Chapter Six

The ride to Alessia’s family home was silent, the air thick with tension. When the plane’s landing was announced, Alessia quickly pulled her hand away from Noah’s, holding it to her chest.

Noah had simply stared at her before closing his eyes again, his fists clenched. It was the first time they’d had physical contact since he started working at the company, and it had felt... well, different.

"Ci fermeremo qui," Alessia muttered as she gazed out the window, seeing the place where she had spent her childhood and teenage years coming into view. The driver grunted and brought the car to a stop.

“We’re here?” Noah asked, glancing at her before turning to look at the house. She nodded and climbed out of the car, ignoring the way her heart was racing.

Memories flashed before her eyes. She had returned here after he left her at the altar. She had locked herself in her room, crying her eyes out.

Her thoughts were interrupted when Noah touched her arm lightly to get her moving. He had already retrieved their bags from the trunk and was waiting for her next move.

His blue eyes were curious—and was that concern?

She cleared her throat. “If you want to back out, it’s not too late,” she mumbled, staring at the house.

“I already told you,” Noah muttered, his deep voice sending butterflies fluttering in her stomach. “I’m not ditching you. Besides, it’s a bit late for that now,” he added, glancing at her.

She mustered a small smile. Maybe he wasn’t so bad after all.

“Thank you,” she whispered. Their eyes locked for a brief moment. He said nothing, only giving a simple nod before looking away, his jaw tightening.

Of course. That annoyed him too.

Closing the distance to the house, she stepped into the front yard, overwhelmed by nostalgia. Faint voices drifted from inside, and she realized that in trying to protect herself, she had been hurting her family by staying away.

God, she had missed this place.

“Mama! Alessia!” The voice, familiar even in her dreams, called out just before her younger brother tackled her in a hug, sending both of them crashing to the ground.

“Che cos'è la bontà, Piero, lasciami stare,” she groaned from underneath the weight of the blonde-haired teenager sprawled on top of her.

Grinning, Piero stood up, but Noah was quicker, offering his hand to help Alessia up. She took it with a frown, dusting herself off.

Her eyes met her mother’s, then her father’s. She swallowed hard.

Mama’s eyes turned glossy as she briskly walked over and pulled Alessia into a warm hug. Alessia closed her eyes, breathing in the familiar scent of strawberries—one she had missed.

“Ay, Tesoro,” Mama whispered, framing Alessia’s face with her hands.

Alessia fought the lump forming in her throat. She closed her eyes again, still clinging to her mother. God, she had missed her.

“Alessia,” her Papa’s voice broke through the moment. She gently pulled away from her mother, who was reluctant to let her go and wrapped her arms around her father.

He looked older than the last time she had seen him, with more white hair scattered across his head. She blinked back tears—tears for the time she had wasted.

Clearing her throat, she grabbed her father’s arm.

“Papa, Mama, Piero, this is Noah, my... boyfriend.” She flushed slightly as the word left her lips. It felt odd to refer to Noah as her boyfriend.

“Noah, meet my parents and younger brother,” she continued, glancing at Noah just as his expression shifted before her eyes.

He smiled—he actually smiled—and for the second time in two years, she saw his dimples. He suddenly looked boyish.

She blinked. Was this the same Noah? The uh, one from America?

“Ciao, Signora,” Noah said, stepping forward and taking her mother’s hand, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. Mama blinked in astonishment, and so did Alessia.

Noah dropped her hand, still smiling.

“I see where Alessia gets her looks,” he said, tilting his head toward Alessia, who barely managed to close her gaping mouth and force a smile.

“Oh mio, è un seduttore,” Mama muttered, pressing her hand to her chest. Noah glanced at Alessia, clearly waiting for a translation.

She blushed and moved toward him. “She said you’re welcome,” she lied, but Noah raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced.

“That’s a lie,” Piero chimed in, earning a look from Noah. “Mama said you’re a charmer. I think she likes you already.”

Noah grinned. “I’m hard not to like, but I seem to have trouble getting your sister to like me,” he muttered, patting Piero’s shoulder before turning to Alessia’s father, who was watching the exchange curiously.

“Nice to meet you, sir. I’ve heard a lot about you,” Noah said, extending his hand for a handshake, which Papa took firmly.

“All good or bad?” Papa teased.

“A mix of both,” Noah replied with a chuckle. Papa patted his shoulder before looking over at Alessia, who stood dumbfounded.

Giving her a wink, Papa said, “I like this one,” and ushered them inside. Piero took care of their bags.

Standing next to Noah, Alessia hissed through her teeth. “Don’t make them fall in love with you when we both know you’re not staying long.”

Noah leaned in slightly, his breath tickling the hair at the nape of her neck. “Who says I’m not staying, Càra?” he whispered, then straightened up, flashing those dimples again. Alessia blinked, speechless.

“Did you just call me—Càra?” she whispered. He only shrugged.

Before she could respond, Mama walked over. “Piero put your bags in your room,” she said with a smile.

Alessia’s smile froze. “Our bags? In my room?”

Mama glanced between Alessia and Noah before nodding. “Ricco and his wife will be arriving later, along with your Nona. There are no other free rooms, so you’ll have to manage. Is there a problem?”

Alessia’s stomach dropped. She couldn’t share a room with Noah!

“Noah, is a terrible snore” she mumbled and Mama glanced at Noah.

Noah, however, didn’t seem fazed. “We’ll manage,” he said, flashing another soft smile at Mama. Alessia barely had time to argue before her mother disappeared into the kitchen.

Papa was saying something to Piero at the other end of the room, his voice was hushed and Alessia knew Papa was telling Piero to be on his best behavior with Noah around.

“Snoring? That’s the best excuse you could come up with?” Noah grumbled, his jaw tightening.

“You seem way too comfortable with the idea of sharing a room,” Alessia muttered, turning away. The thought of having Noah in her childhood bedroom was... unsettling, to say the least.

“Hey,” Noah said quietly, and she looked at him. The earlier smile was gone, replaced by the Noah she was more familiar with.

“If you’re not comfortable, I’ll sleep on the couch. I don’t want to make you uneasy,” he muttered.

Alessia huffed. “You always know how to push my buttons.”

He frowned, clearly confused—finally, the reaction she had been looking for.

“We’re supposed to be convincing them that we’re in a real, healthy relationship. You sleeping on the couch doesn’t exactly scream that, does it?” she whispered harshly.

Noah blinked at her. “So, we share the room then,” he mumbled under his breath.

She nodded. Same room, one bed, with a man she’d barely tolerated for the past five hours.

What could go wrong? Well, maybe everything.