He insisted on carrying his bag and her dress down to the lobby. The obvious wedding dress crammed into a trash bag drew strange looks from other guests at the breakfast buffet, but they flat-out gawked at her. She was used to getting attention, but not like this.
A couple of younger women sat at a table together, snickering as they watched Libby pick up a tray from the counter and follow Noah in the food line.
“Is this some new fashion craze?” a woman behind her asked.
“Yes.” Noah leaned around Libby with a serious expression. “It’s taken over Lesser Mongolia and Kurdistan. It’s all the rage.”
“Kurdistan?” she asked in amazement. “I had no idea it was a high-fashion country.”
“Until a few months ago, they had no fashion at all. They used to go around naked. Do you know how cold it gets there?” Noah asked, heaping his plate with bacon. “Let me tell you, it’s not pretty. I had to draw the line when Libby tried that one.” He shook his head with mock disapproval. “You can only imagine how many times I had to bail her out of jail.”
The woman eyed Libby up and down.
“I can see what you’re thinking, what with her swimming in these clothes,” Noah said, moving to the next food station, “but I can assure you she has the figure for it. She used to walk around town and cause massive car pile-ups from all the men gawking at her. In fact,” he winked at her with a conspiratorial grin, “she wasn’t arrested for indecent exposure. She was arrested for breaking up so many marriages—those men got one look at her and they knew no woman could ever compare to such a goddess.”
The woman’s mouth dropped and she stared at Libby wide-eyed before she realized what she was doing and jerked her gaze back to Noah. “I had no idea someone could be arrested for that,” the woman said.
Noah nodded. “They had to make an emergency law. It’s called the Libby Law. In Hedonista, Iowa.” Noah shot Libby a wide grin and moved to the other side of the room to get some coffee.
The woman kept sneaking glances at Libby, but Libby ignored her, trying to keep a straight face as she walked over to join Noah.
“Walking naked in public?” Libby whispered.
Noah shrugged.
He started to say something to her when one of the seated young women snickered, then stage-whispered, “She’s so tacky. There’s no way she could break up a marriage.”
Noah’s back stiffened as he glanced over his shoulder, but Libby simply reached for a mug and poured herself some coffee.
“I have no idea what that fine looking man is doing with someone like her,” the woman continued.
The second woman giggled. “Must be charity work. Girls like her make guys feel sorry for them, which is why they never give us a chance.”
Noah’s eyes hardened, but Libby put her hand on his arm. “Ignore them. They’re not worth it.”
He stood still for several seconds, but then he set his coffee cup on the counter and handed Libby his plate. “Could you take this to the table for me? I’ll bring your coffee over.”
She tilted her head and narrowed her gaze. “Why? What are you going to do?”
His eyes twinkled with mischief. “Trust me on this one, okay?”
“Okay . . .”
“I’ll join you in a minute.”
Libby took the two plates to their seats and watched as Noah wandered over to the table with the two women. He grabbed a chair and pulled it over to their table, angling it between them. “Good morning,” he said, pouring on the charm.
Their eyes widened and one of the women held back a giggle.
“How are you two lovely ladies this morning?”
“Good. We’re good,” they mumbled, their words slurring together.
If Libby hadn’t known better, she would have thought Noah had gone over there to flirt with them. And even though he’d clearly stood in line with her, they were falling for it hook, line, and sinker.
He placed his forearm on their small table and leaned forward. “I couldn’t help overhearing what you said about my lovely bride over there.” He tilted his head toward Libby and they at least had the grace to blush. “Now, I have to ask you two, do I look like a fool?”
One of them turned from pink to scarlet while the other shook her head and mouthed “no,” horror in her eyes.
Noah’s voice took on an air of condescension. “I can assure you that Libby has more class in her pinky finger than the two of you put together, and even if I had never been lucky enough to meet her, I wouldn’t have given either of you the time of day. I don’t care for mean, gossipy women.” He stood and grabbed the back of the chair. “Now that we’ve got that clear,” he added, his charm restored, “you ladies have a good day.”
The other hotel guests stared at Noah and several began to clap as he replaced the chair at a nearby table.
The two women hastily gathered their things and headed for the elevator.
Noah grabbed his coffee and Libby’s and headed back to their table.
She pursed her lips in disapproval. “Noah, you didn’t have to do that.”
He picked up his fork, concentrating on his food. “Of course I did. Those two imbeciles were trash-talking you. I had to set them straight.”
“You could have just let it go.”
He glanced up in surprise. “I’m your friend, Libby. I can’t stand by and let you get hurt. Why do you think I changed my mind about coming to Kansas City?”