Noble Pursuits by Chautona Havig

Author:Chautona Havig [Havig, Chautona]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Romance, Contemporary
ISBN: 9780557037872
Google: WTG7qNbbtuEC
Amazon: 1449555993
Goodreads: 6509695
Publisher: lulu.com
Published: 2008-12-30T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

As Nolan pulled into his driveway, Grace hurried across the street. “Do you need help?”

“London, Mickey, this is my friend, Grace.” He smiled at her as he unbuckled Parker from his car seat. “And this is Parker! Guys, this is Miss…”

“Grace. I’m Miss Grace. We’re making personal pizzas for dinner. Who wants to help me put toppings on?”

By the time Mike and Traci arrived to take their children “home” to Nolan’s house, Grace had established a genuine friendship with all of them. London whined and wailed when her mother told her to put away the game they’d been playing, and Traci’s eyes widened in shock as Grace stopped the tantrum with a single word, “London!”

“Sorry, Miss Grace,” the child apologized, chagrined.

“Don’t apologize to me. Your mother deserves the apology.”

To Nolan’s surprise, Grace turned away from the child and helped gather jackets and shoes for Mike. London paused as her mother led her and Mickey out the door. “Are you mad at me?”

“I’m disappointed in you, but you’ll obey better next time.”

“Grace, do you want to come have hot chocolate with us?” Nolan prayed she’d join them.

“I’d love to, but I’m exhausted. Why don’t you all come over for breakfast? I have muffins made, and I can scramble some eggs and cook some sausage.”

Nolan scooped Parker up and carried him to the door. “Thanks for helping me.”

“I enjoyed them. Thanks for sharing.”

Traci watched the exchange with a fascinated eye. Grace was genuinely happy to have spent the evening with her children. Even she wasn’t always happy for an evening with her own children. Instantly, she saw some of the attraction Nolan felt for the woman. “It was nice to meet you. I’ll see you in the morning and thanks for everything.”

Once the children were snuggled in beds and Parker in his playpen, Traci curled up in Nolan’s most comfortable chair, crossed her arms, and demanded, “Out with it.”

“With what?” Mike and Nolan spoke in unison.

“She’s a nice woman. She’s not bad looking, but she’s definitely got a few pounds on her—”

Nolan’s voice cooled considerably. “And your point is?”

“I’m curious to know why you chose the antithesis of every woman who has ever thrown herself at you. I’m worried that you’ve come here, found the opposite of what you could have had and decided it’s better by the mere fact of its difference.”

“That’s ridiculous, Traci! I’ve never heard you be so shallow—” Mike began.

“No, she has a point,” Nolan countered. “I see why it might look like that. I wondered it myself.”

“I think you’re both brutal,” Mike spat out, disgusted at the turn of conversation.

“Look, I’ve been looking for a list,” Nolan began as he walked to his computer and called up a file. He clicked the print button and waited for the paper to drop in the tray. “I started this list over two years ago—more like three and a half. Hadley Parkman proposed to me that night, and I came home desperate for a wife that I could actually pursue first.

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