Page 91 of Hush (Fighting Fate)

She nodded in understanding. “I’ll have to come and introduce myself to her someday.”

Now that surprised me. Wasn’t it too soon to do the whole family interaction thing?

“Okay,” Noah said firmly, tucking me back under his arm. “That’s enough scaring my girl.”

“Oh, hush. She’s fine,” she said, giving Noah a quick squeeze on his free side.

I laughed, pleasantly surprised by the amazing rapport their whole family seemed to have with each other.

A light, tinkling laugh came from the doorway, and I saw another woman coming inside, this one young, tall and blonde.

“Oh, thank god,” she said. “Another girl. We need all the estrogen we can get around here.”

“Oh, no we don’t,” said another voice behind her.

I looked out to see an older man following her in, wiping his hands on a rag.

Noah squeezed me at his side. “That’s Kara, Adam’s fiancé. And that’s my dad, Luke.”

I smiled, remembering Noah’s dad from the hospital. Without thinking, I nodded. “Yes, I remember your dad.”

Noah suddenly cracked up laughing and I realized my mistake.

“That’s right!” he said. “Dad, I hate to tell-”

I clamped my hand over Noah’s mouth as hard as I could. He laughed, trying to step away from me, but I clung tight, throwing my free arm around his neck so I could hold on tighter. He grabbed me around the waist, picking me up,

but I wasn’t going to back down. He was not going to tell his dad.

Noah was still laughing under my hand. His eyes shone with it. How he could breathe, I didn’t know. He was still trying to get away from me, obviously not very hard, but he was still persistent. When he almost shook me off, I jumped at him. Literally.

Hooking my legs around his waist, I clamped my hand across his mouth even firmer.

“Stop it,” I said, trying hard not to laugh myself. “I told you not to say anything.”

Noah brothers were full out laughing now. I must’ve looked ridiculous.

“Promise me you won’t say anything,” I hissed.

Laughing, he shook his head.

“Oh my god! You’re so stubborn,” I grumbled.

His eyes shone even brighter.

“Please?” I begged, trying the sympathy route instead.

He seemed to consider it, but then he shook his head again.

Throwing my head back to glance at the ceiling with exasperation, I loosened my hand. “Fine. I hate you.”

He laughed. “No, you don’t.” Then he kissed me. Right there in front of his family. And I let him. Because, well, it was Noah. And I liked kissing him.

When he put me down, he grinned. Happiness shone from his every pore. It was a beautiful sight. My laugh might’ve been his Achilles heel, but his smile, well, I thought it might be able to destroy a small nation.

“So?” Isaac said impatiently. “Are you going to tell us now? The suspense is killing me.”

Noah glanced down at me and smiled before looking back up at his family. “Sorry. I can’t.”

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