A Recipe for Romance

by Lara Van Hulzen

  She moved the music as much as it moved her in a seamless flow of motion. Her eyes were closed, taking each step by feel and memory. Man, she must have been something to behold on a large stage. Although he preferred what he saw before him. Her talent took his breath away; her beauty captured his heart.

  The spell broke like the snapping of a twig, however, when she grabbed her right thigh and crumpled to the ground. The music continued but all Wes heard were her sobs as she lay there. In three steps he was beside her, kneeling to where he could wrap her in his arms. Grateful for many reasons, he let out the breath he’d been holding when she let him pull her to him.

  “Noelle, are you all right?” He whispered in her ear.

  She nodded, her head moving against his chest, but her tears still continued to flow.

  In the middle of the floor of her studio, he knelt with her in his arms. Unsure of the level of pain she was in, his gut said to hold her and wait. So he did. He’d wait forever if she’d agree to stay and never let go.

  Her crying subsided and she looked up at him. The tears that welled in her blue eyes and her pink, tear-stained cheeks almost gutted him. “Are you okay to stand?”

  She nodded again.

  He stood, her body still wrapped up close. “Can you put weight on it?”

  “Yes.” Although she stood on her own, she still leaned into him, her hands clinging to the front of his button-down shirt beneath his long wool coat.

  The song that had been playing ended and Keith Urban began singing about blue not being the color for the woman he loves. In that moment, Wes could understand the sentiment. Looking down at her, feeling her lean into him, he began to sway them back and forth. A subtle, gentle rocking, so as not to hurt her leg; they found the beat of the music and moved together, her clinging to him as a lifeline, him praying they could stay that way forever.

  The first time they’d danced together at Grey’s he’d guessed she was a professional dancer. Intrigued by her, he’d wanted to know more. Now, he wanted everything. Any fear he’d ever had about the white picket fence, the slower pace of life, the forever that so many had—he’d run from it but now he wanted it. And he wanted it with her.

  “Thank you for the lovely gift.” Although she almost whispered, her voice echoed through the room.

  So lost in thoughts of wanting forever with this woman, he fought to comprehend what she was talking about.

  “The jewelry box. It’s beautiful.”

  “Oh. Yes. You’re welcome. I saw it and...well, I knew you had to have it.”

  She nodded and looked down, tears rolling down her cheeks once more.

  He stopped their dancing but continued to hold her close with one arm as he lifted her chin with his other hand so their eyes met. It pained him to no end seeing the hurt in her eyes. He’d move heaven and earth to change that. “Why the tears again? Is it your leg?”

  She shook her head back and forth, releasing her chin from his hand.

  “Then what is it, Noelle? Please name it and I’ll fix it.”

  Her eyes met his once more as she said, “Why are you being so nice to me?”

  He pulled back a bit. Was she serious? Glad she looked at him again, he read her eyes. She wasn’t questioning a nice present or kind gesture. It was his feelings for her she doubted. And could he blame her? Sure, he’d never meant to come across as dishonest in how he handled the Spellman situation, and although they’d shared hot kisses that left him awake at night wanting more, he’d never once told her how he felt about her. Never once said a solid yes about staying in Marietta or wanting her in his life. Hell, he’d doubted himself all this time. But not anymore. Not about Noelle.

  “Why are you still in Marietta? There’s nothing here for you.”

  “You’re here. And I’m in love with you.”

  It was her turn to pull back, her hands moving from his chest to his biceps, his hands now at her waist.

  “I...I don’t...”

  “Don’t say anything. I said that to be honest with you, not to get a response.”

  She shook her head and looked down. “There’s just so much happening all at once. So much to figure out.”

  In Wes’s mind, the only thing to figure out was how to get Noelle to not sprint in the other direction. But he understood her need for time to sort out feelings.

