Seemed likely.
Finally, Kenzie focused on his daughter. “I’m finally meeting the famous girl!”
“I’m not famous, I’m Charlotte.”
Everyone within hearing distance laughed.
Evelyn ushered them toward the large eat-in kitchen, where they shared appetizers and sipped drinks. Within a few minutes, Charlotte and Peri were playing with dolls in a corner while Delaney’s sisters peppered Noah with questions.
“Leave him alone, you guys,” Delaney said. “You’re gonna scare him away.”
“I don’t know.” Alyssa tapped her nose, eyeing him. “He doesn’t look that fragile to me.”
That was good to hear. As soon as he had the chance, he’d thank her for her part in Charlotte’s rescue. But he didn’t want to do it in front of her whole family. He didn’t know how much she and Delaney had shared of their adventure.
The murmurs died down, and Noah looked around to see why.
The answer arrived in the form of an older man Noah recognized from the TV.
Gavin Wright walked to his daughter and pulled her into a hug, whispering something in her ear.
Whatever it was, it didn’t make her smile. “Dad, don’t.”
But he ignored her, stepping toward Noah, just a little too close.
“What do you think you’re doing with my daughter? You’re way too old for her.”
Noah flipped through a number of potential responses.She’s an adult, so that’s none of your business.
True, but he wasn’t going to say it.
What do you think I’m doing?
Uh, no. What Gavin assumed was exactly the problem.
He realized the best course of action was the truth. “I’m falling more in love with her every day.”
If he’d hoped that answer would endear him to Gavin, he’d been sorely mistaken.
The man’s gaze turned fiery as he stepped even closer. “She’s half your age.”
“She’s not.” Noah resisted the urge to step back. “That would make me fifty-six. Do I look fifty-six to you?”
The man’s face turned a concerning shade of red.
Evelyn appeared at his side and gripped his arm. “Gavin.” She smiled as if her husband wasn’t about to kill him.
The man was ex-CIA. He could do it, hide the body, and nobody would ever know what had become of Noah Aylett.
“He’s ten years older than Delaney. Ten years, darling.”
The man’s gaze flicked to his wife. He looked skeptical.
She continued. “Which is less than twelve?—”
“It’s different. You were older?—”
“I was twenty-four when we started dating. Delaney’s twenty-seven.”
