Chapter 8

Lucy didn’t know who was more nervous, her or Henry. The dinner and exhibition had been easily enough arranged, with invitations sent out to anyone with connections to the estate. Including Derek. She had delivered that one in person, as prompted by Noah, and even plucked up the courage to ask if he would like to escort her to the event.

His, ‘I would love to,’ whilst appreciated, did not manage to set her heart on fire and Lucy knew exactly why. Bloody Noah. He’d had to kiss her and turn her attention away from the only real potential suitor she had.

It hadn’t even been a passionate kiss, nor one given because he couldn’t control himself. One grateful peck on the lips and she was fantasising about what it would be like if he was into her. Clearly they were spending way too much time together when she was finding herself liking him more with every passing day. A pointless exercise given her current predicament and the urgency which she should be directing into finding a groom.

She smoothed down her duck egg blue wiggle dress—so called because it was so tight she had literally had to wiggle herself into it—and prayed it was enough to impress Derek tonight. It was an off the shoulder number, with a wrap-over bust and adorned with white swallows. An impulsive buy and she would admit to thinking about Noah when she’d purchased it. Wondering how he would react to see her in such a figure-hugging outfit when he was so used to her normal, not-so-sexy wardrobe. A trip to her hair-stylist and the beautician and she had been primped and preened so much that if Derek didn’t fancy her now, there was no hope. She would never look this good again.

The doorbell sounded and that swell of nerves from the pit of her stomach rose quickly. There was so much at stake here she did not know what she would do if she didn’t succeed in her quest. Although trying to make a man fall in love with her was completely different from a family attempting to save their ancestral home, Lucy could understand the pressure Noah was under. The fear of failure was a powerful motivator, but it was also the bond which was currently bringing her and Noah closer than ever.

Another shrill ring and she knew she couldn’t hide any longer. With a deep breath, she grabbed her clutch bag and shawl and went to answer the door.

“Wow.” It was the response she had wanted but not from the person she had expected to find on the other side of the door.

“Noah? What are you doing here?” Although he looked devastatingly handsome in his dinner suit, his appearance signalled that tonight was not going to go to plan.

“You look amazing.” He seemed fixated on her dress and Lucy felt her cheeks redden under his scrutiny. “I, er, Derek can’t make it tonight after all. He sends his apologies.”

“Why couldn’t he tell me himself?” It wasn’t fair to stand her up then further her humiliation by having Noah deliver the news in person. All the energy she had put into getting ready for him, all the worry she had carried today about impressing him, suddenly converted into anger, with nowhere for it to be released.

“He asked if I could take his place. I’m sure he’ll contact you himself later, but he thought it would be better for me to come in his place, rather than you attend the dinner on your own.”

“I’m not some sort of charity case,” she grumbled, reluctantly getting into the car with Noah. The only thing worse than being stood up was having him be a party to it and forced into accompanying her like a big brother on a sad and lonely prom night.

“No one thinks you are. Not Derek and certainly not me. I’m sorry I’m not who you wanted, but I am your consolation prize for the night.” Noah started the car and Lucy noticed how tightly drawn together his lips were. As though he wasn’t happy about the arrangement either.

“Sorry, Noah. I’m just—“

“Disappointed. I know.”

Now she felt even worse. Once she had time to think about it, Lucy realised that Noah had taken time away from his dad and their guests to potentially save her blushes. He didn’t have to and she was acting like an ungrateful brat.

She reached across and placed her hand on his leg. “Thanks for coming to get me, Noah. I appreciate it.”

Without looking at her, he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. An act of solidarity which gave her warm fuzzies inside and almost made her forget about who she was supposed to have been spending the evening with.

Noah was going to have serious words with Derek on both his and Lucy’s behalf. It was bad enough for him to let her down at the last minute but being too chicken to phone her himself had been unforgivable. He was having doubts about the architect’s suitability as a partner for Lucy. She deserved better than being an afterthought. Especially when she had gone to so much trouble tonight. Her body in that dress was a complete knockout and his body was responding in appreciation.

Noah cursed Derek again for putting him in this position when he needed to create some distance between him and Lucy, not be reminded of how much he was attracted to her himself. He was absolutely not the right match for her. However, he was wary of pushing her any further towards Derek simply to get himself off the hook when he’d failed at the first hurdle.

This rush to get married wasn’t going to get solved as easily as tonight. If Derek decided he was interested in becoming Mr. Honeywell, then changed his mind at the last minute, Noah certainly was not going to step in to save the day again. Marriage was not something he would contemplate even if love was involved, so there was no danger he would get sucked into Emmy’s crazy scheme just to realise her romantic fantasy. He of all people knew the reality of marriage would soon come crashing in around her if she went through with it. If Derek wasn’t the one after all it was going to be down to Noah to talk Lucy out of the whole affair.

