No problem whatsoever.
When she got home that evening, Noah took her to Wings To Go to celebrate, even though it seemed silly to make a big deal of it. She was thirty and it was a one-hour summer school course. But he’d insisted, and as he held the door open for her to enter the restaurant, she couldn’t wipe the smile from her face.
“Hey, Mia!” Steve called from behind the counter.
Noah chuckled and whispered, “First name basis?”
She elbowed him in the ribs. Weekly visits had ensured she’d become good friends with the adorable older couple who owned the restaurant. “How’s it going, Steve?”
“Good, good.” The man’s smile was happy and familiar, but his brow furrowed a little when he took in Noah beside her. He looked pointedly at him, then back at her.
Yeah, she usually came by herself. Did they have to make a big deal of it?
Steve cleared his throat. Looked at Noah again.
Mia pursed her lips. “Steve, this is my fr—uh. I mean, this is Noah. He’s, um. My husband.”
She loved Steve, but he was gonna embarrass her for sure.
“Yourwhat?”
She sighed. “You heard me.”
“Paula!” Steve yelled. “Get out here. Mia’s here and she brought a husband with her.”
She leaned into Noah’s shoulder. “Maybe we should just go.”
His arm shook beneath her forehead as he laughed.
Steve’s wife was beside him in seconds. “What? Whose husband did she bring?” Her eyes alighted on Noah and she immediately smoothed the graying auburn hair around her face.
Mia looked to Noah for help, but he just watched her with amusement.
Her face heated. “Mine.”
Paula grabbed Steve’s arm. “Steve, did you hear that? Mia’s husband!” She leaned across the counter and grabbed Noah’s hand. “How wonderful to meet you.”
“Likewise,” Noah said.
Steve gently pulled his wife’s hand back. “You’ve got quite the lady here, Noah. She’s everyone’s favorite around this place.”
“I don’t doubt that for a second.”
“Oh look, Steve,” Paula said. “She’s blushing.”
“Don’t call attention to it, dear.”
“You never say things that make me blush.”
Steve leaned over and whispered something in his wife’s ear, and her face did indeed turn a deep shade of red.
Mia giggled.
Noah took her hand, and she immediately stopped, her breath catching in her throat.
“So is this recent?” Paula asked. “Or have you been keeping this handsome man a secret from us?”
“It’s been a little over a month,” Mia said. Noah’s fingers were large and warm, and his thumb shifted across her skin, sending a shiver up her arm.