Noel

by Madison Stevens

  They quietly climbed the stairs. It was amazing to her how the downstairs rooms could contain all the noise and prevent it from bleeding into the hall.

  When they reached the top of the stairs, Alyssa turned left and led her down the hall.

  “I think I’ll take a shower before bed,” Haley said.

  They stopped just outside a door.

  “I had them put your things in here,” Alyssa said quietly and gestured to the door to the left of her room. She opened her mouth to say something else but closed it.

  Haley took her hand and squeezed her fingers.

  “I really am very happy for you,” she said.

  Voices from others in the hall at bottom of the stairs reached them. It was likely people saying their goodbyes to Finn.

  “I didn’t really mean to spring it on you like that. It’s just that we found out today, and I didn’t really know how to tell you, and I just couldn’t keep it in any longer,” Alyssa said.

  Haley frowned.

  “You can always tell me anything,” Hayley said.

  Alyssa sighed. “You just seem so sad lately. I didn’t want to add to that.”

  She couldn’t have been more surprised if Alyssa had slapped her across the face. All this time, she thought she’d hid it well enough. It wasn’t like she was sad all the time, but it was hard not having anyone and not even having the prospect of anyone.

  Noel was the closest thing she had, and that really couldn’t count as anything when the man couldn’t stand to be in the same room as her.

  “Hey,” Haley said, placing her hands on either side of Alyssa’s small face. “I always want to know anything you want to tell me. You don’t make me sad. Being lonely makes me sad.”

  “You’ll find someone,” Alyssa said.

  Haley nodded. She didn’t really know what else to say. She hoped that was true, but at the rate things were going, it didn’t seem likely.

  “Thanks,” she said and offered her friend a small smile.

  Alyssa yawned. “I think I’ll go to bed too,” she said. “I can’t seem to stay awake these days. Enjoy your shower.”

  Haley turned as Finn came up the steps and waited there for her. He smiled warmly at Alyssa. Her friend almost floated down the hall to him. The couple gave a small wave as they made their way to the master suite on the other end of the hall.

  Seeing them be so happy might be hard sometimes, but it did give Haley hope. It wasn’t like Alyssa had the best luck with men before Finn. If anything, you could say the opposite. So maybe Haley would find that same happiness.

  She stepped into the large bathroom and flicked on the light. She loved the rooms at Finn’s mansion. They were all topnotch and never failed to impress, even the bathrooms.

  She stripped out of the yoga pants and tank. She grunted as the tight shirt hit the floor. The damn thing hadn’t done its job. All she wanted was for Noel to look twice at her. Sometimes a girl had to put her best foot forward. Or boob in this case.

  Haley unclasped the only bra she had that somehow made her breasts look even bigger than they already were. The lingerie clerk hadn’t been lying about the lift at least. Too bad the man she’d wore it for hadn’t had the chance to see.

  Her hand slipped down to her slightly rounded middle, that little bit of weight that just never seemed to come off no matter how many calories she counted or miles she hiked. Haley pinched the skin there and frowned. Just one more thing to add to the list of things men aren’t attracted to. Number one being kindergarten teachers.

  She sighed loudly. There wasn’t a lot she could do about either of those things. Being a teacher was what she had wanted to do since she was little, and there wasn’t a chance in hell she was going to give that up just to get a man.

  She opened the glass door and stepped into the shower to escape the depressing thoughts. She turned on the water. Almost instantly, the room filled with steam. The shower had three heads, and the resulting flow felt like the fingers of some sort of Greek god massaging her. The experience was like something out of a dream.

  Amazing. She groaned at the feel. Lord, if she had one of these at home, she was pretty sure she wouldn’t care about not having a boyfriend. Haley snickered. She supposed it would be the equivalent to Anna’s B.O.B. Maybe getting a shower like this wasn’t such a bad idea.

  Hayley shook her head. Even if she really wanted one, it wasn’t like the money for it was going to come out of the sky magically. Besides, she couldn’t even imagine trying to explain that to her mother.

  She lathered up and scrubbed away any thoughts that might lead to her mother. That was the last thing she wanted to think about. That and naked, sexy Irishmen standing under the spray with her.

  Haley bit her lip and shook her head.

  Kittens. Kittens were a safe zone. She’d think of kittens and get finished with her damn shower before she went down the path that only left her aching for the real thing.

  Chapter Five

  Cold air rushed over Noel, shocking him awake. The bed dipped, and he sprang into action. With one swift move, he grabbed his gun from the bedside table and rolled across the bed. Before the intruder even knew it, they were falling to the floor.

  He landed hard on the bastard and relished the sound of their bodies as they slammed into the floor. That bastard Anton must have been high if he thought he could ambush Noel here of all places.

  Noel froze as the person under him let out a very feminine groan. He frowned at the soft skin under him. This was not at all what he expected. Anton had sent a woman after him? Fucking coward.

  The room was mostly dark. Small slivers of light filtered through the window. For most people that might be a problem, but he’d always had pretty decent night vision.

  Slowly, the person under him started to take a shape. A very womanly shape.

  “Noel?”

  He knew that voice. He could pick it out of a room full of people.

