“You look delicious as always, Noelle.” He tightened his hand on her arm.
Noelle kept her thoughts to herself, keeping her lips in a semblance of a smile as they followed the bride and groom down the aisle.
“Ah, I like a woman who doesn’t talk a lot. I think we’ll get along very well.”
She jerked her arm out of his as soon as they hit the hallway at the end. “We most certainly won’t be getting anything,” she whispered, her fake smile still in place.
Chapter Four
NOELLE FELT HER ARM being pinched, nails digging into her flesh.
“What did you say to Jerard?”
Noelle narrowed her eyes as she took in the pink manicured nails, then into her sister’s angry eyes. “Remove your claws from me.”
Merry’s face pinched, but she released her hold. “What did you say to anger Carlton’s best friend? You’re supposed to be nice to him.”
“I am not going to whore myself out to him in order to keep him happy. If that’s what you expect of your maid of honor, then you need to get someone else.” With each word, Noelle’s voice rose.
“Hey, what’s going on out here?”
Merry and Noelle spun to face their father. Merry burst into tears, throwing herself against his chest, sobs wracking her frame. “Daddy, Noelle’s trying to ruin my big day.”
Noelle, totally stricken at the censure on her dad’s face reached for him. “I didn’t...that’s not true,” she denied.
“Noelle, this is your sister’s big day. What’s the matter with you?” Their father smoothed his hand down Merry’s back, turning them away from Noelle, his rejection cut like a knife.
Their mother came rushing over, her worried frown going from Merry and their father to Noelle. “What’s happening now?” she asked with exasperation.
“Why don’t you ask those two. I’m a wedding ruiner, obviously.” Noelle laid her bouquet on a nearby table. “I will be at home if anyone needs me.” She didn’t glance at Carlton or his disgusting friends. They were all college buddies who still acted as though they were frat boys, slapping each other on their butts and laughing like idiots. They were in their thirties, but their antics were more like teenagers. Nothing like Ridge. She couldn’t imagine him doing the things like they did. The hair on her arms lifted, she searched around as if thinking of him would make him appear out of thin air.
Once she was out of sight of the others, she twirled her finger over her head, allowing herself to disappear and reappear in her quaint little home.
“Meow.”
She smiled at the big cat curled up on her large overstuffed couch. “Hello, FatFat. How’ve things been while I was away?” Noelle scratched the Maine Coon behind the ears, laughing at the loud purr.
Her leg was bumped by another solid kitten, this one every bit as big as FatFat. “Hello, Mrs. Noseby. Did you miss me while I was gone, too?” She bent and lifted the large Maine Coon into her arms, settling between the pair.
“Your sister is a heifer, child. Is that why you’re upset?” FatFat asked, licking his paw.
Noelle rolled her eyes. She hadn’t been able to hide her feelings from either of her familiars since coming to Assjacket. “She’s not a...alright, she’s kinda a jerk.”
Mrs. Noseby sat up, her too-knowing gaze and large head at the same height as Noelle’s. “Oh palease, she’s a total beotch, and you know it. Now, tell us what happened then we can get to hexing her.”
“We are not going to hex her. Baba will do unspeakable things to us.” Noelle wrapped her arms around FatFat. The story of how the night unfolded fell from her lips in a rush. When she finished, both of her pets were purring loudly. Mrs. Noseby paced back and forth on the floor in front of her, tail swishing angrily.
“I will shred her dress. Maybe I’ll spray all of her honeymoon attire. Yes, that is what I’ll do.” She turned toward the door with its little flap so they could come and go.
“No,” Noelle yelled, sealing the exit.
Mrs. Noseby turned around, her huge fluffy tail swishing in the air. “Why do you never allow us to have any fun? She’s a hateful cow.” Both of her familiars spoke very properly, something she found very funny and delightful since she’d been trying to emulate them to an extent. Failing, but it was fun to try.
Mr. FatFat licked his paw, getting awfully close to his balls while sitting on her lap. “Do not lick your nether regions on me,” she warned.
“Well, how else am I to groom properly?” He blinked as if offended.
Noelle shoved him off her legs, getting to her feet. “I’m going to take a bath and go to bed. Tomorrow will be a long day. You two are not to leave this house.” She pointed at the duo.
Both cats raised a paw.
Noelle wasn’t sure, but she thought they were agreeing and laughing. Damn familiars who kind of mocked her. She really needed to go to school on how to train them better.
“Fat chance, love,” FatFat yelled.
RIDGE DRUMMED HIS FINGERS on his steering wheel. The invitation he’d received to Merry’s wedding, with its gold-and-pink embossed lettering, sat on the dash. If he and his leopard weren’t itching to see Noelle, he’d never have thought to attend the shindig. He still wasn’t sure how the Hell they’d gotten his address, but then again, witches and shifters were real, so he didn’t question things that happened magically.
“Are we really going to a wedding, brother?” Miko asked, pulling at the collar of his starched white dress shirt.
He grinned at his friend. “Yep.”
“Is that all you gotta say?” Miko glared at him, shifting in the seat again.
“Why’re you acting like it’s killing you to wear a nice shirt?” Ridge flicked his hand at Miko.
“I can’t remember the last time I wore a button-down shirt.” He adjusted the collar one more time.
Ridge reached
