Page 38 of A Little Bit Whiskey
“Talk about someone who’s changed after falling in love.” Growing up, Tamsyn used to think of Silas as the mountain man. A guy who could tame wild animals and probably killed them with his bare hands too.
Carter waggled his finger. “Nope. Silas has always been like that. Claudia just brought it out to the general public.”
“Well, he’s a lot softer than he used to be and he stopped giving me the stink eye every time I have to remind him he can’t park wherever he wants.” Tamsyn glanced at her watch. “I hate to cut this short, but I promised Noir I’d cook for him, and that is not my strong suit.”
“Well, then I have the solution.” Weezer popped to her feet. “I have so much food in my fridge it’s insane. There happens to be a full spaghetti pie and a loaf of fresh bread. Take that. He’ll never know the difference.”
Carter laughed. “Oh, yes, he will, but he’ll be happy for the meal. It’s his favorite.”
Tamsyn groaned. “I know. He’s handed me the recipe twice and both times I butchered it.”
Weezer laughed. “One of these days, I’ll have you over and show you proper.”
“You don’t know what you’re getting into. It’s like teaching someone who has two left feet how to dance.” In the matter of a week, Tamsyn felt more comfortable in the River home than she had going shopping with Anna her entire time living with her. It should feel strange, or at the very least, a little abnormal.
Except, it felt like home.
10
NOIR
“My mother made this.” Noir stuffed his mouth full of pasta. He closed his eyes and savored all the flavors that tickled his taste buds. The sauce had just the right amount of spices with a hint of lemon. That was his mother’s secret. And it was so good. He sat back and smiled. “I can’t believe you tried to pass this off as yours.”
“I did no such thing.” Tamsyn raised her glass. “I just didn’t correct you when you mentioned how wonderful it smelled when you walked through the door.”
He laughed. “You let me believe you slaved for hours over this meal.”
She rolled her eyes. “I didn’t have it in me to cook. I think I’ve slept three hours in the last twenty-four.”
“Well, as soon as we’re done. I’ll do the dishes and you can climb into bed.”
“I like the sound of that.” She took a piece of bread and piled a bite of pasta on top.
“How did things go with my parents?”
“It was interesting,” she admitted. “I decided not to tell them about the necklace.”
“Why not?”
“In part because they want us to search the grounds.” She took a gulp of wine. “And I suppose the same reason I’m not telling Fred. I don’t trust anyone completely, and I feel like that necklace is leverage.”
“You trust me.”
“You have no reason to lie to me,” she said. “Except maybe to protect your parents and the rest of your family.”
He narrowed his stare. “Are you implying that I would hold something back?”
“If I were in your position, I’d consider it.”
Noir wiped his mouth with his napkin and leaned back, contemplating his next words. His parents could be a lot. His mother had meddled in all her children’s lives to the point she’d pushed her four oldest right out of the business and her three youngest hadn’t even wanted to come work for her when they went off to college.
But the one thing all seven of them could say without a shadow of a doubt was that both of their parents loved them with every fiber of their beings. Everything they did was because they had wanted what was best for their kids. Looking back on his life—and the history of his parents—the only true criminal thing they had done was send Talbot away.
But no one could fault his father for that one. Richard would have killed Talbot and her mother. A fact that was undeniable.
Noir could understand why Tamsyn had some reservations about his mom. But he needed her to have the same about Anna.
He believed that Fred loved and cared for Tamsyn. He’d always been there for her at school functions, showing support. Anna only came when it served a purpose. When it made her look good, not when Tamsyn needed her the most. “Anything my parents have done—even if it wasn’t right—they did out of love.”
