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Nick handed the Escalade’s key to Noah. “If there is one scratch...”
“I’ll see you on Monday.” Noah darted his eyes between Nick and Trey. “For the record. I accept the job offer.”
“Thought you would,” was all Nick had to say.
Oh, they thought I would go quietly? Hands on hips, I scowled up at Noah. “What if I don’t want to drive back with you? You can’t just show up here and expect me to fall in line.”
Trey tried to take a step forward, but Nick raised his hand. “I suggest you don’t interfere.”
Noah’s smile still did things to me. “I was at the company family picnic thing. I met everyone who was there, including Skylar. I think we need to talk.”
He knew. Of course, he knew. I didn’t know how he ended up at the picnic, but him knowing about our daughter didn’t scare me.
“Fine.” I slumped my shoulders and walked to the Escalade. “But this doesn’t mean you get a free pass for blind-siding me on the side of the road. I’m pissed Mr. – Noah.
“Moore. I’m Noah Moore.” He opened the passenger door for me. “I’m not exactly thrilled with you either.”
5
NOAH
The intention was to use the drive up Highway 1 to prepare myself to see Everly once again. I learned from Nick that she was part of their circle of friends and that one of her friends had asked him to help look for me. All they had was my first name and that I was a Marine on leave thirteen years ago and the date I was in Los Angeles.
Of course, with Jared running the searches, finding me was a piece of cake. Apparently, getting me and Everly to meet was a lot harder. She was meant to be at the Holiday Party Nick hosted a few weeks back. But her mother was rushed to hospital. That was also what kept her and Skylar away every weekend since.
He was sure that I would meet her at the Company Picnic, but Everly had a meeting with her manager and Skylar had come with Bex. The two women were housemates of sorts from what I understood.
I was still irritated with Nick for not preparing either of us fully. And there was a big part of me annoyed at Everly for keeping my daughter from me for so long. Even though, rationally, I knew she had no way of contacting me. At least until she met the Salingers.
Surely, she knew who they were and the kind of contacts they had. She must’ve known they’d be able to find me. So, why hadn’t she?
Did she think I wouldn’t make a good dad? Though, I wasn’t nearly as broken all those years ago. She left the music business to raise our daughter. Why? Did she know who my parents were and wanted our kid as far from that as possible? I wouldn’t blame her if that was the case. Still, from what I could understand she made no effort to find me. And I needed the answers to that.
I stepped out of Nick’s car as soon as we stopped behind the gray sedan. I lifted my sunglasses to ensure she would recognize me immediately.
The moment I laid eyes on her my resolve melted. She was as beautiful as the night I met her. Yeah, she was a little older and a little fuller. The blonde hair was cut above her shoulders but those turquoise eyes still sparkled and that pout still had heat running through my veins. Her black and white striped dress appeared to be knitted to those curves that haunted my dreams –the good ones. The denim jacket covered her chest, but I didn’t need to see her breasts to remember them. Then there were those fucking boots. I was sure they were the same ones from the night we met. And yeah, I could still picture them crossed at the small of my back.
Then there was that breathy way she said my name when she first recognized me. That sound brought back so many memories, all the blood rushed straight to my groin.
However, that was not what we needed. We needed to talk about Skylar. She was the priority. I needed to face that responsibility and, if possible, make up for lost time. Other than that, I had nothing else to offer. I wasn’t even sure what I could offer a kid other than financial support. I was a broken man whostill had nightmares. I had seen and caused so much darkness, there was no way I could let that touch Everly or Skylar.
With quick goodbyes all around, including to the douche who was waiting with her, I helped Everly into the Escalade. I took a few moments as I rounded the car to calm down. There was no need to be nervous.
Everly sat up straight in the car. Her shoulders were stiff, and that pout had all but disappeared. She glared at me and quickly looked away, her gaze fixed on something out the front window. “You didn’t have to be so rude.”
I started the car and eased my way back onto the road. A quick wave to everyone else and we were back on Highway 1.
My gaze snapped to her as I replayed the last several minutes in my mind. “When was I rude?”
“You were abrupt with Trey.” She turned to me, even that scowl was a turn on. “He was just being nice, waiting with me until Bex arrived. There was no need for you and Nick to even be here. And how are you here, anyway?”
Something occurred to me, and I needed to deal with it before I got to the rest of her questions. “Who is that guy? Are you with him? Interested?”
I didn’t need to ask if that asshole was interested in her. I already knew the answer. Judging by the way he watched Everly, he was more than interested. And the look he gave me as she got into the car, told me he was not happy with how things had turned out.
“What? No.” That frown aimed at me was adorable, still I didn’t like it. “He was just being nice. And please don’t go all peacock on him. From what I could gather, he’s going to be working with you.”
Yeah. There was that.
