I’ve always enjoyed surprising Gab, and when I finally get to the part about what to call the book, her audible gasp has me grinning like a lunatic.
This is the kind of energy I want to have for the meet-the-parents dinner this weekend, because nothing but my best will do for Noah’s parents.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Noah
“Noah, sweetheart. I need your help.”Chase comes bursting through the door with two bunches of flowers. He stops short when he takes me in sitting and peering at my laptop.
“What are you doing?” he asks quietly.
“Erm, nothing.” I quickly shut the lid of the laptop and stand to give him my full attention. “They look nice. What did you need my help with?” He doesn’t press me further but I can see the furrows on his forehead. It’s alright for him, he has millions of pounds. I need to earn my money and there’s no way I’m ever going to become dependent on him, apart from the terms of his investment of course. I don’t want him to worry about me but I do need to keep working hard. After a few more seconds of staring at me, he brandishes the flowers. One is much larger than the other and rather showy.
“I need help deciding which one to take for your mom. Thisone is elegant, but rather small. I don’t want her to think I’m mean. But is this one over the top?”
I laugh, because his face is twisted in a grimace and he’s biting his bottom lip.
“Don’t laugh.” He almost whines, and I take a couple of steps to close the gap between us.
“Are you nervous?” I chuckle softly.
“I said don’t laugh,” he grinds out, which again sounds whiny but also very sexy. “I’ve never done this before. The whole ‘meet the parents’ thing.”
“What? Never?” I can’t keep the surprise from my voice.
“Never ever,” he sighs. I never thought I’d be the first anything for Chase but this does feel special.
“You know, seeing the great Chase Knightly flustered is kind of hot.” I cup both his cheeks with my hands and tease his lips with my teeth and tongue until he groans against my mouth. He’s stuck holding the bunches of flowers and can’t move as I kiss down his jaw. I run my hands down his chest and then hold his hips and pull him close as I breathe into the sweet spot between his neck and shoulder. He almost vibrates as I press my body against his, and I can feel how hard he is, straining against his trousers.
“Sweetheart. If you don’t stop that, I won’t be responsible for what happens next, but these flowers will be ruined and we’ll end up being late.” His rich voice sends tingles up my spine, and much as I’d like to see what would happen if I pushed him further, I don’t really want to arrive at my parents’ house late and looking like I’ve just had sex.
“We can save it until later,” I promise as I step away, and he groans about that too.
“Now I’ll be thinking about that all night.”
“Then it’ll take your mind off being nervous.” I giggle.
“Not if I spend all evening trying to hide a boner,” he grumbles. “Now help me with these flowers.”
I consider them both.
“My mum doesn’t really care for money so yeah, the big one might be a bit over the top. But her favourite colour is lilac, so if . . .” I pluck a few blooms out of the larger bouquet and poke them into the other bunch. “We do that, then it’s perfect.”
“Thank you.” He smiles and hands me the flowers for my mum while he disappears, hopefully to give the other bunch to Macy. He returns with a bottle of wine.
“I chose a bottle of rioja from Gran Amor. I presume that will be fine.”
“Actually, it’s a good choice. Did you know the vineyard is owned by the cousin of one of Rafe’s boyfriends?” I ask as we walk to the door and out to the car.
“I didn’t. All I know is Nate and Ru have been there. They told us about it during the dinner party at their house, so of course I bought a crate.”
While Grant drives us over to my parents’ house, I tell him as much as I can, which is only what Rafe has told me about Constantin and his cousin. But it entertains Chase and stops him overthinking about meeting my parents. Even so, as we stand on their doorstep I hear him take a deep nervous breath.
“Relax, darling, they’re just people,” I whisper as the door opens and my mum greets us with a big smile.
“Noah,” she says and opens her arms. I step into her embrace and allow myself to be engulfed in a full-on mum hug, which is the best. She releases me and steps towards Chase.
“And you must be Chase.”