“A lot of traffic,” Callie added.
“Well, I’m glad you’re here now. I need to go find Daemon.”
“Where is your fiancé?” Noah asked, scanning the lobby.
“He’s on the phone with his manager, going over theSabrinacontract. We go right into rehearsals when we leave here.”
“Some honeymoon,” Noah grumbled.
“Rehearsals on Broadway with your husband.” Callie was unable to contain her smile. Clearly Noah didn’t understand how romantic that was.
“Myhusband,” Liv squealed. “It’s going to take some time to get used to that.”
Once Liv left, Callie leaned against the counter, no longer concerned with hiding the exhaustion and pain pulling at her limbs. Liv had certainly seen her in a worse state than she was just then, but she didn’t want to pull any of Liv’s focus away from the wedding.
Noah lay his hand low on her back, rubbing in light, soothing circles. The simple touch sent a shiver down her spine. Was he already getting into character, acting the part of the doting boyfriend? There was nothing sexual about the contact, but the intimacy of it threw her off balance. Maybe she hadn’t thought this all the way through.
“You okay?” he asked, the concern in his voice evident even if his expression was suspiciously blank.
“Just tired,” Callie said, but from the way his eyes narrowed, she knew he didn’t believe her. “We need to talk to Liv.”
“We will. There’s plenty of time before dinner. But right now, you need to lie down.” Noah squinted as he read the desk agent’s name tag. “Paul? Can you please help my girlfriend check in? Calandria Cole.”
Fake girlfriend,Callie reminded herself again, tamping down the giddy pleasure bubbling up in her chest at hearing Noah refer to her as his girlfriend.
He leaned down to speak softly against her ear, his breath on her skin raising goosebumps up and down her arms. “I’ll help you get your bags upstairs.”
“Thank you,” she said, leaning into his side and allowing every solid inch of his six-foot-two frame to support her.
Noah slid his arm around her waist, pulling her even tighter against him, taking more of her weight. Her own arm wound around his waist in return, a stabilizing measure more than anything, though she was momentarily distracted by the solid feel of him beneath her hand.
“Calandria? Who is that handsome—” her mother’s voice broke off as Noah turned his head to greet her.
Callie made to stand upright, but Noah kept her tucked against his side. Not that she fought him all that hard. It wasn’t every day she got to be held by Noah Van Aller. And she was just so damn sore.
“Hi, Mrs. Cole. Just helping Callie get checked in,” Noah said. And there was that smile—the mega-watt, All-American, charms-mothers-and-daughters-alike smile that Callie had seen him use on women of all ages their whole lives.
“Noah! What a surprise!” her mother said, her eyes darting between the two of them with a too-sharp expression that contradicted her pleasant tone. “When did you get here?”
“We just got in,” Noah said.
“We?” her mother repeated.
“Noah gave me a ride, Mom,” Callie said.
“Isn’t that nice, that the two of you just happened to be nearby enough for Noah to drive you all the way from New York.” Her mother’s acerbic tone made it clear she thought it was anything but nice.
Shit. She’s going to make a scene.So much for talking to Liv first.
Callie glanced at Noah, waiting for the barely perceptible nod, before she placed her free hand on his chest, smiling at her mother. Her mother’s eyes snapped to the spot.
“That’s Noah. Always looking out for me.”
“Is that what you’re calling it?” Her mother’s eyes gestured meaningfully to where Noah’s hand rested on Callie’s waist.
“No. I’d call it dating. Noah’s my boyfriend. Isn’t that right, lambkins?”
His eyes flared. “That’s right, sugar bear,” he said, emphasizing the pet name.