  “Haley,” he said. Things were only barely making sense. He was pretty certain Haley wouldn’t try and kill him.

  She took a breath, and he could feel the swell of her breasts as they pressed against him.

  Noel stilled.

  “Why the fuck aren’t you wearing any clothes?” he ground out.

  The sweet floral scent of her shampoo filled his head and made it hard to think.

  “I’m going to bed,” she said softly.

  He bit back the groan that threatened to come out. Maybe he was still asleep, and this wasn’t happening.

  “And you sleep naked?”

  It wasn’t something he needed to know, but the words were out of his mouth before he could think. Her nipples pebbled against the scar on his chest where the skin was still sensitive. He could feel his body respond to the touch.

  “I don’t always sleep naked,” Haley said and shifted under his weight.

  He knew she felt him through the thin barrier of his underwear.

  No. This wasn’t a dream.

  Her breathing increased. The hot puffs of air landed on his neck, her lips so close that he could feel the heat from them as they seared his skin.

  Haley shifted her body again. This time, he wasn’t able to suppress the groan that escaped when she slid her luscious thigh against his now throbbing cock.

  “Noel,” she whispered.

  One second he was in her arms, pressing her into the floor like he might take her at any moment. The next second he was standing, leaving her cold and wanting.

  Haley sighed. What had she really been expecting? She couldn’t really say, but she hoped he might kiss her.

  She stood and glanced around the room, but there was no sign of her bag in the darkness.

  The door flew open, and the room became blindingly bright as the overhead light came on.

  “What the fuck is going on?” someone shouted from the door.

  In an instant, Noel was pressed up against her again. One arm wrapped firmly around her waist at her back, and the other skim
med lower over the crease of her ass to the apex of her thighs. Something thick and long pressed hard against her soft stomach and made her worry about how much of her he was feeling at that moment.

  His back was to the door as he shielded her from view. She stared at the chest in front of her. A large puckered scar stretched over the spot.

  “Get the fuck out,” Noel shouted.

  Haley peeked around and found Riley standing in the door, looking about as surprised as she felt.

  “Whatever,” he said, shaking his head. “How was I supposed to know you were up here together? Look, I know you like to play rough, but next time, maybe let someone know.”

  “Fuck off,” Noel said. His arms wrapped tighter around her.

  Every part of her tingled at the idea of playing rough with his harsh, calloused hands skimming over her body.

  Heat pooled between her legs as she pressed harder against him.

  When the door shut, he quickly turned around.

  “Put on something,” he said.

  Still somewhat confused, Haley grabbed the sheet off the bed, and when she had turned around, Noel was nearly finished dressing. Part of her was slightly disappointed that she hadn’t really gotten to see him naked.

  Sure, she’d felt him, but she’d been trying to picture him for so long now. It felt like a prime opportunity had slipped through her fingers.

  Her eyes widened as she noticed the butt of the gun poking out of the top of his pants.

  “Mind telling me what the hell you thought you were doing?” he said, his voice full of menace.

  He stepped closer. She glanced from his face back to the gun.

  “You had a gun?” she asked quietly.

  He shrugged. “I always have a gun. I thought you knew that by now.”

  She brought her eyes back to his, cursing the alcohol she’d had earlier that was making things slightly out of focus and a bit surreal.

  Her mind flashed back to another time he’d had a gun. She’s been so scared when he’d turned around and pointed it at her. It was strange how that was only a year ago. And yet here she was again.

  “Why do you keep pointing guns at me?”

  Noel frowned and pulled his shirt over the gun.

  “Why did you come into my room?” he countered.

  This time it was her turn to frown.

  “I didn’t,” she said, scanning the room. “This is my room.”

  She spotted her bag in the corner and pointed to it.

  “Those are my things,” she said.

  Noel stared at the bag as if she’d suddenly made it appear. He grimaced and shook his head, as if trying to clear it.

  “I’ve got to go,” he said abruptly.

  She watched as he grabbed his boots placed neatly by the door and walked out.

  Haley stared at the door for a moment, not quite sure what had happened. She sighed loudly. Her head was already starting to throb.

  Not really able to think of anything else, she turned on the light by the bed and switched off the overhead. The bed was calling to her.

  When the lights were all off, and she’d settled into the bed, Haley turned her face in the pillow. The smell of him clung to it and she sighed at the scent. How was she going to put him out of her mind now?

  Chapter Six

  Sun poured into the room, and Haley knew she’d have to open her eyes at some point. It wasn’t as if she could stay in bed all day. There were errands to run, and she still had to figure out where the hell the leak in the roof was coming from at her own place. Still, relaxing in bed felt great, especially a bed as nice as the one in the guest room.

  She rolled over and pressed her face against the pillow. Noel’s scent lingered there. Just hints of him, but it was enough to get her imagination going. The last night had been the closest she’d come to sex in a very long time.

  She wouldn’t have minded if he stayed. A stab of disappointment hit her. From the way he’d reacted, his presence in her room was a simple mistake. Of course he wouldn’t seek out. Still, he could have followed up on the mistake.

