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Mrs. Claus

Page 24

by Amanda Lanclos


  I nod at her. “Life is what you make of it. You’re right. And I’ve made a great career for myself. That career is going to help you get what you want from this concert. Together, we’ll have this event become the most talked about event of the season.” I lift my glass and close my fingers around the condensation. “Here’s to a successful concert and fundraiser.”

  Noelle takes a sip of her own water before setting her glass down. She nods. “Thank you, Mason. I appreciate that.” She sounds sad though.

  We talk about the shelter and what her hopes for the concert are as we eat. She tells me that in one day, she’s gotten a date for the event, a massive tree that will be donated and decorated on the levee, twelve corporate sponsors with several more getting back to her by tomorrow, many food vendors, and several tents worth of craft vendors.

  Her voice lifts with her excitement as she describes the layout and lineup she’s envisioned. “We’ve already contacted a lot of the local high schools and churches to let them know we’re accepting acts for the concert. Becky is friends with several local bands that have followings and two of them have already committed to playing at the event as well. We have representatives from several of the local radio stations coming out and, of course, you’re going to be covering everything for the station. We’re sort of on retainer with them so they, well, you, get all of the inside scoop, but the other stations have agreed to add the event to their online calendars and mention it on air as it gets closer. The paper and a lot of the smaller local papers will be running features on it.

  “And tomorrow, I’m going to find a Santa and some reindeer so we can have a photo booth, too.”

  She’s breathless as she finishes. It sounds like exactly the sort of things people who are into Christmas will love.

  I nod. “It sounds like a success and if it takes off like I think it will and like I’m going to push for, it can be an annual thing for you.”

  Her face is flushed and her eyes are bright in her excitement. “I think so, too. It’s exactly what we need to raise the money fast. Donations are already coming in and most people are donating everything we’ve said that we’d need so I’m not actually spending anything so far. I know that it will cost us something, but we should easily raise far more than we spend.” She laughs. “Christmas is in six weeks and this concert is in four and a half. That’s not a lot of time to get everything that needs to be done, done. But it’s doable. It’s just going to be long days and nights.”

  The server comes to clear our plates and hears the last part of the conversation. He asks, “The Joyful Noise Christmas Concert?”

  Noelle nods. “Yes. I run the Blessings House.”

  He nods enthusiastically. “My church sent out an email earlier asking who would be interested in performing for it. I signed up. My little brother came home from school today, too, with a permission slip for him to perform with the school choir. I think it’s really cool and since there’s nothing like that around here, it should be awesome.”

  She nods and talks to him for a bit longer while I just sit back and listen.

  Finally, she looks at her phone. “Oh, it’s almost nine.”

  Is it? We’ve been here for two hours already?

  I look at my FitBit and ask for the check. The server nods and takes off to retrieve it. Reaching for my company card, I flip it while I wait for him to return.

  Noelle reaches for her purse and I shake my head. “No, you’re not paying.”

  She blushes and mumbles. “I don’t mind. It’s not like this was a date, Mason. I don’t expect you to pay for me.”

  It’s not like this was a date?

  Ouch.

  So, she’s not interested in me at all?

  Shit!

  I’m not interested in dating her.

  I mutter, “No, I asked you to dinner and I’m paying. Besides, it’s a business dinner. The station is covering it. I’m not paying. You aren’t costing me anything.”

  Her mouth falls open and her eyes widen. “Ohhhhhhh.”

  Son. Of. A. Bitch.

  That sounded really bad, Mason.

  Why are you being such a damn dick?!

  She quickly stands. “Thank you for dinner. But now, I’m going to go outside to get some air.” The chair jerks back against the floor and I can’t do anything but stare as she hurriedly walks out of the restaurant.

  The server comes back and looks from me to the door and back to me. His eyes are hard. He heard that conversation. As he harshly takes the card and bill from my hand. I mutter, “I didn’t mean for that to come out like that…”

  He walks away before I finish the sentence.

  Who cares what he thinks!

  I don’t even know him.

