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“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.Morewas 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 wasstilltrying to chase away the bad taste Michael and Mischa left in my mouth with the bubbly champagne hitting my tongue.