Part 84 (1/2)
She'd pulled up her courage and was showing him a brave face.
He was glad for it because he didn't hope he was right about this world's Dax Lahn.
What he saw last night he knew he was right and he wanted that for her.
”Early,” he said. ”I've texted you my address, show at four. I'll be cooking. Franka will be watching me do it and talking to you. We'll ask him to be there at six.”
She tried to hide her nervous swallow and nodded.
Noc lifted a hand, wrapped his fingers briefly around the side of her neck and gave her a smile.
”See you tomorrow,” he said as his goodbye.
”Tomorrow, Noc.”
He turned to leave and took two steps but stopped when she called his name.
”You can think what you want but I know. Franka and I have different stories, but we were both left in the same darkness,” she said quietly. ”So I know. If this man is that man for me, I will be the lucky one. And you being the man you are, the only man for Franka, so is she.”
Before he could say a word, she shut the door.
He stared at it for a beat and then he didn't give it another second.
Or another thought.
He walked to his Suburban, got in and made a phone call.
Franka was pacing.
Noc was leaning a hip against his island, phone to his ear, listening to it ringing, focus on Frannie.
”Baby, calm down,” he urged.
She stopped instantly, caught his eyes and hers narrowed.
”Calm? This man might have spent the last sixteen hours convincing himself we're insane and he wants nothing to do with us, including Circe. Valentine has made certain he doesn't go after her and he hasn't, but she doesn't have the power to read his thoughts.”
She'd counted the hours.
That was cute.
He didn't have a chance to further rea.s.sure her.
The phone stopped ringing and a man answered with, ”Lahn.”
”Lahn, this is Noc Hawthorne.”
”Did she get home okay?”
Noc dropped his head and grinned at his feet.
He hadn't spent the last sixteen hours convincing himself they were insane.
Noc saw Franka's hand land on his chest and he lifted his eyes to her, still grinning.
Her shoulders fell in relief.
”Hawthorne,” Dax bit out. ”You there?”
”Yes, I'm here and she got home okay, p.i.s.sed as h.e.l.l we tried to set her up but okay. Went 'round and talked to her this morning. She's not been in a place for a while to take a shot at certain things but I pointed out she's gotta find that place. In other words, we'd like to know if you'd come to dinner tomorrow, my place, Frannie, me and Circe. Six.”
”Text me your address, I'll be there.”
Noc nearly burst out laughing.
His efforts at not doing that made his next words sound choked.
”Will do.”
Frannie pressed in at his chest and gave him wide what-the-h.e.l.l-is-going-on eyes.
He rounded her with an arm.
”Tomorrow,” Dax grunted.
”Yeah, man. See you then,” Noc replied.
Dax hung up.
Noc dropped his phone from his ear and started chuckling.
”What?” Franka asked.
”He's coming to dinner.”
She lifted her other hand to his chest and pressed both in, beaming and declaring, ”By the G.o.ds, this pleases me.”
Noc was pleased too but he was more pleased seeing how much she was.
She remained pleased for about two seconds before she got down to business.
”No Fleuridian wine tomorrow, Noc,” she bossed. ”I don't want her thinking of home. Not the good of Fleuridian wine and definitely not the bad she was treated to there. I want her head firmly in this world.”
”Aye, aye captain,” he said on a grin.