  You’re an ass, Mason.

  The billfold is slammed onto the table and I look up with ire. The server leans down and says, “That was extremely rude and you’re an idiot. I don’t care if you leave me a tip or not. Here’s a tip for you, Mr. Christmas. When a beautiful lady is at dinner with you, don’t insult her and make her feel like she’s not important! I’m only twenty and I know that! I hope she leaves you here. And I’m not watching your station anymore either.”

  Before I can say anything, he stomps away.

  Well, shit!

  Signing the bill, I slip my card back into my wallet and reach into the money there to pull out a fifty and one of my business cards. Using his pen, I jot a quick note on the back and slip it and the money under the credit card receipt. The business card is poking out.

  “You’re right kid. Good tip. Always keep it real. It’s a great quality.

  And thanks for the advice. Off to fix it now.”

  As I stand up and head for the door, he scowls at me from the server’s station.

  With a chuckle, I wave and nod. His face shows his confusion and then I see him smile as I search the square for Noelle before the door closes behind me.

  Chapter Seven

  Noelle

  I’m watching the lights in the water of the fountain again as I try to calm my racing heartbeat. Only, it’s from hurt this time. From the corner of my eye, I see Mason walk up. He stops just beside me though he says nothing.

  Well, I’m not going to say anything either. I should have left and walked back to the shelter, only Nick would have lost his shit if I walked around Downtown in the dark by myself.

  Finally, Mason clears his throat. “I apologize for what I said. The way it came out is not how it was intended.”

  Still watching the water, I nod. “Sure. No problem. Not a date and you only asked me to dinner, which was paid for by the station, for the story. Understood.”

  Damn it, Noelle. Now that makes it sound like you wanted it to be a date.

  Didn’t you though?

  Mason groans and then his hand is on my arm. I gasp at the contact. Electricity radiates under his touch. His fingers close around my wrist and he turns me to face him. “No, that’s not it either. Dammit. Ok, look. I could have gotten all of this at the shelter, either earlier today or tomorrow, but instead, I asked you to dinner. I asked for you to come to dinner with me. Yes, the station paid for it, but they didn’t have to and I would have paid for it on my own. I didn’t have to ask you to dinner.”

  He didn’t have to ask me to dinner?!

  My eyes widen and I shake my head but he talks again before I can butt in. “Shit! I’m saying it wrong again. I literally have no idea why I turn into a rambling idiot around you, Noelle. Nothing I want to say comes out right.”

  I swallow. “Huh?”

  Oh great. He thinks he sounds like an idiot. I can’t even form a real word. Not one!

  He chuckles. “Ok, let me try again. I asked you to dinner. I didn’t even mean to but I did and once I did, I wanted to have dinner with you. Then we had a nice conversation, even though you are like Christmas on crack and I’m the Grinch. You didn’t push me for my reasons and I really appreciate that. I actually enjoyed being around you. I enjoyed watching t
he passion you have for this concert and everything else. It was a nice dinner and I had a good time. I can’t remember the last time I’ve had a nice dinner with a woman, especially one I have nothing in common with.”

  We have nothing in common?

  His voice gets husky. “You changed your clothes, too.”

  I blink and stare at him. “I changed my clothes? What?”

  He nods and looks down at me. The reflections from the water are dancing across his face and my breath catches at just how good looking he is. He chuckles and his eyes flit across my face before trailing down my body. I shiver and his hand tightens on my arm, pulling me closer to him. “You changed your clothes from earlier. You had a t-shirt and sneakers on and now you’re showing skin and wearing these sexy boots.”

  I feel like I’m about to pass out and I don’t even know why. I nod. “I have skin… Becky told me to. And the boots, too.”

  You. Are. An. Idiot. Noelle.

  His brow arches, “Becky told you to change clothes for dinner with me?”

  I nod again because that seems like the only thing I can remember how to do. “Uh huh.”

  Mason smiles at me and my toes curl in my boots. “Why would she do that? And why would you do it?”

