It was…beautiful. For Delaney, it felt like home.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
Noah had been warned. Delaney had told him on the flight to Maine that her family home was…how had she put it? “A little…much.”
Talk about an understatement. He’d thought his house was impressive.
He stood in the grand foyer of the Wright estate, wealth practically dripping from the walls.
The irony wasn’t lost on him. Not even three months before, he’d taken one look at Delaney Wright—clothes that hung loose on her willowy frame, reeking of cigarettes from, he’d later learned, the women at the shelter where she’d been living—and dismissed her as poor and desperate.
He’d been spectacularly wrong. Thank heavens, God had intervened in Noah’s haughty stupidity.
Delaney stood beside him, radiant in a deep green dress that brought out the green in her eyes, her hand warm in his as her family gathered.
“Mom, this is Noah Aylett.” Delaney sent him a smile, looking fully relaxed. “Noah, my mother, Evelyn Wright.”
The matriarch of the Wright family was tall and slender, her silvery-blond hair swept back. She would have beenintimidating, but her smile was genuine as she extended her hand.
“Noah, what a pleasure. Delaney’s told us so much about you.” She shifted her gaze to his daughter. “Which means you must be Charlotte.”
His daughter had pressed herself against his leg the moment they’d walked through the massive double doors, but now she stepped out. “Uh-huh.”
“It’s a pleasure to welcome you.”
Charlotte shook her hand, then dipped into a curtsy that had Evelyn grinning.
“We’re going to be good friends.” Evelyn sent Noah a smile, then gestured to the people who’d entered the foyer after her. “Everyone’s so eager to meet you.”
The next few minutes passed in a blur as Noah and Charlotte were introduced to the rest of Delaney’s family. Alyssa, her fiancé, Callen, and his daughter, Peri, who looked excited to have a playmate, even if Charlotte was half her age.
Brooklynn and her boyfriend, Forbes Ballentine, the billionaire head of Ballentine Industries.
Noah shot Delaney a look, and she shrugged like it was no big deal.
Noah had figured out a few weeks ago who her father was. He’d seen the man on the Sunday morning news programs. For Delaney, it was normal.
He met Cici and her boyfriend, Asher, who looked like he could snap Noah in half without breaking a sweat. When they shook hands, Asher leaned in and spoke quietly. “They take some getting used to, but they’re good people. Just beware of Gavin.”
Asher backed away and gave Noah a serious look that had his gut clenching.
There was no time to worry as a woman, who must be the youngest sister, entered the room. Unlike the rest, who all wore dresses or skirts, this one wore loose trousers, a purple blouse, and tennis shoes. Her chestnut hair fell in waves around her face.
“Kenzie,” Delaney said. “This is Noah Aylett and his daughter, Charlotte.”
She shook his hand. “Nice to…” But her words faded as she studied his face. “Do you have a brother?”
Jasper had disappeared after the kidnapping and hadn’t been answering Noah’s calls or texts. Noah had no idea where his brother was.
“His name’s Jasper,” Noah said. “Jaz, to most people.”
“I’ve never met the guy formally, but I’ve had contact with someone who looks a lot like you. Blond hair, those same eyes. Even that little…” She tapped her chin, indicating the dimple he’d inherited from his father.
Kenzie was the sailor, and Jaz liked to spend time near the water.
“Have you seen him recently,” Noah asked, “in the last month or so?”
“No, not in a while.” Her lips pinched. She didn’t seem pleased to have discovered a connection. Jasper must have done something to offend her.
