding. My palm begins to sweat; I shouldn’t have come. I need to get out of here. I need…a warm hand presses on my chest.
I look down, and Noelle is smiling up at me. I sigh, exhaling a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.
NOELLE
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how you make an entrance. Tires blazing and a hot girl at your side. I wish I could be snide and say Liam was ugly, but he was blonde, tall, muscular, and gorgeous. Where Roman was dark and brooding, Liam was sunshine and sparkles.
Liam lets go of who I assume is Tessa and walks up to Roman. He pushes up his glasses and unzips his brown leather bomber jacket.
“Well, well, the prodigal son has returned. What’s it been, three years?” Liam says. Roman hasn’t been home for three years. Why?
“It’s nice to see you too, Liam.” Roman stretches out his hand. Liam looks down at it and pulls him in for a hug.
The two rock from side to side while they hug. Tessa is a supermodel. Seriously, she looks like she’s 5’10, slim, has sable-colored hair, blue eyes, legs for days, and a gorgeous face. The all-black ensemble suits her perfectly. She looks me up and down, and I smile.
She gives me a small smirk.
“You must be the infamous fiancée.” Liam leans down and pulls me in for a small hug. He smells of weed and cologne.
“I don’t know about infamous, but I’m Noelle.”
“Liam, nice to meet you. This beauty is Tessa.” Liam extends his hand, and Tessa walks to Liam’s side.
I feel Roman stiffen at my side.
“Noelle, right? Tessa,” she says with the fakest smile and extends her hand to me. As I shake her hand, she pulls it. “No ring? What, Roman didn’t think to buy you a ring?”
Shit, she got me. Before Roman can speak, I respond, “It’s my fault. I was seasoning chicken for dinner yesterday, so I took it off.”
Without missing a beat, Roman adds, “Saw it on the counter, and I packed it away for you.”
I smile up at him. “Thank you, honey.”
“Honey?” Tessa whispers.
“So she cooks,” Liam states.
Before I can respond, I hear it. Galloping. Heavy, rhythmic-like soft hooves charge behind me. What the hell is that sound?
“Oh, look, Cupcake and Muffin are coming to say hi to you,” Cliff says. I glance behind Roman’s back, and two lion-looking dogs are coming at me. Cupcake and Muffin, my ass. What kind of stupid-ass name is that? Why would you name these bear-dogs after bakery items? The fuck?
Their golden stare locks with mine, and I knew I was dead. Cupcake stops and barks, but it’s more like a low roar. Nope. Nope. I didn’t sign up for this shit.
“Roman!” I scream, jumping onto him like I was possessed by a spider monkey.
Liam doubles over and laughs as the dogs from hell try to eat me alive. “They just want to play.”
“Control them, Liam,” Roman commands. I wrap my arms around his neck. I bury my face against him, screaming into his shoulder as the massive dog-bear’s heavy paw thuds on my back.
“Down, boy.” Roman says playfully, like he’s talking to a toddler and not two war machines. “It’s nice to see you too, buddy.”
Each time the dogs shove Roman, he shifts his stance, and his arms tighten around me.
Cupcake or Muffin barks, and I try to climb higher onto Roman. He chuckles and rocks me from side to side. “I got you. Dad, call them off.”
“Cupcake and Muffin at my side.” I hear Cliff whistle.
I feel the air shift when they move.
“I think they like you, Noelle,” Liam adds with a teasing smirk.
I lift my head and look around. Elizabeth and Liam have the same smirk. Cliff’s face remains serious, and Tessa looks unamused.
Roman clears his throat and turns my attention to him. His eyebrow raises. I shift in his arms, and is that his…no…it can’t be.
“You can come down now; you’re safe,” Roman mutters.
“You have to let my ass cheek go first,” I counter.
The warmth from my butt moves, and slowly, I drag my body down his.
He turns away, and I fix my jacket.
“Sorry about that.” I can feel the shame creeping up my neck.
“No shame. Come let them smell you,” Cliff says.
Slowly, I walk to Cliff, and he takes my hand. I tremble as the big wet noses touch my finger.
“They were in the forest at the back,” Cliff states. He signs to the two dogs, and they both run to the back of the house.
Elizabeth claps. “Enough about dogs. It’s getting cold; let’s head inside.”
“Wait for me,” Roman whispers near my ear. He moves to the trunk and takes out our luggage.
Liam lets go of Tessa and runs back to Roman. “Let me help you with that.”
“No, I got it,” Roman mumbles as he lifts the bag up the first stair.
Liam grabs the handle of my luggage. “I can help.”
“I said I got it,” Roman roars. Everyone stops and looks at him.