Perfectly Inappropriate

His loaded statement lingered in the air between them. A hundred questions rested on her tongue, from “What are we doing here?” to “Is this a mistake?” But none of those questions made their way out. The hardest part in all this was she knew deep down she wasn’t ready for anything serious. Sure, she trusted Noah—a smidgen more than she trusted anyone else—but was that enough? Was it fair?

The side of his mouth slowly curved. “You should really breathe, Olivia, or you’re going to pass out and then we really will cause a scene.”

She was blowing out the breath she’d been holding when a soft voice said, “Noah.”

Olivia turned and found a well-kept woman wearing a gorgeous purple dress and a stunning pearl necklace. But it was her eyes that made what Noah said next unsurprising.

“Olivia, this is my mother, Audra Grant.” He kept her hand in his.

Olivia offered her free hand. “Olivia Watts. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Oh, my dear, we hug in this family.” Audra’s arms were soft and gentle when they wrapped around Olivia. “Are you enjoying the party?”

“Very much so,” Olivia said, leaning away. “This garden, the home…really, everything here is all so beautiful.”

“They do know how to throw a party around here,” Audra said with an appreciative sigh. She turned to Noah, her eyes the same color as his and holding love as she straightened his tie. “You look very handsome tonight.”

Noah grinned. “Ah, but I am a man in a suit compared to the two of you.”

His mother laughed softly and turned to Olivia, giving a wink. “The Grant charm, it’s something else, isn’t it?”

Olivia smiled with a nod, but she was more captivated by their interaction. There was a certain sweetness between them. It was easy to see that they had a close relationship.

“Son,” a man—obviously Noah’s father—said and sidled up to Audra. “Governor Sweeney would like a word with us.”

Noah nodded at him before gesturing at Olivia. “Father, this is Olivia Watts. Olivia, this is my father, Thomas Grant.”

Where Noah’s mother was sweet and soft, his father was rough and all planes and angles. But there were similarities between Noah and his father; even though Noah was a couple of inches taller and broader around the shoulders, the chiseled features were the same.

Olivia offered her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Likewise.” Thomas returned the handshake but barely even gave her a passing look. “I must insist we don’t keep Sweeney waiting.”

Two things happened. Noah’s jaw tightened, and obvious disapproval was shining in his eyes when he glanced at Olivia. “I won’t be long. Let me do my rounds here and then we can go.”

“It’s okay,” she replied, suddenly feeling like the center of his parents’ attention. She snatched up a champagne glass from the tray as the waiter walked by. “I’ll keep myself busy.”

She thought that might warrant a smile.

It didn’t.

Noah simply nodded and strode away toward where his father and another man waited for him. Suddenly, with that single action, the entire situation with Colette made sense. Olivia imagined that standing alone at a party would get old fast.

“I’m sorry if Thomas seemed abrupt,” Audra said, drawing Olivia’s gaze. She gave a warm smile. “He’s in business mode. Noah can bring you out to the Hamptons sometime. Thomas is much more relaxed there.”

“It’s okay, really. I’m sure he’s got things on his mind and people to see.”

Audra nodded and took a wineglass off another waiter’s tray as he passed. “Noah tells me you don’t follow politics.”

Olivia stopped her mouth from dropping open. Okay, so Noah had talked about her to his mother. She thought that should have made her more uncomfortable considering she was the one who didn’t want a relationship. Shockingly

, the discomfort never came. “Sadly, and I feel kinda silly admitting that here, but politics is not something I’m overly interested in.”

Audra’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. Then she finally said, “Which is probably why Noah has such a fondness for you. His move into politics hasn’t been as easy as it was for his father. Noah likes his privacy and his heart is a little softer than his father’s.” She studied Olivia again and then gave a firm nod. “He likes that you see the world differently than him.”

“Did Noah tell you that?” Olivia asked, unable to help it.

“He might have said a thing or two about it.” She stared at Noah across the way, and the love in her eyes radiated out. “But I can see that…”—she looked at Olivia again and smiled—“he’s quite relaxed with you.”