Chapter 4 #2
I snicker. “You’re always so crude. When will you become a lady?”
Tillie raises her eyebrow. “I am a lady; only one that cusses. Now, because I love you and can’t stand Tessa, I will play along.”
“I am also your favorite cousin.”
“Meh. Liam is in close running.”
I pull her into a side hug. “Enough about me. How are you doing? Fell in love lately?”
“No. I don’t think my soulmate exists. I think his mom swallowed him, or he was flushed down the toilet in a tied condom.”
I bend my head, trying to contain my chuckle.
“No, seriously; I went out with a man whose IQ was just below freezing temperature.” She shakes her head. “The sad part? His dick was good.”
“Enough.” I chuckle.
“When Ollie comes back, I will get him up to date.”
NOELLE
I stand in front of the mirror, touching my lips. That kiss was…phenomenal. I underestimated Roman. His personality may be that of a cedar plank, but his kiss was hot, searing…fiery. I bend my head. I need to remember this is not a real engagement.
“I also need to stay away from his dick,” I whisper.
“Best way to stay away from a man’s dick is to find another.” A man with dark brown hair leans against the threshold of the bathroom door.
“Excuse me?” I straighten.
He smiles and moves into the bathroom. “I volunteered my cock for you to get over your current.”
“No, thank you,” I reply.
“I am Oliver, Ollie for short, and you are?” His hand extends out to mine.
I look down at it and back at him. “How did you get in here?”
“Right, well. The door was open, and I came in during your solo conference.”
I didn’t realize I left the door open. “Sorry, I am Noelle.”
He shakes my hand. “You are wearing a ring, expensive cashmere, and your nails are done. You are not the help.”
“No, I am Roman’s fiancée,” I state.
“Come again?”
I extend my hand up to Ollie. “I am Roman’s fiancée.”
He holds my hand and looks down at it. “Interesting. He didn’t give you Gram’s ring. I guess this will not last.”
“What do you mean?” My stomach flutters.
Oliver drops my hand. “If he really loved you, he would have given you Gram’s ring.”
“Oh.” That’s all that came out.
“Excuse me.” Ollie goes into the toilet and closes the door behind him. I wash my hands again and leave.
I shouldn’t feel any way about the ring. This is a transaction. So why the hell did it hurt a little?
Because my ass needs a therapist.
I walk out of the bathroom and enter the foyer. My eyes track Roman talking to a tall blonde woman.
As I move closer, her smile widens.
Roman looks back and extends his hand to me. Without thinking, I take it.
The blonde woman instantly hugs me and whispers in my ear, “Play along. I am Tillie.”
She pulls away and smiles. “Finally, we meet in person.”
“I know. Finally,” I reply. Roman’s mom and Tessa are looking at our interaction.
“I love the look, Tillie,” I add.
The conversation around us continues, and Ollie walks lazily back into the room.
He comes to Roman’s side and smiles. “Your fiancée is gorgeous.”
Tillie grabs Ollie’s arm and pulls him to the side.
“They are twins?” I ask Roman.
“Yes. Identical, but Tillie is prettier. Don’t tell I said that.”
A clap calls everyone’s attention. “That’s a wrap. Now, dinner,” Elizabeth says. She leaves the room as the photographer begins to pack his equipment away.
We all shuffle behind Elizabeth. Ollie and Tillie tease Roman about being engaged, and Roman smirks, trying his best to hold back his laughter.
“Then there was this one Christmas where Liam cried over Roman’s Pokémon,” Ollie states.
“I loved that Pokémon,” Roman adds.
Liam taps his shoulder. “So did I.”
Tillie shakes her head. “You always loved whatever Roman had. No matter if it’s his leftovers.”
Tessa scowls and tries to ignore Tillie’s dig.
Roman pulls out a chair for me as we sit. The dining room is the kind that you see in a Home and Country magazine. Classy and elegant. A 14-foot-long table sits decorated with candles, gold flatware, and dark green linen napkins folded into the shape of a leaf.
I lower myself down onto the chair. Ever since the kiss, he hasn’t really looked at me.
Roman’s father sits at the head, his mother on the other side.
Roman sits closer to his father, and thankfully, Tillie is next to me. I know conversation is about to be good.
Liam sits directly opposite Roman, with Tess next to him and then Ollie.
“Remember the Christmas when Roman got that large black and gold Power Ranger?” Ollie chuckles.
