“You’re impossible.” She laughed. But she also agreed. She propped herself up on his chest. “I’m sorry about last night.”
“Nothing to apologize for.” He tucked her hair behind her ears. “You needed to get it out. I’m just glad it didn’t happen while you were alone.”
“Thank you for being so understanding.”
“I love you, Tamsyn. The good, the bad, the tears. All of it. Whatever you need. I’m here for you.”
Knock. Knock.
She jumped, clutching the sheets to her chest. “I thought we were meeting your parents at the main house.”
“We are.” Noir tossed back the covers, found his sweats, and hiked them up over his hips. “They would never come here without calling first. Not unless it was a true emergency, and then they would be pounding on the door, calling my name, begging me to let them in.”
“Then who the hell is out there?”
“We’re about to find out.” He turned.
“No. Wait. Let me at least put some clothes on.” She scrambled to find something to put on her body. “This is why you should let me be a slob.” Covering herself with a pillow, she raced to the small dresser. She yanked open a drawer and found an oversized sweatshirt and a pair of yoga slacks. Quickly, she dressed.
Knock. Knock.
“I’ll be right there,” Noir called. “Are you ready yet?”
She plopped back on the bed, holding the pillow tight to her chest.
Noir gripped the knob and pulled open the door.
“Where’s my daughter?” Anna shoved him aside. She gasped. “Tamsyn. This is crazy. You can’t live here. This has gone on long enough.” She turned, looking Noir up and down. “I don’t believe your mother raised you to answer the door half-naked. It’s rude.”
“What’s rude is you barging into my home, barking orders, at the crack of dawn.” Noir slammed the door.
“Anna, what are you doing here?” Tamsyn tossed the pillow across the bed. She found it amusing that she wasn’t at all embarrassed that Anna had come waltzing in right after passionate sex, but if it had been Carter or Weezer, she would have been three shades of red.
“I’ve come to collect you and bring you home.” Anna glared. “Or haven’t you seen the news yet this morning?”
“What are you talking about?” Noir snagged his cell from the nightstand. “Shit,” he mumbled. “My dad’s been trying to reach us. He wants us to call him or come to the house right away.”
“What is Alison reporting in the news?” Tamsyn found the remote and pointed it at the television in the corner. It was an odd setup, but it worked so that you could see the TV from the sofa and the bed. It was the only way it worked when your living room was in your bedroom.
“My dad’s on his way over. He saw Anna’s car fly by.” Noir tossed his cell to the bed. “I’d bet my mother isn’t far behind.” He sat on the bed, stretching out his legs, not bothering to put on a shirt.
That was kind of annoying because Tamsyn figured he did it on purpose.
“Get your things, Tamsyn and let’s—”
“Shhhh. The cycle is about to repeat.” Tamsyn sat on the corner of the bed.
Noir inched behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his chin on her shoulder.
Anna made a noise that sounded like she was about to vomit. It was a cross between a gag and a coughing fit.
Tamsyn didn’t bother to look up. This was her space. Her new home. With the man she loved. Anna wasn’t going to ruin that. If she wanted to be a part of Tamsyn’s life, she was going to have to accept the relationship. It was that simple. Fred had said his piece, but ultimately, he respected and valued her enough not to push her out of his life.
Her only problem with Fred right now was how he was treating Weezer and Carter in this case.
“Turn it up,” Noir said.
His parents busted through the door. Carter glared at Anna.
