Page 41 of The Veiling

“I’ll check again,” he mumbled behind me.

“Do that.” I stepped in and slammed the door behind me.

Noah & Laura

“What’s wrong?” Laura asked as I entered the bedroom and quietly closed the door.

“Why aren’t you sleeping?” I crept over to the bed and sat on the edge, running my fingers through my hair.

She slid over, wrapped her arms around my waist, and leaned her head on my back. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, it’s fine, baby.”

“Noah.” She pressed her naked breasts into my back. “Talk.”

“I managed to piss off another one of your brothers.”

“Marco?”

Glancing back over my shoulder, I nodded.

“That isn’t hard, though. My brothers can all three be a little intolerable. He’s the worst of them even though I sometimes think Valentino is shadier than he lets on.” She giggled. “What happened, though?”

“I accused him of lying about the man getting a heart when they were in London.”

“What?” she groaned, burying her face into my back. “You know the guy got a heart, though.”

“I know.”

She moved around to the front of me and straddled my lap. “I know I’m going to regret asking this, butwhy?”

“Because I’mme.”

“Who I’ve had a massive crush on since the night we met at Isabelle’s birthday party.”

The moment I laid my eyes on Laura, I could not take them off her. I felt something inside my chest stirring. It was a moment frozen in my mind for eternity. Acore memory, as people call it.

I had just escorted Isabelle downstairs for her birthday celebration. Laura approached us the moment we rounded the corner from the elevator. I became nervous, which was uncommon for me. At the time, I had no idea she was Valentino’s sister. Joseph had taken care of screening the guests for the party. All I knew was, she was the most stunning woman I had ever laid my eyes on.

Isabelle noticed me watching her and laughed. Embarrassed I had been caught gawking at Laura, I averted my gaze, trying my best to remain focused on the task of sticking to Isabelle like glue.

“Is this the new bodyguard?” Laura cooed, causing me to meet her gaze once again. She extended her hand.

Taking her palm in mine, I offered her a polite smile. “Yes, hello. I’m Noah Fine.”

Her mouth fell agape with a wide grin. “Yes, you certainly are!”

Not wanting to cause a scene and be caught being unprofessional, I pretended to be shy, clasping my hands behind my back. “Fine is my last name, ma’am.”

“Ma’am?” She giggled. “Ma’am is what people call my mother. Please call me Laura or bab—”

“Okay stoppp.” Isabelle hooked her arm in hers, tugging her toward the grand living room.

I stared at them as they strolled toward the room adorned in white, rose gold, and midnight-blue decor. A live jazz band played on a balcony overlooking the three-story space. Laura’s hips moved to the beat of the music as she danced between the guests.

Pursing my lips and trying to hide my adoring smile. I leaned sideways on the wall at the entrance of the room. Arms crossed, I watched every movement she made, hypnotized by her beauty.

Later that evening, she gave me her number, and we met up after I was off duty. Truthfully, I did not know Valentino would care. Had I thought for a second he would have been angry, I would have never touched her. Well, I would have tried not to. It was an instant connection for us both. I thought for sure she would sober up and never speak to me again, but our feelings only grew.

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