Roman’s mouth tightens as his arm settles over the back of my chair. “It was a Mighty Morphin Power Ranger Deluxe Special Edition black and gold Megazord.”
“Roman cried for that silly toy,” Elizabeth adds.
Roman shakes his head. “It wasn’t silly. You just gave Liam whatever he wanted, even if it was mine.”
Elizabeth flicks her wrist downward. “Oh, pish posh. I was teaching you to share. Always so melodramatic.”
Something about the way she moves Roman’s emotions away irks me.
“Want to see how dramatic I can be, Mother?” The question was a simple one, but there were layers of a dare dwelling within it.
Roman looks up at Elizabeth, and she instantly becomes quiet. Roman holds her gaze until she looks away and grabs her napkin. The table goes quiet.
Elizabeth smiles and picks up her champagne glass. “A toast to both of my boys being home and to the women they will soon call their wives.”
We all raise our glasses and sip. I wonder what they will say next year when I am not here.
The starter comes out: roasted pear, prosciutto, and arugula salad with shaved parmesan and balsamic glaze.
The clinks of the forks surround me.
“So tell us, Noelle, how did you and Roman meet?” Tessa says as she slices into the cured ham.
Roman sits up. “Well, we…”
I put my hand on his arm gently. “She asked me, darling.”
Roman swallows and stares at me, like he was frightened of giving me the reins. “You’re right.”
I smile and lean more into Roman’s side. “Well, I was at a charity gala and wasn’t watching where I was going and spilled red wine on Roman’s shirt.”
ROMAN
Noelle settles into my side as she talks about our first meeting. Part of me wanted it to be true. I wish we met that way versus…well.
“I am talking about his whole white shirt was soaked. I reached for a napkin on a table and patted his shirt.”
I chuckle, remembering how she just threw a vase at my head in her home. Without realizing what I am doing, I comment.
“Oh, she has a thing with getting me soaked. I went to pick her up, and she took a vase and threw it at me.”
Noelle pulls away and looks at me. “I can’t believe you just told them that.”
“You threw a vase at my son?” My father asks.
Noelle’s jaw drops. “Sir, let me explain. I thought he was an intruder.”
“You left your door open.”
“You could have knocked,” she countered.
I look at her lips again, thinking about the kiss we just shared.
“I think you just wanted to see me naked before we left.”
Her eyes widen. “Roman, behave. Oh my God, I am so sorry.”
Seeing her flustered makes me chuckle.
“I thought both occasions were funny.”
Tessa frowns. “You were never one for humor. You found it to be frivolous.”
I frown. “People change, Tess.”
Ollie knocks the table. “She has given you a sense of humor. She is a keeper.”
Noelle pushes her hair behind her ear.
Tessa leans forward. “So how long did you two know each other before you got engaged?”
Noelle takes her fork and spear into the pear. “Not too long. But when you know, you know. Right, Roman?”
“Agreed.”
Tessa’s jaw rocks, and her hands flex on the cutlery. She hates the answer. Perfect.
The sound of clinking flatware continues, and casual conversation about sports arises between Ollie and me.
“Tell me, Noelle, what’s your intention with our Roman?” my father asks as he cuts his arugula. Everyone at the tables freezes.
I frown, not liking the question. It feels like a subtle attack.
Noelle looks up at me with the sincerest expressions. “To make him feel like he is not alone. To be his peace.”
I don’t know what it is, but something shifts in me. It’s like for some seconds, Noelle actually understands.
Tillie grabs Noelle by the shoulder. “You are just the kind of woman my cousin needs.”
“What kind of woman is that?” asks Tessa.
Without restraint, Tillie replies, “Smart, witty. Not you.”
Tessa pushes back from the table. “I know when I am not wanted.”
Tillie shrugs and looks away.
Tessa dashes out of the dining room, and Liam stands and throws his napkin on the table. “Really, Tillie?”
“Yes. Go after your fiancée before she leaves you for another man with more money.” Tillie continues eating.
“Tillie.” My father’s voice is firm.
“Sorry, Uncle.”
After a few minutes, Liam reappears without Tessa.
Tillie leans forward. “Sorry, Liam.”
Liam scowls. “You are not sorry, Tillie.”
“You are right, but I was trying to be courteous,” Tillie rebuts.
Liam shakes his head, but the conversations run smoothly. I speak little, enjoying Noelle at my side as she talks to Tillie.
This feels solid and real when it shouldn’t be. What do I do now?