Page 126 of The King Contract
The awards night is to congratulate Noah on his victory, but to also officially open the Championship Tour. Surfers, almost unrecognizable in suits and tuxedos, fill the large room overlooking the moonlit ocean. People mill around chatting and eating canapes and those not competing indulge in the bar tab.
Gabby leads us through the crowd, finding her family and Noah’s friends with ease. I smile as I take them in, Rick, Callum and Mack, all wearing tuxedos with giant grins on their faces. Noah’s mum is wearing a gorgeous black dress and I go to tell her, but I forget how to speak when my gaze settles on Noah.
He’s wearing a classic tuxedo, perfectly fitting his broad, muscled frame. His brown curls fall into his eyes, which are the deepest green I’ve ever seen them, and they widen as he spots me. I stifle a grin as his pink mouth falls open in appreciation.
“Jesus,” he whispers huskily, his gaze dragging up from my body.
Sofia knows how to pick a dress. The red was a good choice; the material cinching at the waist and flowing to the floor, with a split up the thigh. It’s the fanciest thing I’ve ever worn, and I’m terrified of spilling anything on it because there’s no way I can afford to ruin it.
“Congratulations again, Mr. King,” I murmur.
One side of his mouth lifts. “I like the sound of Mr. King.”
“I don’t,” Rick cuts in, shattering the illusion. My cheeks burn as I duck my head, but my embarrassment melts away as Noah pulls me into his side. I’ve missed standing this close to him.
“Lighten up, Pops,” Noah says, grinning.
Joan smacks Rick on the chest. “Leave them be. Nobody’s called you Mr. King in your entire life.” She smiles at me. “He’s angry because he hates wearing a suit. You look beautiful, dear.”
“It’s so tight,” Rick grumbles, pulling at his collar.
“You both look gorgeous,” I tell Noah’s parents as I wrap my arm around their son’s waist. “I never knew the surfing world was so glamourous.”
“This isn’t the norm, thank God,” Callum says and Rick nods in agreement. “They like to open it with a bang and close it with a bang, but we don’t have to do this every time there’s a comp.”
Gabby grabs two champagne flutes from a passing server and hands one to me. “Where’s Dan? Don’t tell me he got out of wearing a ridiculous outfit.”
“He’s on his way,” Mack says, glancing down at his watch. “The formalities will start in fifteen minutes. King, we better go over thingsnotto say on stage.”
Noah waves a dismissive hand. “Relax. I’m not going to say anything stupid.”
Mack raises his eyebrows. “Bullshit.”
Gabby smiles at me, but it quickly fades from her face as she gapes at something over my shoulder. I turn to follow her gaze and even my mouth drops open. Dan stalks towards us, parting the crowd and turning heads in an all-black tuxedo. He’s trimmed his beard and the way he carries himself across the room makes it seem like he’s used to wearing fancy suits.
“Jesus,” Callum whines, holding an arm out towards Dan. “How the hell does he look that good?”
Dan stops next to me, adjusting the cuffs of his suit. “Genetics.” He leans down and kisses my cheek. “You look beautiful, Millie.”
“Thank you, and I mean it wholeheartedly when I say, you do too.”
Noah smirks at me. “Stop checking out my best mate.”
I grin as I watch Dan greet everyone in our huddle before getting to Gabby, whose gaze hasn’t left him since he arrived. She blatantly checks him out, craning her neck when she meets his gaze, a knowing smirk on her lips.
“Can I call you Mr. Fisher?” she drawls.
Dan furrows his brow. “What?”
“Don’t ask,” Rick says as he shoots his daughter a look of warning. Gabby just grins.
“Come with me.” Noah tugs my hand and pulls me from the group as they’re talking. We make our way through the crowd and eventually outside onto a private balcony, where Noah seals us off from everybody else.
An outdoor heater is lit above our heads, but it’s still cool outside. Noah pulls me into him and holds me there as we each take some big breaths.
“Wow,” I sigh. “What a day.”
“What a day.” Noah kisses the side of my head. “I missed you.”