  He ducked down until she looked at him. “Hey. I know this is a lot to take in. And believe me when I say this wasn’t planned. Me being here, us dancing. But I can’t stand not being with you, Noelle. I had to be near you, even if just for this evening. I can’t imagine my world without you.”

  Tears fell again, tearing at his heart.

  “Noelle, I’m sorry I hurt you. So sorry. And I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you if you’ll let me. But you’ve got to trust me. I never intentionally hid anything from you.”

  She nodded in response. Not a show of complete forgiveness, but she still hadn’t sprinted for the door, so Wes took it as a good sign.

  “Hey. You must be exhausted still from the past few days. Let me get you home, get you situated where your leg is okay. We can talk more tomorrow when we bake together. Deal?”

  She nodded again.

  Another small victory. He’d take as many as he could get at that point. One step at a time he would work his way back into her heart. And he’d start with what he’d wanted to do the other night—get her home and settled with a bubble bath and tuck her in. Safe and sound, knowing she was loved.

  Chapter Twenty

  Noelle rode in the back of the Range Rover, Wilson at the wheel. Wes had texted saying he’d gotten stuck at the grocery store getting ingredients for their cake recipe but didn’t want her waiting around so he’d sent Wilson for her.

  She stifled a giggle at the thought of Wes roaming the grocery store alone. Living in New York he had to have darkened the doorway of a grocery store at some point, hadn’t he? Although he did admit to having a personal cook there as well who brought him meals and stocked his fridge, so maybe not. The idea was mind-boggling to Noelle. What she wouldn’t give to be a fly on the wall watching him as he shopped. There had to be some women in Marietta’s grocery store who would be more than willing to step up and help him. A thought that didn’t make Noelle jealous.

  He loved her.

  Unsure of what to do with him admitting as much the night before, it gave her peace of mind that Wes might accept help from a female if he got lost in the baking aisle, but he wouldn’t dare look anywhere but at Noelle.

  Based on how he’d pampered her after he got her home last night, she shouldn’t doubt for one moment the man loved her. Holly had been home when Wes carried Noelle through the front door, even though she’d protested that she could walk just fine on her own. She hadn’t protested too hard though, since being in his arms was the one place she longed to stay forever.

  After helping Holly heat up some dinner for her, he’d run a bubble bath and then waited and chatted with Holly while Noelle had soaked. He then made sure she had plenty of water, took her pain meds and literally tucked her into bed before heading home.

  The man was a gentleman beyond all gentlemen.

  And yet she still couldn’t bring herself to tell him she loved him too. Holly said she was nuts when Noelle admitted as much to her that morning over breakfast, but so much had happened within the past few days—within the past few weeks! She wanted to make sense of some of it before riding off into the sunset with Wes.

  As they pulled into the drive of the St. Claire mansion, what she and Holly had deemed and now called the family home because it was accurate, Noelle took a deep breath. So much of her wanted to run into Wes’s arms and live happily ever after, but something held her back. Doubts over his involvement in the Spellman deal? Maybe. But other than not telling her right away, he really hadn’t been dishonest, and all other evidence of his character pointed to him being a truly great guy.

  Wilson opened the car door for her and she made her w
ay up the front walk. Glenna must have been watching for her since the front door opened and the woman enveloped her in a huge hug.

  “Hello, Noelle. So glad to see you here again.”

  Based on her tone, the woman must have doubted Noelle would be back. Not an inaccurate assumption, but the warmth of the home and the people inside made Noelle glad she’d decided to help Wes one last time.

  “Thank you, Glenna. It’s nice to be here.”

  The two women made their way into the kitchen, Glenna taking Noelle’s coat and hanging it in the hall closet as they went.

  “Wesley should be back soon. He texted me asking if it mattered if he used whole cloves or ground cloves in the recipe. I had to laugh at that one. But God bless you, child. You’ve gotten that man to actually go into a grocery store and buy things for himself. I entertained the thought of following him and spying, just to see the whole thing for myself. Talk about a creature being out of its natural habitat.” Her ample bosom shook as she laughed.

