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“Is this the Lucy I've been hearing so much about? It's wonderful to meet you, young lady.” He reaches for my hand. “From what I hear, my grandson is quite taken with you.”
“Your grandson?” I fix a smile on my lips and glare at Noah.
It's all starting to make sense. This isn't some work function we've stumbled into. It's a fucking family reunion. What I can’t figure out is whatIam doing here. And why lie to me about it? Why the hell does Noah need me to pretend to be his girlfriend in front of his family?
“Don't scare her off, Grandfather.” Noah grins.
“I wouldn't dream of it.” His grandfather laughs and then motions for Noah to follow him. “Can I steal you for a moment? There's something I want to talk to you about.”
“Do you mind?” Noah asks me.
“Go right ahead,” I say sweetly.
“Thanks, sugar.”
He flashes me a charming smile and then pecks me on the cheek, before following his grandfather over to the other side of the room. I stand there, alone, feeling like a fool. I’m not sure why I even care so much. It’s not like this actually means anything. He’s paying me to be here, after all. Why do the details matter so much?
Because he lied to you.
And where Noah is concerned, that’s usually a pretty good indication that something shifty is going on. I just need to figure out what that is.
* * *
Ten minutes passand Noah still hasn’t returned, which means I’m still standing by the wall, looking like I have no friends. I don’t know anyone here. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot someone familiar. I narrow my eyes. What the heck is mybrotherdoing here? Luke’s widened eyes lock with mine, then he makes a beeline for the exit.
Oh no, you don’t.
Hot on his tail, I weave through the crowd and follow him outside. I spot him trying to hide behind a bush and march over to him.
He straightens up and tries his best to look innocent. “Hey, Lucy. I didn’t see you there.”
“Start talking,” I growl.
“You wouldn’t believe what a coincidence this is—”
“Oh, cut the bullshit.” I glare at my brother. “Tell me what's going on, or I march back in there and tell Noah’s grandfather who I really am.”
“No, don't do that,” he says hastily. He takes my hand and pulls me down in the direction of the beach, to a bench seat that is out of earshot for anyone at the party. “Just calm down, okay?”
“I’m sure I will once you explain,” I say impatiently as we both sit down. “You can start with why the hell you’re here and why I feel like I’ve stumbled into a family reunion.”
5
NOAH
“She seems like a keeper.”
My grandfather pretty much raised me after my parents were killed in an accident when I was five years old. He is a difficult, hard man with unrealistically high expectations and although he doesn’t always show it, I know he loves me more than anything. Truth be told, I don’t like to disappoint him, it just so happens to be something I am very good at.
“She is.” I smile, taking a sip of the beer I hold in my hand. “Lucy is a good girl.”
“It’s nice to see you finally getting your shit together, Noah. To be honest, I didn’t think I was going to live to see the day where you settled down. How serious is it between you two?” he asks in his usual blunt way. My grandfather is nothing if not direct.
“Serious enough for me to introduce her to the family,” I counter.
He gives me a long look, the lines around his tired eyes crinkling as he frowns. “I would be lying if I said it hasn’t crossed my mind that you might only be doing this for my benefit.”
I pretend to be confused. “I’m sorry, your benefit?”
