Page 31 of Just One More Temptation

“I try. But seriously, relax and be yourself. Whatever this thing is between you and Noah, his family will love you. How could they not? You’re a sweetheart. And you saved the girls from the big city. Now go, have fun, and for the love of God,don’t think!”

Laughing, Fallon walked her friend to the door and let her out, promising to text her and let her know how things went.

She showered and dressed in the outfit Brooke picked out, then put on a light layer of makeup, being true to herself. She decided to wear her hair in a bun with soft tendrils framing her face.

When Noah called to say he and the girls were in the car downstairs, she picked up the gift she’d wrapped for his mom, drew a deep breath, and walked out her door.

She took the elevator downstairs, said hello to her doorman, and stepped into the cooler air. Noah stood by the passenger door.

“Hi!” she said as she joined him.

“Hi, yourself.” His hazel eyes appeared more green than brown in the sunlight, helped along by his hunter-colored thermal shirt. She wanted to devour him whole and had to remind herself the twins were in the back seat.

“You look beautiful,” he said, gesturing for her to have a seat.

“You’re pretty handsome yourself, Mr. Powers.”

He let out a low growl and she thought it was prudent to break the sexual tension and get into the car.

She eased into the vehicle, then turned around and smiled. “Hi, girls!”

“Hi, Fallon!” they chimed in unison.

Noah settled into the driver’s seat and soon they were on their way.

“What’s in the box you’re holding?” Dylan asked.

She laughed. “Can it be a surprise present for your grandmother?”

“You didn’t have to do that but it was sweet,” Noah said. “Girls, you can be surprised along with Grandma Nina.”

“Boo,” Dylan said.

Dakota let out a loud huff.

“Ignore them,” he said. “But you can whisper what it is in my ear.”

“Dad!” they shrieked.

“Kidding!” His mouth quirked up in a grin. The same mouth that had done dirty things to her just a couple of days ago, she thought, and immediately began squirming in her seat.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

She smoothed her hand over her skirt and nodded. “Yep. Never better.”

Reaching over, he took her hand and held it on the ride to Greenwich, CT, where his parents resided. All the while she told herself to enjoy and instructed herselfnotto think. At all.

Chapter Twelve

Noah pulled intothe long driveway surrounded by tall trees leading to his parents’ house. They’d moved to the white clapboard colonial-styled home after his father had retired from his career as a lawyer and then a federal court judge. While growing up in nearby Westchester, New York, his mother had stayed home with the kids, donating her time to charity and being a class-mom presence for her children throughout the years.

As they reached the front door, he noticed Fallon visibly draw in a nervous breath and he reached for her hand, squeezing in reassurance. “I promise they don’t bite.”

The front door opened before she could reply and the twins hugged their grandparents, then raced inside where no doubt his mom had whispered she had homemade chocolate chip cookies in the kitchen.

They all stepped inside and Noah began introductions. “Mom, Dad, I’d like you to meet Fallon Sterling. Fallon, my parents, Nina and Joseph Powers.”

“So nice to meet you,” his father said, enclosing Fallon’s small hand in his.

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