Noble Love (The Nobles of Sweet Rapids #1) Read Online Free Page A

Tessa sang, watching him disappear toward the foyer. Once the sound of the door opening, then closing filled the air, she turned back to Dana, who was now dutifully sipping the soup that Aiden obviously brought her.
    "I guess you won't be needing this," Tessa said, holding up a bag that held a fresh bowl of soup she'd picked up from one of the restaurants in downtown Sweet Rapids.
    "I'll save it for later," Dana said, taking another long sip of her soup.
    "So, what was Aiden doing here?" Tessa asked, as she headed for the kitchen. "I thought you couldn't stand him."
    "I can't stand him," she grumbled. "He's the worst neighbor in the history of neighbors."
    Tessa shook her head and grinned, as she stuffed the soup in the fridge.
    "God, Dana! You need to clean out your damn fridge."
    Dana sucked her teeth. "You sound like that asshole, Aiden."
    Tessa sighed, hiding the smile from her face, as she returned to the living room.
    "So, let me get this straight...Aiden is the worst neighbor in the history of neighbors and he's an asshole?"
    "Yes..."
    "Yet he came by to check on you and bring you soup. And I heard you in here giggling like a schoolgirl when I first came in."
    When Aiden first moved in, he and Dana had gotten off on the wrong foot. It had turned into a war of wills, two stubborn souls who wouldn't back down; but over time, it had morphed into something...amicable.
    If the way they were looking into each other's eyes when Tessa arrived was any indication, they were feeling each other a lot more than they cared to admit. Tessa wondered when they were going to stop acting foolish and finally confess that they actually really liked each other.
    "Okay..." Dana said, rolling her eyes. "So, maybe he's not a complete asshole."
    Tessa shook her head and plopped down on the oversized chair perpendicular to Dana's couch. "How are you feeling?"
    "Not as shitty as when you asked me this morning."
    "Well, I guess that's a good thing."
    "I probably still won't be able to bake anything for another few days. Think you can handle the bakery by yourself?"
    "You know I got this," Tessa said, with a wave of her hand. "Besides, you know damn well I won't be there by myself."
    They stared at each other for a moment before murmuring at the same time, "Mama."
    "Daddy came by earlier," Dana said. "Talked about how you got her all riled up again."
    Tessa lifted her arms in the air, before slamming them down on the wide arm rests on either side of her.
    "I just don't see what's wrong with introducing a few new recipes."
    "I'm with you, big sis. Hell, Daddy is too. But you know we have to proceed with caution where Mama is concerned."
    "Yeah..." Then Tessa grinned. "When Mama finally left, I made these." She pulled a small Everetts’ Bakery box out of her bag, and then stood and handed it to Dana.
    "Oh shit!" Dana shouted. "Are these our cupcakes?"
    Before today, they'd only talked about the new flavors they'd come up with; they had yet to actually test them.
    Tessa nodded and smiled. "Sure is. I don't know if you'll even be able to taste it since you're sick, but…"
    Dana didn't hesitate to take a large bite out of the cupcake.
    "Oh my god... oh my god! Tess! Did you taste one?"
    Tessa scoffed. "What the hell kind of question is that? Of course, I did."
    It reminded her of the extra mile she was going to tack on to her morning workout. Those cupcakes were so damned good.
    Dana picked up the other cupcake, which had been her own creation and took a bite, laughing joyously as she did. " Shit !" she yelled. "These are the bomb ! We have got to convince Mama."
    "I know," Tessa said, a new determination growing inside of her. "We will."
    "So," Dana said, picking at the cupcake. "I hear Isaiah Noble's back in town."
    Tessa attempted to keep her features neutral at the mention of Isaiah's name, but the mere thought of him and their encounter earlier that morning caused her body to have a visceral reaction that she was almost ashamed