Page 50

Judging by the busty blonde’s appearance, I’m guessing it’s more like giving sales head.
Ava politely extends her hand to mine. “And you must be Kelly?”
At least she knows my name.That’s good, right?
Ava moves around to the other side of the truck and out the bay doors as Noah turns back to me. I catch the redness of his cheek, the pink in his knuckles of his other hand and ask why he’d been fighting with Ryker.
“He was giving Ava shit as soon as she walked in this morning. It pissed me off that he couldn’t just keep his mouth shut for one day.”
“So you hit him?”
“No. He hit me. I was defending myself.”
I nod, but it bugs me that he’s defending this woman he’d supposedly just met. “Should I be worried about her?”
The look on my husband’s face the moment that question leaves my lips is something similar to, I don’t fucking know what, maybe someone stabbing his balls with an ice pick. I swear, lightning flashes in his eyes. Noah snorts, his tone amused but slightly annoyed. He takes a step toward me, crowding my space despite Fin still being on my hip. “Just because I defended her doesn’t mean I give a shit about her.”
I stare at my husband, perfectly, gorgeously flawed. “Okay.” I can tell it isn’t worth questioning at this point, and the fact that I had questioned it upsets him.
Noah’s gaze on me is so penetrating my skin almost burns. “Yeah. Okay.” By the edgy tilt in his tenor, I’ve really pissed him off. He’s displeased I even questioned him, and I feel stupid for saying anything at all. He has that way about him that can make you feel ashamed for asking a question, should it be the wrong one, without really trying.
Drawing in a careful breath, I shield the sun coming in through the doors, but I don’t move. I look at our kids, Sevi in his arms and Fin in mine. They look between the two of us and then Sevi grabs Noah’s cheeks with both his hands. “Daddy?”
“What, buddy?”
And then he licks Noah’s cheek and breaks the tension between us.
We both laugh as he sets Sevi on his feet and then we’re smiling at one another, two people brought together by their little, weird child.
Noah sighs, a half smile as the tension breaks. “Listen, I didn’t mean anything by it. I just don’t see why’d you even question it. I’ve never given you a reason not to trust me.”
He’s right. He may avoid, but he’s never ever shown interest in another woman. “I know. I guess I was just caught off guard.” I swallow back the tightness in my throat. I point to my SUV in the parking lot. “I think I might be getting a flat tire. Can you fix it?”
Noah nods and follows me outside. “Did you run over a nail or something?”
“No, I hit the curb pretty hard this morning. I got distracted by Oliver. He’s being really mean to Hazel lately.”
Dropping his head, he nods and runs his good hand through his hair. “I know.” This time he’s the one shielding his eyes from the sun. “He’s being a dick lately.”
Kinda like you. I don’t say that. I’m not stupid. “He actually punched her arm this morning. Hard enough he left a mark.”
Noah’s expression tightens. “What a little fucker.”
“I know.” I want to tell him more, like Hazel mentioning Mara visits her in her dreams, but I also think I might have pissed him off enough for one day. “Maybe talk to him about it tonight before the party?”
After inspecting the tire, he raises his eyes to mine but remains kneeled in front of the tire. “What party?”
“I guess there’s a Halloween block party?”
Standing, he groans and runs his hand over his jaw, clearly annoyed I’ve made plans. “Do we have to go?”
“Yes. We do. I already got my costume.”
Now he perks up, his flirty side returning as he waggles his eyebrows at me. “What are you dressing up as?”
A smile hovers on my lips. “Guess you’re gonna have to go to the party and find out.”
Stepping forward, he brushes his thumb over my cheek where my hair is blowing around in the subtle breeze. “Using bribery against me now?”