  Her mind focused on the night’s adventure. No matter how many times she ran it in her mind, she still came up with the same thing. Noel was even more impressive than she could have ever imagined.

  A smile lit up her face. He might not be interested in her, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t still have her fantasies about him. If she couldn’t actually have him, a nice daydream was a decent consolation prize.

  She sighed and sat up. She needed to get real. As much as she wanted to, she couldn’t spend her day thinking about Noel and his well-sculpted body.

  Haley pulled herself from bed and stretched. She blushed a little at her lack of clothes. It wasn’t often that she even went to bed without them, but after last night, she might start making a habit of it. She could never know when another fortunate accident might occur. Maybe next time Noel wouldn’t run away.

  She grinned as she pulled the clothes for the day out of her bag. Nothing much. Simple black V neck t-shirt and khaki shorts. It really wasn’t her favorite look. Her thighs never looked like she wanted, and the outfit only seemed to emphasize her short, stumpy legs.

  After getting dressed, she brushed out her long deep red locks and pulled them back into a pony tail. There was no time to fix her hair, and without her iron, it would just look crinkled.

  Haley stared in the mirror and sighed. Maybe it had been good last night that the lights had stayed off. The less time Noel had to look too closely at her body, the better. If she could find the flaws, someone like him could.

  She shook her head, knocking out the negative thoughts. There was no point thinking about any of that. It wasn’t like it would lead to anything. If she wanted to have any chance at all, she had to push away the self-doubt.

  Haley packed her things back in the bag and made her way downstairs. A few long moments later, she found Finn standing at the kitchen counter, looking more than a little confused.

  “Alyssa up yet?” she asked.

  Startled, he looked up from an empty black tray.

  “Yes,” he said slowly and went back to surveying the tray, his brow furrowing.

  “Um,” Haley said, hesitant. It was never really explained how much she should ask Finn, so she’d always just kept things easy breezy. Keeping it light and polite worked with everyone. She always figured if there was something she should know, someone would tell her. “Do you need some help?”

  Relief washed over his face as he looked back to her.

  “She’s had morning sickness off and on,” he said and nodded to the tray. “Some days are worse than others, but I can’t seem to figure out what might be best. The nurse at the office said crackers, but I’m pretty sure if I show up with crackers again, she’ll find a good spot to put them.”

  Haley snorted. Her friend had certainly come into her own recently and had no problem making herself known, especially to her slightly overbearing partner. Considering who he was, that was impressive to say the least.

  “Well,” she said, opening up the cabinets. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

  Haley rummaged around. Alyssa would need something that wouldn’t set off any her gag reflex. Something mild that she could add to if she wanted. The first few seconds of searching weren’t promising, but soon Haley spotted an oatmeal container deep in the back of the cabinet.

  “Perfect,” she said and placed it on the counter.

  Haley pulled a pot off the hanging shelf and measured out the water. She placed it on the stove to boil. As she worked, Finn took a seat at the island behind her. It was strange spending time with him without her friend around. She didn’t dislike him, but she didn’t fully know how she fit into his world.

  “I heard you had an exciting night,” he said. She didn’t even have to turn around to hear the smile in his voice. “I never know what to expect from you.”

  She’d expected to get the speech at some point. So she might as well get it over wi
th and clear the air.

  “Well, he didn’t stick around for long, so I don’t think you should go expecting too much.”

  Finn offered her a funny half smile, as if there was some inside joke she was missing. It irked her a bit, but she wasn’t about to smart off to him.

  “I wouldn’t be too sure of that,” he said when she’d turned to add the oatmeal to the now boiling water.

  She stayed quiet as she stirred the pot. Generally, people said she was predictable, but somehow Finn didn’t see it that way. She didn’t know if that made her feel good or worry her.

  With the oatmeal fully mixed, she shut off the stove and covered it with a lid as she brought out three bowls. Then she returned to the cabinet to find walnuts, raisins, brown sugar and cinnamon. She put a little of each into small containers and placed them on the tray.

  She came back to the pot and dished out the oatmeal.

  Finn pulled the milk from the fridge. She poured some into a glass and placed it on the tray.

  “There,” she said, smiling at Finn. “I think that should be good. Delicious, nutritious and not hard on the pregnant stomach.”

  He smiled and nodded as he picked up the tray. She watched as he walked to the door and stopped.

  “I’m going to give you a bit of advice,” he said. She waited for him to tell her to just give up. It was the logical thing after all, and he probably didn’t want her distracting one of his men. “Follow your heart. Lots of people are going to tell you the opposite, but screw them.”

  She stepped back, stunned by his words.

  “What?” she said, thinking she might have misheard him.

  “There are always going to be people who will take the safe road in life.” He grinned. “But you’re hanging out with me, so we both know you’ve strayed from the safe path. Going after someone you like is about the least risky thing you can do. So why not do it?”

  She smiled. He was right. Just like Alyssa, he had also changed.

  “Show him the light he’s missing in his life,” Finn said. “The light that was taken from him.” The smile had faded from his face. Concern had taken its place. “He’s being consumed right now. Noel needs to know that life is more than he allows for himself. More than vengeance.”