Page 20 of Love is a Harmony
“How long have you been engaged?” Mathieu asked.
“I—” Melanie started, but Noah pinched her.
“It’s new.” He pressed a kiss to the side of Melanie’s head.
Melanie’s gaze left Mathieu, settling on Stella for the first time. She offered her a nervous smile.
Stella only stared.
Neither of them said anything, and Noah almost laughed. Melanie wasn’t exactly the nurturing kind, and he doubted she’d ever been around kids much.
“Well, Stella and I better be getting back. My kids are probably driving my wife mad.”
Noah released Melanie and stopped Mathieu at the door, dropping his voice so only he could hear. “I know you don’t know me, and I know you want to do what’s right by Stella, but I promise you, I am what’s right. She’s my family.” His only family, other than Nan, he still had a chance to care about. But he didn’t say that. “We’ll stay here in France for a few weeks so she can get to know me before I take her to some place she doesn’t know. Does that sound reasonable?”
Mathieu sighed. “Yes. But…” He glanced to Melanie who’d busied herself looking around the house. “You must be married before you leave.”
With those words, he took Stella’s hand and led her away.
Noah shut the door and leaned against it, closing his eyes for a brief moment and marveling at how just a few days could change something so fundamental inside him.
He didn’t know Stella.
He’d never imagined himself having kids.
But now… he wanted her. More than anything, he wanted to help soothe her grief, to make sure she was never alone.
And now, he never would be either.
6
Melanie
The minute the door shut, leaving Melanie alone with Noah, the air inside the house changed, charging with anticipation.
She’d always known Noah to be impulsive and reckless, but this time those decisions, those words were accompanied by a pain in his eyes.
He’d never mentioned a brother. Heck, he’d never mentioned parents. The world acted as if Noah Clarke was some miraculous creation that had come from above, or below depending on one’s view of him.
His scandals kept the media from asking deeper questions. His bad boy persona meant they’d only ever gotten the surface. She’d always thought he gave her more, but now she wasn’t so sure.
He pushed away from the door and walked by her into the kitchen. Taking a cup from the cabinet, he filled it with water and proceeded to guzzle it down before turning to her. “How were you able to get away from work?”
“Noah.”
“Does your dad know you’re here? I’ll bet he doesn’t approve. I can hear him now. You get too close to your clients, sweetie.” His imitation was too close.
“Noah.” She stepped around the counter, stopping in front of him. She hadn’t flown all the way here because he was a client. In her mind, Noah was also a friend. But she didn’t know if rock stars considered their publicists friends or not.
He pushed a hand through his hair and continued chattering. She’d never seen Noah nervous before.
“Did you tell any of the group you were coming? I don’t need all of Rockstars Anonymous showing up on my doorstep.” His hand gripped the edge of the counter.
Melanie placed her hand over his. “Can you just stop for a minute and tell me why you told that man I’m your fiancé?” That single word hit something inside her. Only Justin had ever called her his fiancé, and that had been real.
A sigh rushed through Noah’s teeth. “Do I have to?”
She refrained from laughing at his petulance. “Yes, Noah. You do. But I’ll give you a few minutes to think of the half-truths I know you want to spout. Point me to a bathroom. I just got off a plane. I’m exhausted and feel disgusting. I’m going to shower and change. Then, you and I can chat.”
