“Scarlet Stone, I love your accent, even when it’s wrapped around snarky little barbs.” He unfastens his seatbelt. “I have a contract to pick up here and then deliver after I drop you off. And my parents asked me to come by for a drink as soon as I got home. Two birds. One stone.”
“With me?”
“I think they’d frown upon me leaving you in the car.” Nolan grins but it fades as quickly as it appeared. “Savannah isn’t the smallest town, but in certain circles it feels that way.”
“How so?”
“Gossip. I’d like to think that during your stay you could avoid the gossip, but it’s unlikely. I don’t want you to believe everything you hear, especially about my family.”
My probing gaze implores him, my curiosity reaching its summit.
Nolan chews on the inside of his lip for a moment. “My parents have an…unconventionalrelationship, and my mother is not well. Hasn’t been for quite some time.”
“Do you know what’s wrong with her?”
“No. She’s not in physical pain. Hers is emotional… I think. We don’t really know. But I want you to meet them so you can see for yourself that they’re just a married couple living in Savannah. Sure, they have a fewissues, but who doesn’t. Right?”
My name is Scarlet Stone, and I’m drawn to anything out of the ordinary, the crazy, the eccentric. I’ve been this way all my life. Excitement runs through my veins.
Nolan jogs around the car. “My lady.”
My brow raises. “Chivalrous.” I rest my hand in his.
“I’m a southern gentleman.”
“Hmm, we’ll see about that.”
“Mr. Moore.” A Hispanic lady with silver-streaked black hair pulled into a tight bun welcomes us before we even make it up the white-painted steps to the spacious wraparound porch.
“Sofia.” He hugs her, pressing a kiss to her cheek.
“Did you have a nice trip?”
I survey her black dress that falls just below her knees, black leather flats, and a crisp white apron.
Nolan nods. “I did. Thank you. I’d like you to meet Scarlet Stone. She’s renting the other room on Tybee.”
“With Mr. Reed?” Sofia’s russet eyes grow with surprise and her jaw goes slack.
I’m missing something here.
“Yes. She’ll be staying with Theodore.”
Sofia purses her lips to the side, eyes inspecting me. “Have you met Mr. Reed?”
I shake my head, shifting my attention to Nolan. He motions with his head for me to step inside.
“My parents?” he asks.
Sofia clears her throat and shakes her head a bit. “Yes, sorry. Your parents are out back. Bourbon?”
“Yes. Thank you, Sofia.”
“And for you, Miss Stone?”
“Room-temperature bottled water.”
Sofia blinks several times. Nolan raises a brow.
