Page 18 of Protected By Duval
Not enough to pull away from Noelle’s hands, but enough that he couldn’t touch her.
The mare flicked a glance at him and swished her tail.
That whole thing was to put him in his place.
Butter really didn’t like him.
“Sure, you’ll take a bite out of my hair,” he complained to the pretty mare, “but that’s the extent of it, huh?”
Butter blew out a breath that sounded like the horse equivalent of a raspberry.
Noelle laughed softly and leaned in to touch her forehead to the mare’s nose. “You’re so sweet.”
The look that the horse gave him over her head looked like she was mocking him.
He opened his mouth to point out the fault in her assessment, but he never got the chance.
“McCrae King! Come and give your mama a hug, young man!”
* * *
NOELLE
She heard the booming voice that seemed to fill every inch of the barn, but it wasn’t disruptive in any way. It sounded warm.
And welcoming.
But, by the way that McCrae tensed up beside her, she wasn’t sure if he’d taken it that way.
“Ma? Is there a way for you to talk to me that you don’t sound like I’m twelve?”
“Twelve? Well damn it all to hell, I must be losing my touch. I was going for five or six years old.”
Noelle could only stare at the woman who strode through the barn with the backs of her hands on her hips.
She wore white sneakers with pink frilly socks, white capri pants and a pink blouse that was equal parts pretty and blousy at the same time.
Her nearly white hair was arranged in loose waves around her head framing her face which was perfectly made up down to the pretty pink lipstick and immaculate eyeliner.
* * *
DUVAL
“Well, hello there. I’m Finola King.” She reached out and Duval tensed, ready for her next gesture. Just like clockwork, his mother smacked his upper arm with her palm, shaking him a few times “This big galoot is my boy.”
Duval had his lips pressed tightly together to keep from saying anything that his mom might react to. She was already taking him down at the knees. He didn’t need her to have any more ammunition to come at him.
She might be his mother, but there was a reason that he was a damn good officer.
His delightful and gorgeous mother was a pistol.
Noelle lowered one hand and turned to look at him. Butter lifted her head, nudging Noelle’s hand for more attention.
She managed to continue petting the large animal and give him a curious look as well. “I can tell your mom loves you, a lot.”
His mom laughed, her shoulders shaking. “Awwww… She sees right through me, son. How wonderful is that?”
Noelle blushed. “My mother is kind of… the same.” She shrugged. “Different, but…”
