Playing with Fire (21 page)

Noelle and Avery waved to each other
before taking the hands of their significant others and heading to
their own love nests. A few hours later, Noelle snuggled against
Trent’s side and decided she could definitely become a fan of
naptime.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Trent looked at the time on the alarm
clock and stretched. It was still early, just after seven. He
nudged Noelle and whispered. “Are you awake?”

She nodded and let out a yawn. “Yeah,
just enjoying the moment.”

Trent kissed the top of her head where
it rested on his shoulder. “As enjoyable as this is, we should eat.
How does a home-cooked meal sound?”

Noelle propped her head up and looked
at him. “You are gonna cook?”

Trent laughed, “I could, but I was
thinking more of my abuelita’s home cooking. On Sunday nights she
likes to make tamales for the week. She always has more than enough
for her helpers.”

Noelle gnawed on her bottom lip. “So
what you’re sayin’ is, you want me to meet you grandma and maybe
some of your family?”

Trent nodded. “Yeah. I get that it may
seem too soon, but I know my family and if they hear we are
together and they don’t meet you they will show up
here.”

“Have you told them about
me?”

“Yeah, I mean I mentioned to my
grandmother that I liked someone. She’s probably already wondering
what is going on since I didn’t show up to dinner last night. I
figure at least this way there won’t be as many people there
tonight.”

Noelle thought about it for a moment
and finally nodded. “Alright. I suppose we should take some fast
showers and get going then.”

Trent arched his brows. “Did you say
showers, like with an ‘s’ on the end? Wouldn’t showering together
be quicker?”

Noelle batted at his stomach and got
out of bed. “Yeah it was plural and no, I don’t see how being wet
and naked in a small space with you is gonna be quick.”

Trent laughed and laid back, resting
his head on his hands. “Yeah, that’s a good point. You go first,
but make it fast because I’m gonna be using my imagination out here
and with the visual you just gave, I don’t know how long my
restraint will last.”

Noelle shook her head and rolled her
eyes. “You’re trouble.”

He winked at her and watched her walk
out of the room. Her pale curves seemed to glow in the darkness.
Trent made a mental checklist of all the places he wanted to kiss
on her body. Every inch of her would feel his touch, feel his
love.

He knew it would take a long time to
make sure he did a thorough enough job, but forever seemed like a
good time frame to him.

Noelle dried her hair as she waited
for Trent to finish with his shower. She tried not to let her
nerves get to her over meeting his family.

She wondered what her momma
would think of him.
She’d see right away
that he was handsome and treated her baby like a treasure. Her
momma would love him in a heartbeat. He was the kind of man her
momma had always wanted for her.

Noelle was lost in thought and jumped
when Trent touched her shoulder. “Jesus, you scared me.”

He rubbed her back, “I’m sorry. I said
your name a few times. You were off somewhere in that pretty brain
of yours.”

She smiled to herself when he kissed
her neck. His cologne was spicy to her nose. “You smell
yummy.”

He purred in her ear, “So do you. Your
perfume makes me think of strawberries and whipped
cream.”

Noelle nodded. “I think we better step
away from each other before sniffing leads to something more. I
doubt it will be a good first impression if I walk in with my hair
all a mess.”

Trent laughed and took a step back.
“You’re right. It’s gonna take my abuelita a few moments to warm up
to you as it is, I don’t want her thinking badly of
you.”

Noelle swallowed hard. “You think she
won’t like me?”

Trent wrapped his arms around her and
kissed her softly. “She will like you, but I know her and it’s
gonna take a little bit for her to warm up to the fact that I’m
with someone who isn’t Mexican.”

Noelle felt her heart fall. “Oh. Yeah,
that’s not something I can change.”

Trent shook his head. “I don’t want
you to think you have to change anything about yourself. Don’t do
it for me or anyone else. You are an amazing woman just as you are.
I know my grandmother will fall in love with you. It’ll be alright,
mi amor.”

He kissed her again then walked toward
the door. Noelle put on her sandals and checked her reflection in
the mirror on the wall in the entry way.

Trent stepped behind her and spoke to
her reflection. “You are beautiful.”

Noelle turned her head to look at him.
“I hope you’re saying that about me and not talking to
yourself.”

Trent stared at her for a second
before he burst out laughing. “Oh, I see. You think you’re being
real funny. I’ll remember that later when we get back.”

Noelle winked at him as he opened the
door. “I hope so.”

As they drove to Trent’s grandmother’s
house, Noelle had trouble thinking about anything but the ‘what
ifs’. What if his grandmother didn’t like her? What if she disowned
Trent? What if Trent dumped her?

She let out a loud sigh and
tried to focus on the colorfully painted houses and their tiny
manicured lawns. Groups of women and men were sitting on the
different porches, playing
card
s, watching children play. A
menagerie of songs, all sung in Spanish, blended together and
wafted through her open window.

Trent lifted her hand and kissed the
back. “It will be ok, mi amor. Trust me.”

Noelle looked at him and smiled
weakly. “I’m trying.”

Trent turned to the left at the next
side street and pointed to a small white house down on the left.
The front yard looked like a parking lot. “That’s her house. And it
doesn’t look like everyone is here.”

“Not everyone’s there? Trent, there
are like six cars there. How many more are there?”

Trent shrugged, “I lost count a long
time ago. Between all the aunts and uncles and cousins, not to
mention the friends that have been adopted into the family, we can
draw a huge crowd.”

Noelle closed her eyes, sunk in her
seat slightly, and took a deep breath. Silently, she repeated to
herself ‘it’s gonna be fine, it’s gonna be fine.’