Thankfully there was enough going on at the house to keep them both distracted. By the time they arrived, most of the other guests were already there mingling with their glasses of champagne and admiring his father’s paintings. He snagged a drink from a passing waiter for Lucy and excused himself to go and check on the man of the moment. This was a big deal for him, but Noah also knew facing all these people after such a long time would be daunting for his father.

“You okay, Pops?” He crossed the floor to stand with his father who was hovering between his displayed works of art.

“Better than I expected,” he answered with a broad grin, helping Noah to relax in the process.

“Good. I expect you’ll have a lot of catching up to do with your old friends.” Noah had seen a few old familiar faces he hadn’t expected to show up but was nonetheless grateful for their support. Only time would tell if it was due to a genuine desire to renew acquaintances or people being nosy about their personal status. Whatever it was, it was great to see his father so animated and enjoying himself.

“People I haven’t seen for years have invited me for dinner and I’ve already sold several of my paintings. Thanks for this, Noah. You too, Lucy.” He gave a nod to the dinner companion Noah had neglected in favour of his father to bring her into the loop.

She raised her glass in a toast. “You’re the artist and the reason everyone’s here tonight. These are your friends.”

Noah swore he could see a small tear glinting in the old man’s eyes and that minute display of emotion was enough to convince him his father was finally moving on from the past.

He reckoned they were all grateful when they were called for dinner, away from the awkwardness of having to talk about ‘feelings’. It was not a topic he and his father often discussed and something he would prefer to steer away from when he was around Lucy in case he incriminated himself.

When he noticed the empty chair next to Lucy, courtesy of a certain no-show, Noah decided it wouldn’t hurt to provide her with a little company for dinner. After all, his father seemed quite content holding court at the far end of the table, just like the old days.

“You haven’t eaten much,” he commented, when Lucy pushed her food around another plate. Come to think of it, she hadn’t spoken much either since they’d sat down to dinner. He knew this wasn’t the night she’d had planned, but he still wanted her to enjoy herself.

“Not much of an appetite,” she said, with a wobbly smile.

If this was how she reacted when she was let down on a first date, Noah dreaded to think what was going to happen when the wedding date came around and there was no groom for her to share it with. What had started out as a joke to him, now seemed like a tragedy waiting to happen. Even if Lucy found someone, the rush to wed would surely put them off or have some sort of impact on a budding relationship. To be honest, he would have serious reservations about a man in a hurry to marry and three months did not seem a very long time to get to know anyone, let alone the person you’re willing to spend the rest of your life with. There were so many pitfalls waiting for Lucy, Noah really was worried about her getting badly hurt.

“He doesn’t know what he’s missing.” In pushing her towards another man, Noah had begun to see for himself what a truly special person Lucy was and she definitely deserved better than someone who flaked out on her at the first opportunity.

“Thank you,” she said quietly, staring down at her lap and not looking at all as if she believed him.

Noah reached out and tilted her chin up so she had to look at him. “I mean it. You are stunning and kind and passionate about everything that matters to you. We’re lucky that includes our home or tonight would never have happened. Thank you.”

He could not say why he did what he did next. Only that it felt right and that he wanted it.

Noah dipped his head and let his lips brush lightly across hers. A kiss which could never hope to satisfy in its brevity and only made him crave more. When her lips were parted, her eyes wide and urging him to carry on, he was tempted to do just that. It was only the sound of laughter at one of his father’s entertaining anecdotes which reminded him they were not alone. They were lucky everyone else was too entranced by their host to be interested in a fleeting kiss between two of the dinner guests. Something from the outside which would have looked nothing more than a friendly peck on the lips but which was wreaking havoc on the instigator.

“No problem,” Lucy eventually responded, a little too breathlessly to help Noah regain his composure. He knew if they had been on their own he would have kissed her until they were burning for one another, probably have cleared this table and made love to her right here, right now.

All thoughts he should not be having about a woman he was trying to marry off to another man. Literally, any other man.

Lucy gulped down a mouthful of champagne in an attempt to take away the delicious taste of Noah on her lips and help her forget the last few glorious seconds of him kissing her. That was the second time he had teased her, only giving her enough of him for her to long for all of him. She should be grateful he had pulled away and begun making small talk with the person on the other side of him. They both knew this couldn’t go anywhere when they were so different. He was a cynic, a disbeliever in romance, while she was the epitome of a romantic, intent on marrying at all costs. Nothing good could come of this attraction which was clearly there, pulling them towards one another, when they had such opposing views on relationships. Yet it didn’t stop her wanting him.

A curious feeling for someone who had never been particularly interested in sex. Yes, that intimate connection was an important part of being a couple, but she couldn’t say she had ever felt that overwhelming desire to have someone and sod the consequences. Until now.

