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Mama and I meet in the doorway. I throw my arms around her and find myself crying like a child. “Mama, you’re here…” I murmur over and over again. I inhale her signature cinnamon scent. She smells like home.

She strokes my hair and holds me close. “Hush, child, you would think you hadn’t seen me in a dozen years, not just a few months. What’s this all about?”

I finally separate from her, tears running down my face. “I’m just so happy to see you. Why are you here?” Suddenly, I feel panicked. “Is there something wrong? Are you sick?” I look her over. She still looks the same. Beautiful, polished, and perfect.

“Honey, no. Just couldn’t let my baby girl have her grand opening without me bein’ here. I know you said it wasn’t a big deal, but it is. It’s a very big deal.”

I hug her close again. “Thank you,” I say, my voice muffled as I speak into her shoulder.

“Excuse me, but is there something wrong? Noelle, are you okay?” Luca’s deep Irish brogue breaks into our reunion, and I immediately stiffen.

I pull away from Mama. She’s already sending Luca the Gray glare. The one that says, “don’t mess with me or I’ll poison your Brunswick stew.”

Fuck, I’m screwed.

Chapter Twelve

I’ll do anything to make her understand I just want to be hers. -Luca

Luca

Ruth Gray is still looking at me like a bug she would like to flick off her. Her brown eyes, so like Noelle’s, bore into me as she tilts her head and asks me another question.

“So, why did you leave Ireland, Mr. Hollander? Leave behind too many broken hearts?” Her voice is full of suspicion, and I feel like a kid about to be reprimanded by my teacher.

I sit up a little straighter. Noelle rolls her eyes at her mother.

“Mama, you’re being worse than the Spanish Inquisition. He already told you he moved when he was a teenager. Give him a break and enjoy your dinner.” We’re currently sitting at Maple Lane Café while Mama Gray gives me an interrogation.

I shrug. “It’s okay, Noelle.” I cover her hand with my own. I try to send her a reassuring smile. The truth is Ruth scares me a little. Okay, a lot. I can tell already that Noelle really values her opinion. When Noelle introduced me as her friend, Ruth’s eyebrows shot up to her hairline. She didn’t believe that title for a moment. The woman is sharp. Sharp as hell. Hopefully, she can see that I’m hopelessly in love with her daughter.

“I loved Ireland. If it had been my choice, I would’ve stayed there forever. Thank God I didn’t. If I had, I would have never met this one.” I give Noelle a wink and squeeze her hand. “I didn’t leave anything behind in the way of broken hearts. I did leave a very upset local bakery owner. I ate him out of stock almost every day.” I pat my stomach. I think back to those days as a teenager. I had been destroyed by leaving my hometown, but in the end, it had been my saving grace. I think I would have gotten involved with the wrong people if I had been left there. “I miss it. I especially miss my parents every day. But life moves on. And I’m certainly glad it’s moved in the direction it has lately.” I send Noelle a loving look. Fuck, I’m so glad I’ve found her.

Noelle holds my gaze while her cheeks turn pink. A small smile forms on her mouth. For a moment, I forget that Ruth is there. I forget that we’re in the middle of a busy restaurant. I think of yesterday and how I held her in my arms after we made love. How she looked bathed only in the sun shining through my windows. How her skin looked flushed as she came down from the heights of pleasure.

She’s mine. So thoroughly, completely mine.

Ruth clears her throat and I shake my head to clear my thoughts. It wouldn’t be appropriate to get an erection under the table while she glares at me like an unruly child.

“Yes, well, that sounds nice and all…if it’s true.” Her voice takes on a nasty tone. “I’ve found that men say anything they can to get into the pants of a young lady. Why should I think you’re any different from the others? What are you after with my Noelle? She has no money, just so you know. If it’s sex you want, there are others around for that too. What is it you’re after, Mr. Hollander?”

Chapter twelve

Noelle

Do I believe everything I’ve always been taught or run towards something that could be magical? -Noelle

“There’s something off about that Irishman. He’s out to get in your panties for sure.” Mama’s mouth twists into a sneer. “I know my baby girl is too smart for that though.”

I duck my head and then look away. I pretend to be occupied putting her suitcase away in the front closet. I can feel Mama’s eyes on me. I’ve come to expect things like this from her. For once though, I don’t agree.

What if he does care about me? What if I decide to turn my back on something that could be beautiful?

She snorts and shakes her head. “Then again maybe not,” she mutters.

I’ve had enough. “Mama, how did you like the shop? Any advice you want to give me on opening?”

It’s just the right subject to distract her. She starts going on and on about how beautiful everything is, but maybe it could just be a bit better if I added this or took away that. My mind starts to drift to the way Luca looked at me when we parted tonight.