Trent kissed her once more. “You’re
gonna do great. Just give them that sweet smile and southern charm
and you’ll win them over in no time.”

Noelle wished she were as confident as
he was, but a few seconds later, she didn’t have any time left to
fake it because once he came to a stop, there were people coming
out the front door with open arms.

They stopped in their tracks when
Trent opened her door and she stepped onto the asphalt. Noelle gave
Trent one more look and whispered, “Here goes nuthin’.”

Trent bent down and kissed
his abuelita on the cheek.
“Hola, como estas? Be nice, por favor.”

She gave him a stern look.
“Solo para usted.”
Only for
you.

He smiled. “Thank you.”

Trent turned and stretched out his
hand toward Noelle. She stood a few feet away, with her hands
clasped in front of her and a polite smile pasted on her lips. He
knew she felt out of place, but he also knew her place was with him
and that meant there was a place for her in his family.

“Noelle, please, I’d like you to meet
my abuelita.”

Noelle stuck out her hand, “It’s nice
to meet you. Trent has told me so much about you.”

Trent gave his grandmother a look
until she finally shook Noelle’s hand.

“Hola, Ilamo Marta.”

He tilted his head at his grandmother
and pursed his lips. He had a feeling she wasn’t going to make this
easy. “En Ingles, por favor.”

He grandmother returned his look and
shook her head.

He squeezed Noelle’s hand. “She says
her name is Marta. She’s being stubborn right now. But she
understands English perfectly so I’ll translate whatever she says
to you for now.”

Noelle’s mouth twisted and she looked
like her feelings were hurt by his grandmother’s attitude.
“Ok.”

She turned toward his grandmother and
said, “Hello, Mrs. Torres. You have a lovely home.”

His grandmother looked back at her
house and then at Noelle. “Tu es muy blanca.”

Trent clenched his teeth, wanting to
scold her for her rude behavior, but not wanting to make a scene
and making Noelle feel even more uncomfortable.

Noelle eyed him. “What did she
say?”

He sighed, and lied. “She said you
have beautiful skin.”

His grandmother gave him a dirty look,
but he knew she wouldn’t say anything else about it. She finally
took a breath and waved them in.

As they approached the rest of the
family standing on the front porch he stopped and addressed the
group. “Hey everyone, this is Noelle. Be nice to her, you know how
hard it is to remember all your damn names.”

His Tia Lita stepped forward with open
arms. “Aren’t you so pretty with that red hair? Give me a hug, I’m
Tia Lita, but just call me Tia.”

Noelle smiled shyly and returned the
hug. “Thank you.”

Trent rubbed her back. “Tia means
Aunt. Tio is Uncle.”

Noelle nodded. “Ok.”

Trent hugged Lita and whispered,
“Thank you. I don’t know why abuelita is being this
way.”

His aunt patted his cheek, “She was
already in a mood when I got here. Your mother brought your father
tonight.”

Trent rolled his eyes.
“Great.”

Lita stepped away and was quickly
replaced by a few more aunts, uncles, and cousins. He knew his
mother was probably hiding out in the back yard. Everyone knew
Trent’s father wasn’t welcome in abuelita’s house. He really didn’t
need the added drama.

Trent smiled down at Noelle as they
finally made their way around to the back of the house. He gave her
hand a reassuring squeeze, “You did great, mi amor.”

She smiled at him. “Thank you. Your
grandma didn’t really say I had nice skin did she?”

He stopped and turned toward her,
taking her face in his hands. “My Tia Lita said she was already in
a bad mood because my mother and father are here.”

“She doesn’t like your
parents?”

Trent shook his head. “No. She doesn’t
like my father. So don’t go thinking her attitude is because of
you.”

She nodded. “Ok. If it makes you feel
any better, I think your Tias like me.”

Trent laughed. “Of course they do.
They like any woman brave enough to tame me.”

Noelle laughed. “I don’t want to tame
you, that makes it sound like I’m trying to control you or change
you.”

He leaned down and nuzzled her ear,
enjoying the smell of her perfume again. His voice was husky when
he asked, “What do you want to do with me then?”

Before she could answer, someone
banged on the window beside them. He pulled back and looked at
Noelle’s red face. He couldn’t help but laugh. “It’s like high
school all over again, caught getting fresh on the side of the
house.”

Noelle laughed and gave him a playful
shove. “You know they’re gonna be watching you like a hawk all
night to make sure you don’t cop a feel.”

He shrugged and took her hand again.
“Eh, I kinda figured they’d be doing that anyway.”

He stole one more kiss before they
entered the back yard. Most everyone had migrated out there
already, but when they saw Trent, they seemed to part like the Red
Sea and suddenly he was staring at his father.

The look on his mother’s face helped
ease his anger. He walked to her and kissed her cheek. “Hi, mom. I
have someone I want you to meet.”

She smiled at him weakly and
whispered, “Please don’t be mad at him. He’s trying.”

Trent huffed, “Trying for a few days
isn’t enough for me and it shouldn’t be enough for you either. You
deserve better than that.”

She nodded in reply and looked around
him to Noelle. “Hello. I’m Trent’s mother, Rosa. It’s nice to meet
you.”

Noelle smiled, “I’m Noelle. It’s nice
to meet you too.”

Trent sent up a thankful prayer when
his Tia Ramona called everyone over to the tables for prayer. He
grabbed Noelle’s hand and without even acknowledging his father,
headed over to the row of picnic tables.

Noelle didn’t say anything until after
they made their plates and took a seat. “Don’t you wanna introduce
me to your father?”

Trent looked at her and
shook his head. “No, I don’t want to introduce
him
to you. I don’t have a good
relationship with him. He’s not been the best to my mother or us
kids.”