Page 19 of Legal Trouble

CHAPTERFIVE

He tricked me.

When Noah stepped from the car, Emma didn’t move. She closed her eyes and gripped the steering wheel until her fingers tingled. He’ddupedher. How could she have been so naïve and stupid?

Without warning, the voices and taunts from childhood began clawing at the box inside her mind where she’d locked them away. When the locked snapped, she pushed down on the lid. She put all her strength into keeping the lid from flying open, but despite her efforts, a few taunts wiggled free.

You’re such a stupid little girl.

You’re a worthless pile of garbage. If I could just toss you onto the curb with the rest of the trash, I would.

I’d be better off if you’d died in the crash instead of your mama.

She shook her head.No.She would notlethimdo this to her again. She wasn’t a helpless child anymore.

Noah opened her door, and Emma steeled her emotions. She’d put a stop to this charade right here and now, but when she turned to him, she noted a wrapped gift in his left hand. In the same vein as the restaurant, the wrapping wasn’t ornate, just simple brown butcher paper decorated with twine.

“Come,Bomboncita,” he said as he held his free hand out for her. “I cannot wait for you to meet Isadora.”

Not a hint of malice weaved through his words or skulked on his face as he waited for her to place her hand in his. He simply looked like a man waiting on his date.

Had she overreacted? Had she let the past paint the future? It wouldn’t be the first time. Still, she had to be sure of his intentions.

“Why are we here?” she asked.

“Two reasons. For starters, you haven’t lived until you’ve experienced Isadora’s fajitas. They will be the most incredible fajitas you’ve ever tasted, guaranteed.” Love and pride swam in his voice, more than what she imagined someone would show for food, no matter how excellent the food was.

Intrigued despite herself, she cut the engine, handed him back his keys, and placed her hand in his. “And the other reason?”

But before he could answer, a dark-colored Bentley pulled to a stop directly behind their parked Nav-7. The expensive car looked as out of place here as Noah and his ride did. Was Isadora’s actually some diamond in the rough where Houston’s elite spent their Friday nights?

A driver stepped from the vehicle and opened the back passenger’s door. When Emma caught sight of the stunning woman who stepped out, her mouth fell open. A blue silk blouse wrapped the other woman’s trim torso. Her pants flowed and shimmered around her like silver smoke speckled with stardust. She’d swept her onyx hair into an intricate twist, but a few tendrils had escaped and framed a stunning face a few shades darker than Noah’s.

Diamonds and platinum bracelets jangled at both wrists. The sheer volume would have been gaudy if not for the fact she’d paired the baubles with nothing more than the diamond ring glinting on her left ring finger—a hand that reached for the man who stepped around the back of the car to join her.

The other man wore a simple gray shirt and black slacks. Unlike her stunning, elegant beauty, his was a comfortable attractiveness, not an obvious one. He could probably pass unnoticed if not for his ginger hair and the staggering woman who draped herself on his arm. Happiness radiated off the pair, and when they turned to Noah, their glow grew exponentially. Emma was pretty sure astronauts could see it from space.

Emma resisted the urge to run, to primp, to steal Noah’s car and take the coward’s way out, but before she could plan her escape, Noah wrapped an arm around her and ushered her forward. Heaven help her, she was about to meet Esmerelda and Noah Whitlow Jr.

As the Bentley drove away, Esmerelda opened her arms and took her son’s face into her hands. She had beautifully and prominently marked her son. They shared the same dark eyes and dark hair. One might easily look at Noah and never see the fair-skinned, red-headed Noah Whitlow Jr., but he’d, too, marked his son. They shared the same lips, as well as the shape of their eyes.

“Mijo, it’s been too long since I’ve last seen you.”

“I saw you last weekend,Mamá.”

“As I said, too long.” Returning to her husband’s arm, she turned her timeless beauty on Emma. “¿Y quién tenemos aquí?”

And who do we have here?Emma opened her mouth to answer the question, but she’d suddenly forgotten her name. And how words worked.

“Mamá,” Noah said, ushering Emma forward, “this is Emma Morgan, my date for the evening.”

Esmerelda exchanged a look with her husband that had locusts breeding in Emma’s stomach.

What did that mean?

Emma finally remembered how to speak. “Buenas noches, señora Whitlow. Encantada.”

Mrs. Whitlow smiled. “You speak Spanish, I see.”

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