  I know that I know how to talk but right now, I don’t remember how. I have no idea how to get the thoughts from my brain to actually leave my lips. Mason’s brown eyes are staring so intently into mine that I feel like looking away from him would kill me. I’ve never felt like this before. I swallow and concentrate on what he just asked me. “I don’t know. But I did. I wanted to change my clothes. I wanted to look nice.” I’m so breathless I could rival a phone sex operator.

  “You looked nice in your t-shirt and sneakers.”

  Is this actually happening right now? And how did we get here from me walking out of the restaurant to get air?

  Did I pass out on the side of the building and this is some figment of my imagination?

  Yeah, because if it was, you could formulate the words “figment of my imagination,” Noelle.”

  Was I mugged and knocked out?

  I blink and the warmth of Mason’s body lined up so close to mine penetrates through the fog in my head. My skin is pulsing beneath his palm and I feel every individual finger’s imprint on my wrist as if he’s branding me.

  Nope, I’m definitely awake.

  “Mason, what are you doing? Because full disclosure… I’m extremely attracted to you and I’m very uncertain of what exactly is happening right now.”

  Why do I sound like that?

  His hands are on me and I’m sending pheromones out into the universe that should have every stray dog in the city humping my leg in about ten seconds. Yeah, I know what’s happening.

  Warm breath flits over my lips like butterfly wings. I shiver and take a step toward the warmth beckoning me.

  Mason groans. “Full disclosure… same.” His lips close over mine and my hands grasp at the material of his shirt to stay upright.

  Mason

  What are you doing, Mason?

  This is a bad idea… No, this is a great idea.

  This is unavoidable.

  Noelle’s lips are soft beneath mine. My own nibble against hers while her hands tighten in my shirt, holding me against her. My hand leaves her wrist and travels to her waist so I can pull her more firmly into my body. She fits against me perfectly.

  She moans and her lips part, allowing my tongue to sweep inside. Her own brushes against mine before she runs it over my teeth and then lightly sucks my tongue into her mouth. I feel the pull in my groin.

  She’s eliciting little mewls of pleasure as she angles her head, allowing me to deepen the kiss. My hand tightens on her hip while the other hand slides up her back to cup her nape and hold her in place.

  I’m so turned on. I want to push her against the nearest hard surface and finish this erotic dance we’ve just started. Fire is racing through my veins though it’s all making a beeline for my rigid dick.

  A sound breaks through the curtain of arousal and my ears tune into what it is that interrupted us. “Hey, ain’t that Mason Christmas? That chick is fine as hell.”

  “Damn, man. Get it. That’s freaking hot.”

  “Shit, can I get one of those in my stocking this year? Can she be wearing nothing but some stockings? I’ve been a good boy.”

  The teenagers’ comments and snickering act like a bucket of ice water. Noelle hasn’t heard them yet, but I lean back and whisper in her ear to get her attention. “We need to get back to the shelter, Noelle.”

  She blinks up at me and I can tell that she’s still lost in the moment.

  One of the crass teens calls out, “Damn, man. Share the wealth. She’s so into it, you could fuck her right here. We can watch!”

  That gets her attention and I feel her freeze in my arms. She mutters, “Oh my, God…” and tries to pull away, but I hold onto her hand and push her behind me while I whirl on the boys.

  “I think not. Show some respect for the lady. Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?”

  The tallest of the boys takes a step toward me as his youthful face hardens. “What did you say, pretty boy? I’ll fuck you up. Bet no one will watch your punk ass on TV if I mess your damn face up.”

  My adrenaline is racing as I try to keep Noelle behind me. Just then, the door to the restaurant opens and the server steps out with a police officer in tow. “Everything ok out here?”

  The young punks nod at me and call out to the officer. “Yeah, officer. It’s all good. We were just having a lil conversation with Mr. Christmas here about what we want for Christmas. He’s tight with Santa and all, you know.”

  I can feel Noelle shaking behind me. Her face is pressed into my back and I feel like such an ass for putting her into this predicament.