Noah could barely hear what was going on around him for the rest of the evening when his body was so aware of Lucy. He tried to put some space between them, schmoozing with the other guests after dinner, but he always seemed to gravitate back towards her. With Lucy he didn’t have to put on the act of jovial host. She knew who he was, what he was going through and what tonight meant to him. Despite their differing views on love and marriage she seemed to like him and enjoy his company. She accepted him for who he was, warts and all, and that was something he had never experienced before. It was no wonder he couldn’t get her out of his mind lately. Especially when he’d experienced the sweet taste of her on his lips, albeit too brief.

“Thank you for coming. Good night. Nice to see you again.” He waved off their guests one by one until there was only him, his father and Lucy, left.

“I would call that a successful evening,” Lucy commented as he closed the doors behind the last couple to leave.

“I can’t believe I’ve left it so long to see my friends. They were very supportive, very understanding.” His father was emotional after the soiree. Noah had worried it would be overwhelming for a man who hadn’t socialised with anyone outside of these four walls for years, but it had made him see what he’d been missing. Hopefully this was the start of him getting back to some sort of normal life. It might also help Noah open his eyes to the changes needed to keep the estate financially afloat.

“I’m glad you enjoyed yourself, Dad.” He slung his arm around his father’s shoulder and gave him a comforting squeeze. It was a huge step forward and Noah was proud of him for taking it.

“Yes, well, it’s all been very nice but a tad exhausting. I’m off to bed. Thanks again, both of you.” He nodded towards Lucy to acknowledge her role in the event before heading upstairs.

“Goodnight,” she called after him.

“Night, Dad.” Noah watched until he was out of sight and the sound of his bedroom door closing echoed along the hall.

“I’m sure you want to do the same. I can call a taxi. There’s no need for you to drive me all the way home again.” It was Lucy who spoke first once they were alone.

“There’s no rush. Come into the lounge and finish your drink.” Noah walked ahead into the room and proceeded to loosen his tie and take off his jacket. There was no need to be so formal now it was just him and Lucy. He was hoping they could finally relax.

Lucy followed him into the room , carrying what was left of her champagne. Noah hadn’t been drinking tonight, knowing he had to drive her home and because he had wanted to keep a clear head. Staying sober unfortunately had not prevented him from making a move on her earlier. Something he could not stop thinking about. If Derek had have turned up perhaps it would have been his lips on Lucy’s. A thought which did not please him at all.

“Thanks for filling in tonight. I’m sure there were other things you would rather have done than babysit me.” She sipped her drink as she sat down on the armchair across the room from Noah.

“Not really.” He smiled at her and she ducked her head, her cheeks gradually turning pink at his honesty.

“Did Derek say if he would be in touch again?”

Noah sighed as she let it be known where her real interest lay. “I’m afraid not. Why is he suddenly so important to you? You hardly know anything about him.”

He knew he sounded jealous, but that was because he was. Lucy was willing to give herself to a virtual stranger rather than him, simply because she held some fanciful notion that getting married would solve all of her problems.

“He’s the only man who has shown any interest in me since Rupert. The only chance I have at walking down the aisle on that date ringed in my diary. I don’t expect you to understand.” She set her glass down on the side table and stood up.

Noah bounced up out of his chair to catch her by the arm before she could flounce out of the room. “No, I don’t understand why you’re fixated on marrying someone you don’t know.”

She gave a bitter laugh which didn’t suit her at all. “Well it didn’t work out with someone I’d been in a long-term relationship with, so I thought I would try something different.”

He wanted to shake some sense into her, to make her realise that being married wasn’t the be all and end all. “You’re not a 1950s housewife with no prospects beyond that of being a wife and mother. Lucy, you’re a brilliant businesswoman with a kind heart who doesn’t need anyone else to justify her existence. I just wish you could see that for yourself.”

She shook herself free of his grasp, tears shining in her eyes. “I just want to be wanted, okay?”

“I want you.” The words fell out of his mouth before he had a chance to catch them, to think about what he was saying. He could see the confusion written all over Lucy’s face, the damage done now the truth was out there.

With Lucy watching, waiting for him to prove it, there seemed no reason to continue holding back.

He cupped her face in the palms of his hands and captured her mouth with his, taking complete possession when he encountered no resistance. Noah unleashed the passion he’d been keeping in check for so long. As his lips meshed with hers, he tasted her with his tongue, teased her until she was kissing him back with the same longing zinging in his veins. Her arms were wrapped around his neck, and she was pressed so tantalisingly close against his chest he could feel the soft roundness of her breasts. He was aching with so much need to see her, touch her, to have her—Noah was fit to burst, but he knew this was only going to complicate things.

Then Lucy stroked his hardness through his trousers and all bets were off.