Noah (The Mitchell/Healy Family #1)(63)
Author: Jennifer Foor

I waved as I pulled Shalan along, grabbing her bags and putting them on the golf cart.

She said nothing as we started our trek to my place. Once I knew we were away from my parents, I stopped and turned to her, leaning my head on the steering wheel. “I know you’re pissed.”

“You’re damn right I’m pissed. Do you have any idea how embarrassing that was? She didn’t know me at all. I am coming to sleep with her son, and she’s never even heard my name before. Don’t get me started on your dad. He may as well have told me to leave with that stare.”

“Darlin’ I -.”

“Don’t you dare darlin’ me, Noah. I want to be mad for a minute.”

I ran my hand up her leg and she swatted it away. “Stop!”

“My mom likes you.”

“Really, because all I saw was a woman that thinks I broke up your last relationship. I know you aren’t together, but when exactly did you break up with her? Did you sleep with me in New York and then go home and end things? Noah, you know how I feel about cheaters.”

I placed my hand over her mouth. “Shut up and listen for a minute, you hard-headed woman. I broke up with Perry before my parent’s anniversary party. We weren’t together when I came to New York, I swear it.”

She started to cry. I could tell because her bottom lip had begun to quiver and she looked away. Gently, I pulled her chin towards me and looked into those watery eyes. “I shouldn’t have come.”

I leaned in and appreciated that she let me kiss her. “Yes, you definitely made the right decision.”

The next kiss was deeper, with a hint of pent up anger attached. She pulled away and let her eyes slowly open. “I’m still mad at you.”

I chuckled and started driving. “Yeah, you’ll get over it.”

“Don’t be so sure. I was half-tempted to ask your mom to take me back to the airport.”

“Before you leave, you should probably let me take you on a real tour of the place. There’s this spot I want to take you to.”

“Does it require me being naked, because right now you’re totally cut off.”

This got me laughing again. The idea of having her close to me and not being able to have what I wanted was hilarious. “You can’t say no to me, Shalan. Mad or not, I’m gettin’ you naked before the night’s over.”

She turned her body and gave me this look. She didn’t even have to say what she was feeling, because I could read it from her body language. She was ready to punch me. “I bet you a hundred dollars that you don’t get any tonight.”

I stuck out my hand and shook hers. “That’s a deal.”

“Good,” she scooted to face forward again. “You stink anyway.”

I put my arm around her and pulled her against my sweaty body. “You know you like it.”

Shalan screamed and fussed, up until we pulled up next to my truck and she realized that we had arrived at my house. “This is all yours?”

“Well, considerin’ that you’ve seen my parent’s house and even my grandmother’s, I figured this would be disappointin’.”

“It’s perfect.” She grabbed her small bag and left the larger one for me to get. I led her up the stairs and inside of the house. “Did you decorate?”

Through the years, after my aunt Karen had moved out, the house had been used by a lot of family members. Honestly, I’d planned on building a house on the property, but I wasn’t ever ready to make the commitment. Since the property would eventually be mine and my sisters I figured I had plenty of time to figure it out. “No. The only personal touches I added were the deer heads in the living room. Oh, and the curtains. My grandmother gave them to me last Christmas.”

“When you said you lived on a farm, I had no idea it was like this. You have your own town here, Noah. It’s insane.”

I grabbed Shalan’s hand and pulled her into the living room. She cringed at the deer heads. “You shot them?”

“Yeah, and I ate them too. Is that a problem?”

“Are you going to make me eat them?”

Her question was funny. “You never know what you’re goin’ to eat here at the ranch. I mean, sometimes we just go out and cut a hog’s throat, then cook him up on an open fire. I bet you never had fresh bacon like that before.”

She sat down on the couch. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

I pulled her up. “Come on. I want to show you the best room in the house.”

Shalan knew I was leading her to the bedroom, but she didn’t fight me. I tossed her bag down on the floor and pulled her on the bed with me. She squealed and then froze with her lips almost touching mine. I held her tight just in case she’d try to get away. “Thank you for comin’ to surprise me.”

“Are you happy about it, or freaked out?”

I pressed my lips against hers, not once, but several times, pulling away only to speak. “Let me show you how happy I am.”

Shalan backed her head away. “Hold up. I’m still mad.” She let me kiss her again, and this time I drug my tongue over her lips. “You can’t seduce me. It won’t work.”

“I should get points for callin’ you my girlfriend, don’t ya think?” I knew we needed to address it, and felt like a simple bit of sarcasm could help.

Shalan froze, and it made me wonder if it was something she didn’t want.

“Noah, I-.”

“Don’t say it. I shouldn’t have mentioned it. My parents want labels and I thought that if I told them you were my girlfriend that they’d shut up and leave me alone.”

“So what am I then? I mean, if I’m not your girlfriend what is this?”

I sat up in the bed and she mimicked me. I knew she was waiting for an explanation. “Is this a trick question? Is it one of those questions where there’s no right answer?”

She shook her head. “Nope.”

“Fine. I’m goin’ to get a shower, and think about it. When I get out, I’ll let you know.” I stood up and walked into the bathroom, leaving her sitting on the bed waiting. “Unless you want to join me. Then we can talk while we’re naked, washing each other’s wet bodies.”

I heard her murmur something under her breath before I started the water. To me, Shalan was my girlfriend, whether she accepted it or not. I had a week to convince her that I’d try my best to make her as happy as possible for as long as she’d let me. Temporary or not, I wanted her, and I was going to make sure she felt the same way about me.