CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

NOAH

She’s not here yet. But she’s on her way.

Things fell into place at the office. I’d been waiting on a call from my sister, Sarah, who’s out of the country. We’re kicking around expanding overseas, and she offered to fly over and do the research. So, we let her. Why not? Anyway, Sarah is notorious for checking in late, so I allowed her the extra time. To my surprise, she called five minutes early. And she had already talked to Mom and Dad. Will wonders never cease?

So, that’s how I was able to leave work sooner than expected. Now I wish I hadn’t texted Amber. Or arrived at the party so early. Now I’m avoiding my mother because she’s questioning whether I really have a date. “Poor Noah.”

I stroll to the lobby and shimmy a Hera armchair just right so I can sit and stare out the massive row of windows. We’ve owned this three-hundred-room hotel for ten years, and I love it. We’re proud of it. Took a lot of work to bring it up to 5-star status, but we did it. Good for us.

My car pulls up, and a valet lets Amber out. She’s gorgeous in her new attire.

I push out of my chair and meet her at the entrance.

Her eyes grow big. “You’re here?”

“Finished early.” I hug her. “You’re beautiful.”

“Thank you.”

I step away and look her over. Stunning. Wouldn’t mind taking her up to the honeymoon suite and doing what honeymooners do.

“These earrings are something.” Amber caresses her right earlobe. Wriggles her wrist. “So is the bracelet.”

“They belonged to my grandmother.”

Her smile grows stiff, and she grapples to undo the bracelet. “I can’t accept this.”

I grab her hands. “That’s all right. Grandmother would agree. The jewelry looks perfect on you.”

Her head tilts slightly. “Why do you have the jewelry?”

“That’s a question for the ages. Grandmother left them to me, and nobody knows why. Doesn’t matter anymore because they’re yours.”

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely.”

She embraces me. Her hair smells of lavender. I like lavender.

“There you are,” a voice rings out. “I was wondering where you ran off to.”

It’s my younger brother, Rob, who can be a burr under any blanket. He saunters up to Amber and scans her from head to toe. “Aren’t you a lovely sight? Care to have dinner?”

“Knock it off,” I tell him.

“Why? She’s obviously too good for you.”

Amber plays with her bracelet and glances at a chandelier.

“Don’t, Rob, you’re making her uncomfortable.” I touch Amber’s arm. “My brother Rob. Rob, Amber.”

“A pleasure.” He snatches her hand. Kisses the back of it, strokes it, gives her a long, lingering look.

If he weren’t my brother and I didn’t understand what he was doing, I’d sucker-punch him and leave him flopping on the floor like a fish on dry land.

“Knock it off, Rob.” I sound like a parrot.

He releases her hand. “Very well.”

“We should probably go,” I say.

“Good idea.”

I caress Amber’s back. “You ready?”

She nods.

We make our way to the ballroom where the party is being held. The room is decorated in gold. The piano man is pounding out The Way You Look Tonight. By evening’s end, he’ll have gone through all of Frank Sinatra’s songs. The last one he plays—and I’ll bet anything on this, including my brother Rob—will be My Funny Valentine. Mom and Dad will dance slowly to the song, and when it ends, they’ll both be blubbering. They’re quite the pair.

My other brother, Blake, is standing near the doorway when we enter the room. He slips his phone in his pocket and smiles like an idiot. I glance at Rob. Something’s up.

“Who’s this yummy little dish?” Blake inquires and then lays it on. “Blake Dalton. The finest of the Dalton brothers.”

My teeth grind. “Amber, this is Blake. And he’s far from the finest.”

She takes his hand. “Nice to meet you.”

“Amber,” Blake repeats. “The name is befitting of a queen.”

I keep myself from gagging. Blake’s going all out, and I’m finding it rather annoying.

“Where did big brother find such a treasure?”

I do the answering. “Macy’s.” I hook Amber by the elbow and nudge Blake aside. “If you’ll excuse us, I’d like to introduce Amber to Mom and Dad.”

“Of course.”

We move by him, and he and Rob follow. Why must they be like this? It isn’t high school anymore.

“My boys,” Dad cheers when we approach. One more drink, and he’ll be halfway to Toastville. Mom and Dad seldom consume alcohol. Just on special occasions. Either of their birthdays or anniversary.

“Hey, Dad,” I answer. “I’d like you to meet my girlfriend, Amber.”

Dad exaggerates the eye bulge. “Hello”

Amber’s eyes are wide, too. Probably from the girlfriend remark. “Amber, this is my mom and dad.” For some reason, I don’t offer their given names. It’s something I seldom do unless it’s a business setting.

“Mrs. Dalton,” Amber says. “Thank you for allowing me to be part of this special occasion. Happy Birthday.”

I couldn’t have scripted her response any better. Amazing.

“Thank you, dear.” Mom cups Amber’s hand with both of hers. She has intrusive questions she would like to ask but keeps them to herself. Thank goodness.

Farrah Conner is close enough to overhear our conversation and wedges her way into the center of the group. “Did Noah say he has a girlfriend?”

Farrah’s beauty is irrefutable. Her hair is blonde with an antigravity style, and her eyes are sapphire. She’s five-foot-six with an hourglass figure. Farrah is always tan, and her white teeth sparkle every time she smiles. And she smiles a lot.

Dad says she looks like one of the original Charlie’s Angels, and I would have to agree. But she isn’t as nice. Farrah Conner has a rotten soul and an acid tongue that my parents will never see. She’s been after me since we were ten, and I’ve never wanted any part of it. Our mothers are close and would like nothing better than for us to be together.

Farrah feigns laughter after her Noah has a girlfriend comment. Amber drops her gaze, and I stiffen, a tiger preparing to pounce.

Blake notices and sidles in between us. “Yes, Farrah, your hearing is fine. Noah has a girlfriend, and we’re all overjoyed.”

“So true,” Rob chimes. “A happy moment for all.”

Things are heading south, and Farrah’s about to bite a knuckle. Mom intervenes before either happens. “Well, I think it’s nice.” She puts a gentle hand on Amber’s shoulder. “Noah finally has a girlfriend.”

Farrah is seething and may be gnawing her tongue. Her face is turning purple when Mom makes a comment about the jewelry. “The bracelet and earrings look so lovely on you.”

Amber blushes.

“Were those my mother’s?” Dad asks.

“Yes,” Mom answers.

“They look nice.”

“Thank you,” Amber replies.

Farrah makes a fist and then relaxes her hand. She’s no fool. She knows how to play all the games. “It’s wonderful you’ve finally found someone,” she says to me. “You’re a lucky girl… Amber, is it?”

Amber nods.

Farrah glides over to Mom and takes her hands and kisses her cheek. “Happy Birthday.”

“Thank you, Farrah.”

She pirouettes and dances away.

Have to keep an eye on her.