Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

GEMMA

T hanksgiving dinner was just so darn special to me. My parents were with us instead of being away this year, and we were all getting to spend it together just the way I liked with Laurel and her family.

Our day was filled with laughter and fun, everyone happy to be back together for the holiday. To my complete surprise, Noah fit in really well.

My Superman was sweet and polite to the parents and he, Leif, and Jack seemed to have become fast friends. Dave kept shooting me eager, curious looks, and I knew he was dying to know how I’d ended up inviting Noah Parks to our Thanksgiving celebration, but I would tell him all about it later.

For today, Dave was just another member of the family. I’d told him I wasn’t planning on telling Noah about the divorce yet, and mercifully, he’d told me he completely understood.

Even so, I knew Noah had noticed all the looks my ex kept shooting me. I practically felt him get a little closer to me as if he was acting on instinct. Frankly, as much as it made me feel guilty, I also really liked it.

It made me feel wanted. Like Noah was claiming me for his own in a way. No man had ever been that way about me, and it made my femininity want to purr and lick him.

Although, I want to lick him either way, so…

When I glanced at him, I found him already looking at me and my heart skipped. I freaking adored the way the guy was looking at me today, like I was some kind of sexy miracle he’d been waiting for. Those blues had been all over my body on multiple occasions ever since he’d arrived, filled with both heat and warmth as he dragged his famous, smoldering gaze over me.

“This dinner is delicious,” he said after swallowing another big bite of turkey. There was a sense of awe on his chiseled features, his eyes a little wider than usual, his inner eyebrows raised, and his head tilted slightly forward. “Honestly, it’s probably the best meal I’ve had this year.”

“That’s high praise, Noah,” Deb said, smiling as she motioned toward the table. “As you can see, we made enough for a medium-sized army. Please don’t let it go to waste.”

“I won’t,” he promised, but it sounded more like he was solemnly swearing. “It’d be a crime to let any of it go to waste.”

He was still smiling at her, but there was a seriousness to him all of a sudden that I wished I understood. Deb’s head cocked slightly, her eyes softening as if she’d picked up on it too. “You’re absolutely right. Everyone is taking leftovers with them, by the way. There’s not a chance that Laurel and I will be able to finish all this before she leaves. Where are you staying while you’re in town, Noah? Are you able to reheat food?”

“I can,” he said, his hand brushing against my thigh under the table. It wasn’t a sexual touch, though. It was more like he was reassuring himself that I was still there.

Oh, he really is an enigma, this one. Probably a lot more of a wounded, tortured artist than I’d realized before. I was right about that depth, though. He definitely has it.

“I’m staying with a friend,” he explained lightly. “Brandon Hill. He’s in the band with me.”

Dave nearly choked on his potato, speaking around the food in his mouth as he gawked at Noah. “Brandon Hill? Are you for real? I love that guy.”

Noah gave him a polite smile, but it wasn’t nearly as easy as the one he’d given Deb a minute ago. “I’m sure he’d appreciate knowing he has at least one fan.”

Realizing that he was joking, I laughed, shaking my head as I met his gaze. “Does that mean y’all really are friends? There are rumors that you’re mortal enemies who are only playing pretend for the sake of fame and fortune.”

“There are also rumors that you’re lovers,” Dave blurted out.

Leif sighed. “I haven’t heard any rumors, but I’m new to City Lights. Do tell though, Noah. Is any of it true? Are you having an illicit affair with this Brandon dude, or are you secretly fantasizing about murdering him in his sleep?”

Noah chuckled. “Well, I can’t say that I’ve never thought about murdering him in his sleep. The guy snores like a broken tractor. There have definitely been some schemes hatched on tour buses in the early morning hours, but Lewis says we’re not allowed to kill each other.”

“Lewis.” Laurel pursed her lips, clearly trying to think which one that was before she snapped her fingers. “Oh, right. The big brother. The guy who keeps you all in line, am I right? Sorry, I’m new to City Lights myself. I did read an article about you guys this morning, though.”

“Studying up?” he teased, glancing at me. “I promise, I have nothing but the best intentions with your friend.”

My cheeks heated. My mom swooned at the other end of the table, but thankfully, Noah kept the conversation going, dispelling all the rumors while also effortlessly keeping the attention off me after that statement. “The truth is that we’re actually more like brothers than friends these days, and sure, we get on each other’s nerves sometimes, but I think that’s normal. We’ve been on a real rollercoaster together and we’ve forged some pretty amazing bonds because of it.”

“That’s wonderful, honey,” Deb said with a sweet, starry-eyed smile on her lips. “Your parents must be so very proud of you.”

His hand brushed against my thigh again, and I could’ve sworn I felt him tense, but when I looked at him, he seemed just fine. “Yeah, it’s, uh, it’s been quite a ride.”

Sensing that he didn’t want to talk about this any longer, I moved the conversation in a different direction. “Right, so I think it’s time for everyone to say something they’re grateful for. I’ll start. I’m grateful for Deb, for once again allowing us to invade her home and for always making Thanksgiving a truly special occasion.”

“That’s not how it works,” Laurel argued with a grin on her face. “You can’t just use this as an opportunity to flatter and thank the host. You have to dig deeper than that, Gem.”

I wrinkled my nose at her and thought back over everything that had happened since we’d last been gathered like this, and I finally nodded. “Fine. In that case, I’m grateful that Mariam decided to follow her dreams and for trusting me enough with the baby we birthed together to let me continue on my own.”

“Awww.” Mariam pressed her hand to her chest, her eyes filling with tears. “I love you too, Gem.”