  The cop tells the boys to get on home. They laugh and shuffle off while calling derogatory things behind them.

  Noelle straightens at my back and she exhales sharply as they fade from view. Her warm breath caresses the back of my neck as she mutters, “I knew better than this. I’m sorry, Mason.”

  She knew better than what? To kiss me or to kiss me out here in the open of Downtown Baton Rouge at night?

  The cop and the server make certain we’re ok before they tell us goodnight and walk back inside. As the door closes behind them, I turn to face Noelle. She’s chewing on her bottom lip, betraying how much that scene affected her. My hands close over her shoulders and I feel her slight shiver, though I’m uncertain if it’s from my touch or what just happened with the teenage punks. “Noelle, are you ok? You don’t have to apologize to me. Hell, I should be apologizing to you. I acted like an ass inside, making you come out here and then when I came out to find you, I kissed you. I’m sorry.”

  Her brow wrinkles and she frowns. “You’re sorry you kissed me?”

  Dammit! Why am I constantly saying the wrong thing with her?

  “No. I’m not sorry I kissed you.” My hands rake through my hair because I’m so frustrated and I don’t know what to do or why everything keeps coming out wrong. “I wanted to kiss you. I wanted to kiss you the second I walked into the shelter today and I never react to anyone like that. I didn’t even know who you were. I thought you were a woman staying at the shelter and I still wanted to kiss you.”

  Her eyes widen and she shakes her head. “Wait, so had I been someone at the shelter and not the director, you wanting to kiss me would have been a bad thing? Like you’re better than they are?”

  What the hell?

  I didn’t say that! That’s not what I meant.

  I snap. “I didn’t say that. I don’t think that. Look, I’m out of my element here. I don’t know why I react so strongly to you. But as frustrating as you’re making me right now by twisting my words and picking a fight with me, I still want you. So, either I’ve lost my damn mind or something is happening here.”

  Her lips tighten and she glares at me. “Well, I’m so sorry
for frustrating you. How selfish of me.” She turns on her heel and stomps back in the direction of the shelter.

  Growling in annoyance, I lean back and flip off the garland and lights wrapping the pole shining the light down on me, like a freaking spotlight. “Gah, screw Christmas!”

  As Noelle turns the corner sharply, I sprint after her. I can’t let her walk back to the shelter alone. Especially after the scene with the punks a little bit ago. I yell as my soles slap the pavement, “Dammit, Noelle. Wait for me! Don’t take off in a huff!”

  Chapter Eight

  Noelle

  Last night dinner with Mason was nice. I really enjoyed myself and he seemed interested in listening as I talked. He asked pertinent questions and the conversation flowed very smoothly. It felt like I’d known him forever and then he said that crap about the station paying for the meal and I let my feelings be hurt. That, of course, led to me walking out and him following after me and then there was the kiss.

  That kiss…

  Ugh! Why am I still thinking about that stupid kiss?

  It was nothing. He’s an exasperating ass man. A completely swoon-worthy, sexy ass, exasperating man!

  Stop it, Noelle!

  We walked back to the shelter and I immediately went to the back to check in with everyone before heading home for the night. I knew he wanted to talk to me, but I chose to ignore him. He left to get back to the station for the 10PM segment and I stayed glued to the television in my office to watch.

  It was a good intro. Just the teaser and the small pieces he did yesterday have helped spread the word and we have thirteen groups signed up to perform as well as the two local acts. One of the tree farms out of Hammond called this morning and offered to donate the tree for the concert. I have a call in to the city to make certain the tree the farm is wanting to donate will be acceptable.

  Sponsors are calling to donate and offer their support. We already have fifteen restaurants and food trucks signed on. Coca-Cola is donating signs to advertise and they are also providing beverage trucks.

  The Baton Rouge paper called first thing this morning and wants to do a front-page article about the concert and the shelter so I have an interview with them in half an hour. And Mason and Brad will be here in about an hour to start interviewing some of the people here and start on the first human interest piece. Though, it won’t air until Friday.

 

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