Page 59 of Until Then

I roll my eyes, but already his spell, his riptide, whatever it is about Noah, has me so ensnared, my re-read of Shane’s cruel note is long forgotten.

Noah’s family isn’t as loud as mine, but they’re lovely. I see what Rees meant about their dad being intimidating. Lee Hayden bears all the evidence of a retired police officer with his scowls, build, and stern replies at times.

Until his grandson signs for his grandpa to help him make a tower or two.

Then, the man is utterly weakened and at the mercy of a four-year-old.

After Noah’s confession about childhood with his stepmom, it warms my heart a bit to see Rees seated next to Justine, laughing about whatever it is they’re discussing.

“You’re surviving.” Vienna sits next to me on an extra towel, watching Noah and Lee help Jude build a moat.

I give her a soft thanks when she hands me a bottled water. “You all are very easy to survive.”

She grins. “Well, I’m glad. They’re pretty great, I’ll keep them.”

I laugh with her when a rogue swell reaches higher on the beach and Noah yanks Jude into his arms, dramatically spinning and running with the kid like they’re about to be swept out to sea.

Jude can’t breathe, he’s laughing too hard.

We haven’t touched a great deal save for a few brushes of Noah’s fingers, or whispers next to my ear, and still, I can’t think of a better day.

Lee has asked me about my work on the ranch. Justine pressed about my family. Vienna reminds me of Greer and Briar, genuine, supportive, and a little mischievous.

Rees and Noah banter more than a couple. I’m told time and again tales of Noah’s airport pickup tactics, all to irritate his introverted brother. While we laugh about Rees’ recounting of the most recent visit—where Noah appeared in a blow up T-Rex costume, all because Jude was into dinosaurs—I catch myself looking forward to the moment I get to witness it.

Like I’m thinking of future things.

Like I’m falling into the idea of making this plan more real than pretend.

By my side, Vienna leans back, allowing her sunglasses to slip onto the bridge of her nose. “How are you handling the fallout of yesterday?”

“Oh, I’ve avoided social media. What’s the damage?”

Vienna wrinkles her nose. “Mostly a lot of questions. The photo was sold and published this morning. Frankly, it’s a romantic shot. Want to see it?”

I brace, but in the end agree.

Vienna is a professional and hides comments or captions, merely showing me a closer version of the image. She’s not wrong. It’s a perfect, sexy shot of a man about to claim a woman as his.

Our lips aren’t fully connected. Noah’s face is tilted, his sharp jawline on full display. His palm cups my cheek, his lips are parted, eyes closed. My head is arched back and I look as though I’m desperate for him, like I’m wanting and waiting for him to take me over the edge.

The sight of how well we look melded together quickens my pulse.

“Hot, isn’t it?”

“It’s . . . it’s something.” I recline onto my elbows, crossing my ankles. “My family found out about the kiss, and buried Noah in third-degree questions last night.”

She laughs “Ah, but No handles interrogations well.”

“He made it through with my grandma half in love, and my uncles—who are going to the Perfectly Broken Christmas concert, by the way—don’t want him to die.”

“Oh, give us their names and Rees will make sure they’re in the family suite at the show.”

“Really?” I imagine my rough and tough uncles squealing at the thought of being pampered at a rock show. “They’d love that.”

“But your family . . .” She allows the question to hang between us.

I stare at my hands. “They don’t know the finer details of things.” In truth, we haven’t corrected Lee or Justine either. Only Rees and Vienna know the full truth. I lower my voice. “I’ll be honest, I’m a little nervous to show my face in public again.”

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