“Who’s next?” Jack said, as impatient as always as he leaned forward. “Can I go? I’m next to Gemma, so if we can go this way around the table, Noah’s got more time to think. And I’m ready.”

“Sure.” Deb inclined her chin at him. “Go for it.”

Jack smirked. “I’m grateful that my ability to kick my brother’s ass in every sport known to man has persevered for another year. Thanks for always making me feel good about myself, buddy. You’re a star to me.”

Everyone burst out laughing, but Jack had broken the tension in the room and we went from one person to the next seamlessly from then on. Unsurprisingly, Leif, Laurel, Deb, and Andrea, Leif’s mom, were all thankful for something that had to do with second chances, love, and the healing effect of time.

When we got to Noah, those vivid blue eyes slid to mine. He held my gaze and his smile made my heart race and melt at the same time. “I’m grateful that I missed my original flight to New York, and that a super beautiful girl got moved right next to me on the plane I finally got on.”

My melting, racing heart fluttered. More oohs and awws rang out, but then Leif saved me by declaring, “I’m about to enter a food coma. Anyone else up for five minutes of lying flat on our backs on the floor before we start cleaning up?”

More than one hand went up, and while most of the guys succumbed to the food coma, the girls and I helped Deb and Andrea clean up.

Dave pitched in too, just about squealing with excitement now that we had a moment alone together. “Noah Parks, Gem? How the hell did that happen? When you said you had someone coming to dinner, you could’ve given me a heads-up that it was objectively one of the hottest men in the world. I nearly fainted when he walked in, and he’s nice too. Who’d’ve thunk it?”

I chuckled. “Why would I ruin the surprise? And also, I wasn’t sure he was actually going to show up. Celebrities, you know?”

“No, I don’t know, because unlike you, I’ve never actually been with one,” he said dryly.

I laughed, reaching out to give him a pat on the back. “You never know, Davey. You’re still young. It could happen. You should probably just warn your boyfriend that you’re on the prowl for a superstar.”

“Please.” Dave pumped his eyebrows at me. “I have a hall pass or two. So does he. I just never thought we’d actually meet one of the people they applied to. If you could get me an introduction to Brandon , though…”

“I’ll do my best.” I winked at him. “Now, pass me all the plates so I can rinse them before we pack them in the dishwasher.”

“Yes, mistress,” he joked, taking off and coming back a moment later with as much of the crockery as he could carry.

Eventually, Leif and Laurel disappeared to the swings out back to talk, Jack was snoring, Noah was having a quiet but apparently riveting conversation with Doug, the chief of the Fire Brigade and Deb’s possible boyfriend, and Mariam looked like she might fall asleep at any moment. I rushed into the living room, shaking my head as I planted my hands on my hips.

“No! Up. Up. Up. All of you. We have a house to toilet paper, or have you forgotten?”

Jack sat up, on his feet in the next movement. “She’s right, folks. Let’s move out. If you’re going to be involved in this prank, meet me in the garage in two.”

Genuinely surprised by how fast the dude had moved, I laughed, but Deb stepped up too. She offered us her late husband’s truck as it was the only vehicle we would all fit into. After calling Leif and Laurel, we piled into the old pickup. Noah eventually pulled me onto his lap when we realized there was no other way, but I couldn’t say I minded sitting on top of him.

“Whose house are we toilet papering again?” he murmured against my ear.

A shiver slid down my spine, my body reacting to his nearness in all the wrong ways considering that we were in a car full of my friends—and my ex-husband. “Oh, uh, Suzie Sanders. She was the senior class president in our year. A real jerk. We’d hoped she’d changed, but when we saw her at the reunion, we realized she’d only gotten meaner.”

Mariam nodded enthusiastically even though I hadn’t realized she was able to hear us. “Suzie is one of those typical mean girls who’s been asking for a good toilet papering most her life. Speaking of which, Dave! We need to stop to pick up toilet paper.”

“On it, lead adventurer. I’m so excited to be doing this with you guys. Naughty girls. Who knew?”

“Naughty girls?” Noah whispered against my ear. The sensation of his breath ghosting across my skin sent tingles through me.

I turned my head, my voice breathy and soft as I replied to him. “I’ll explain later.”

After a quick stop to buy as much of the white gold as we could carry, we proceeded to a nice part of town where Suzie lived. Having never done anything like this, I was nervous when we got started, but about five minutes in, with Noah’s hand on mine as he taught me how to throw the rolls in the most effective way, I was having a ball.

So was everyone else.

I was pretty sure we were supposed to be keeping quiet, but we were all laughing and acting stupid the whole time. Until a light came on, washing the entire front yard in a soft orange glow.

I practically leaped onto Noah and could hear my heart pounding in my ears, but he wrapped his arms around me and guided me back to hide in the shadows behind an old, thick tree. Holding me tight, he just stood there, both of us watching and waiting for the moment we would be discovered.

A thrill shot through me at the prospect of he and I trying to escape into the dark together, but when no one came out, he breathed into my ear. “I’m pretty sure it was just a light sensor. Don’t worry. I don’t think anyone is coming out.”

Relief spiraled through me, but my heart quickly started racing for a whole different reason entirely when he didn’t let go of me right away. I didn’t move either, perfectly happy where I was, pressed up against him and in the circle of his strong arms.

I knew we were going to have to move sooner or later, but for right then, I simply breathed in the moment, enjoying the faint but crisp masculine scent of him as he held me against his hard body.

One thing was for sure. It might’ve been almost a month since we’d last seen each other in person, but the chemistry between us hadn’t abated even a little bit. In fact, it seemed more intense than it had been before, which begged the question.

If absence makes the heart grow fonder, what on earth does it do to the Lady Garden? And when will I have the opportunity to find out?