Page 67 of Protected By Duval
Even if he had to stay over at the house, sleeping on the sofa or the daybed on the porch, he’d make it happen, getting her up early enough to get the work in the morning.
”Really?” She looked at him. “Are you sure?”
He saw the haze of exhaustion in her eyes and he wanted to draw her closer into his embrace. If she want to fall asleep on him right there, he’d be more than happy to help.
It was mostly magnanimous.
Mostly.
The idea of holding her close throughout the night?
That was what his dreams were made of now that she was in his life.
Noelle looked at her mom. “You’re going to stay?”
Patricia put her hand on his mother’s arm, the two women shared a look that was more like two teenagers planning to get into trouble instead of two women with grown up children. “We’ve got some plans for tonight.”
Katie sighed loudly. “As long as you two don’t wake up Ciela… have your fun.” She stood up and headed toward the screen door. "I’m going to go to sleep.”
She stopped with her hand on the doorknob and turned around.
“Noelle. You have my permission to kick my brother if he becomes obnoxious.”
Duval wanted to melt away into the ground.
“Night, all!” Katie disappeared inside.
Noelle stood and started to reach for the dishes on the table.
“Noelle! Goodness,” his mother stood like a shot, “leave those.”
“Yes, Nena,” Patricia shooed her daughter’s hands away with her own. “Finn and I will take care of the dishes, you and McCrae should head back into town.”
Finn?Duval felt like he was in real danger of losing his mind as fast as these women had his head spinning.
Noelle made one more move to pick up some of dishes but his mother gave the back of her hand a playful smack.
“Don’t you dare, young lady.”
Duval reached out and took that hand in his and lead her away. “We better listen to them before they end up grounding us.”
He saw a smile touch Noelle’s lips.
“Ground us?” She whispered to him.
“They’re our mothers, do you doubt it?”
Her footsteps slowed and she turned to look back at the back porch.
Their mothers were packing up the dishes on the table, laughing together at a joke that he couldn’t hear.
Noelle looked back up at him. “So, you’re going to take me home?”
“That’s the plan.”
She nodded slowly. “Are you going to come in when we get there?”
He wasn’t sure what she wanted him to say, so he just went with the truth. “If you want me to.”