  Noelle admitted she’d had the same thought on the drive over.

  “Don’t get me wrong though.” Glenna pointed a finger at her. “This family may have more money than God and people who handle things for them, like me, but they’re the hardest-working bunch I’ve ever known. And the kindest. And I’ve known some in my time, believe me.” She shook her head and disappeared into the pantry. A fresh bag of coffee grounds in her hand when she returned, she opened it and started a fresh pot. The aroma filled the room. Noelle soaked it in, enjoying the moment.

  It had to have been hard when Wes’s mother died. Noelle could see the rock that Glenna was to the family. Definitely with a family with so many men. Wes said he had a sister, but so far, the St. Claires were a testosterone-filled lot. No wonder Annalise enjoyed her dance classes so much. Girly time around the mansion had to be rare.

  “Are you sharing things with Noelle I should be concerned about, Glenna?” Wes teased as he entered the kitchen, both hands gripping the handles of grocery bags, carrying them as if they weighed nothing.

  From her perch on the kitchen barstool, Noelle’s pulse skipped a beat and her body warmed, and not from the coffee Glenna had given her that she sipped. In a tan buttoned-down shirt with a navy blue sweater overtop and jeans, the picture of Wes “dressed down” bringing groceries in the house made visions of cozy nights at home, cooking a meal together, then watching old movies dance in her head. Visions that just yesterday she would have convinced herself to tamp down. Now, hope stirred within. Could they have a future together? He’d said he loved her and that she was here in Marietta. Did that mean he was ready to stay?

  He set the bags down on the counter and gave her a tender kiss on the cheek. “You look beautiful.”

  Noelle looked down at her long sweater and yoga pants, convinced the man was somewhat blind, or at least biased, but grinned like a schoolgirl at the compliment. “Thank you.”

  Glenna helped him unload the groceries while Noelle began to lay out what they needed for the recipe. When all was set up, she hugged Noelle once more. “Have fun.”

  “We will!” Wes smiled as the woman who ran their home left with a wave of her hand and a grin on her face.

  “She’s something special, isn’t she?”

  Wes’s eyes softened as he looked at the doorway where Glenna had exited. “You have no idea. She was an enormous help when Mom was sick. Since Mom’s death, she’s been an angel straight from heaven.”

  “I think that’s the first time you’ve talked about your mom.”

  “It’s not an easy subject for me.” They stood facing one another, each with a hip leaning against the center island. “And it’s why I never wanted to be in Marietta.”

  Pieces began to fall into place. Montana was too painful for him. Man, she’d been so selfish. So clueless. All this time she thought his work was most important and why he’d never consider anywhere but New York. But there was more to it. Much more. Would the painful memories of his mother keep him from staying?

  He took her face in his hands and kissed her forehead. “Noelle. I was against being here. But not anymore. If you’re here, that’s where I’ll be. If you go to Timbuktu, then I’ll go there. Doesn’t matter.”

  She put her hands over his. “But...”

  “No buts. I’m not afraid anymore to face how I feel. I miss my mom and I love you. Those things will never change. I can live here and make new memories. Crazily enough, Mike taught me that.”

  Oh, how she had misjudged him. How silly she’d been to think he kept things from her to be deceitful. The man didn’t have a deceitful bone in his body. She took his hands from her face and intertwined their fingers. Her not telling him about Spellman’s plans was no different than him not saying anything to her. So what if he couldn’t do anything about it? Keeping it from him only showed mistrust. And she trusted Wes. Trusted him with everything.

  “I need to tell you about something.”

  Wes’s gut clenched at Noelle’s words. Based on the look in her eyes, what she had to tell him wasn’t something good.

  “Okay. Let’s sit down.”

  He settled them in two barstools and got her a fresh cup of coffee.

  “What is it?”

  “I should have told you last night when you came by the studio. Me keeping it from you really is no different than you waiting to tell me what you knew of the real estate deal.”

