Page 27 of The Trouble With Her (The Forbidden Love 4)

I bet my life on it.

Six

Noah

Present

“Ineed to make a call.”

Kate simply nods as I step onto the terrace of our flat in London, closing the glass door behind me while moving close to the edge.

The gray clouds hover as the call connects, and Lex’s voice is on the line. Our conversation begins with business, of course, but it isn’t the purpose of my call.

“How is Jessa?” Lex asks, which isn’t unusual since he has always treated her like his own daughter. “Charlotte has been trying to get in touch with her.”

A heavy sigh escapes me. “She’s not happy, Lex.”

“She told you this?”

“No, I can see it on her face,” I strain, trying to control my anger over the whole situation. “The way she talks. Do you know she’s not even writing anymore?”

“C’mon, Noah…” Lex tries to calm me down. “She’s adjusting to motherhood.”

I shake my head even though he can’t see me. “No, it’s not that. She’s not herself. Benedict is never home, according to her. She’s given up everything to be all alone in a country so far away from her family.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“It should’ve been Andy.”

It’s Lex’s turn to sigh, a sound so prominent over the speaker, almost as if he’s here in person.

“Yes, well. We can’t change that.”

“No…” I begin with, then continue, “… but if Andy is to go to London, say on a work assignment.”

“You’re playing with fire. You know what your opinionated cousin will say to this?”

“Jessa is my daughter. I can no longer sit back and watch her destroy her life. She deserves more, goddammit,” I raise my voice, then remember Kate is inside. “Andy is the only one who can bring her back to life.”

“How do you know that, Noah?”

“Because you and Charlie did the same for me. You knew I needed Kate, and you made it happen.”

Silence falls between us because Lex knows it’s true. I was in a bad place, not knowing what was missing in my life or even how to fix the mess I found myself in. If it wasn’t for Charlie insisting I join them on that business trip to France, I wouldn’t have reconnected with my best friend, made her my wife, and watched her bring our daughter into this world.

Timing is everything.

If anyone understands what I’m going through, it’s Lex. He went through this with Will and Amelia too. He understands the need to protect your children.

“I’ll call you tonight. I have an idea,” is all he says.

During our trip here, I occupied myself with work and meetings with our design team over the new hotels launching across Europe. Kate joined me for a few of them but wanted to spend time with Jessa and Bentley.

The night before our flight back, we have dinner in London. Benedict joins Jessa and Bentley, despite his displeasure of his son being in attendance. The talk over dinner is mainly from Kate, as I chose to keep quiet and only converse when I need to, using the time to spend with my grandson.

Bentley is the only good thing to come from this union, and I loathe my so-called son-in-law, barely able to sit near him.

It all began two years ago when my bright and talented daughter took a solo adventure to Europe to experience life. I thought it was a great idea. She was young, finished college, and given her desire to follow her creative mind and write, experiencing life would fuel her career choice. Kate couldn’t have been any more excited, demanding Jessa visit all the places my wife was homesick for.

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