  Afraid of saying something to make her stop, or to get her upset with him again, he remained quiet. His hand sat atop hers on the counter. A rub of his thumb along her wrist his only urging for her to continue.

  “Franchesca came by on Monday. She’d been heading into the drama school Sunday when she heard Spellman talking to someone in the alley near our studios. He was saying he’s changed his mind. He’s going to level the buildings he buys and start over, build what will work for the film.”

  It took every ounce of Wes’s willpower to not change his demeanor in any way, but to continue listening. Even though his insides were a mess of anger and confusion. Spellman...that greedy, deceitful little bastard. Unfortunately, he’d known a lot of people like him in his lifetime and work.

  “Did Franchesca hear anything else?”

  “No. That was about it. But it’s enough. She and I are getting together in the next couple days to talk about what to do.”

  Wes rubbed his chin, his elbow on the island countertop. His other hand still covered Noelle’s. Man, he hated when he misread someone. Although, if he thought through the past few weeks, any time he had met with Spellman, he’d walked away feeling off. He’d said as much to his dad a few nights before.

  “Anyway, I know you didn’t know any of that. I believe you’d have told me something that important.”

  It warmed every bone in his body to hear her say that. But the tears he saw in her eyes that threatened to fall made him want to punch a wall. Or even better, Spellman right in the face. Either worked. Or even better again, what he needed to do was get to his office and form a plan. He had a feeling in this case he could be a lover and a fighter, business being the ring he fought best in.

  “It’s true. I had no idea about this.” He took her face in his hands again and kissed her. Not tenderly this time, but claiming her lips with his own, hoping every ounce of love he had for her would show in his kiss.

  When he pulled back, her eyes now twinkled, any sign of tears now gone. “I believe you.”

  “Those words are music to my ears.”

  She blinked as if breaking a spell. “Wes, I didn’t tell you for you to... I don’t know. I just didn’t want to have you go back to New York without me being open about everything and...”

  “So how are things going today in the baking cave?” Daniel St. Claire’s deep voice boomed through the kitchen as he entered. It took every ounce of self-control for Wes to not roll his eyes at his father.

  Noelle stood from the barstool, grabbed her mug, and all but ran for the sink like a lovestruck teenager who�
��d been caught making out with her boyfriend at his parents’ house. Which wasn’t all that far from accurate, but he hoped the lovestruck part was true anyway.

  “Hello, Mr. St. Claire. We were just getting things going.” Noelle scrubbed the inside of her coffee mug then placed it in the dishwasher.

  They were just getting things going, Wes thought. Before his father so rudely interrupted.

  “Please, call me Daniel.”

  Noelle nodded but didn’t say anything. She put an apron on that Glenna had left on the counter and handed Wes one for him. Right. Baking. Damn it. As much as he wanted to spend that time with Noelle, he was itching to talk to his dad and get in his office where he could figure out what the hell was going on with Spellman. Noelle was taking the news like a champ, already scheduling a planning session with Franchesca, but if Wes had anything to say about it, her plans would include a happily ever after right where she was.

  He could still see doubt in her eyes. Saying he loved her had helped weaken the wall she’d put up, but she still thought he’d return to New York. He said he’d live there. Wanted to be with her. But words weren’t enough. Now was the time for that grand gesture his dad had been talking about earlier.

  “I’ll leave you two to it.”

  “Thanks, Dad.”

  His dad left the room, his footsteps echoing in the large hallway.

  “I’ll be right back,” Wes said to Noelle before following his dad.

  “Hey, Dad.” Wes caught up to his father who turned to face him.

  “Sorry about that, son. I should’ve known you could be doing...” he cleared his throat “...more than baking. I apologize.”

  Wes blinked and shook his head. Now it was his turn to feel eighteen again. “Dad. No. It’s fine. I wanted to ask if we could talk this afternoon, after Noelle goes home. There’s a new development in the Spellman deal you should know about.”