by Judith Keim
The smile that crossed Silas’s face looked so similar to Jake’s that her breath caught. The Bellingham men, all three of them, were handsome.
###
As Jake had predicted, Silas had no problem with getting into his pajamas a little early. He’d played in the pool until he was so tired he announced he wanted to go back to the room. And he loved the idea of ordering room service and being waited on.
Noelle noticed with interest that King, Silas’s new stuffed dog, stayed in his lap as he ate.
After his meal, Silas was content to sit on the couch watching television. Noelle used that time to shower and dress for the evening. As Jake had suggested, she wore the black dress that he’d seen on her earlier. It looked even better with her skin glowing from the sun. She rolled mascara on her eyelashes and added eyeshadow to her eyelids. Standing back, she assessed herself. “As good as it gets,” Noelle said, turning away from the image she knew was not perfect.
When she stepped into the living room, Silas looked up at her and smiled. “You look beautiful, Noelle.”
Feeling a surge of tenderness for him, Noelle went over to the couch and sat down beside him. “Thank you, Silas. That’s a nice thing to say to a woman.”
He nodded. “I know.”
She laughed, wondering how often he’d heard it said.
“Noelle? King wants you to give Silas a kiss.”
Blinking back the tears that stung her eyes, she said, “Come here, Silas.”
She pulled him into her lap and hugged him to her. She kissed his cheek and said softly, “What else does King want Noelle to know?”
“He wants me to tell you that I’m going to find the best, biggest Christmas star ever just for you.”
“That would be nice,” Noelle said. “But decorating the tree with you is a wonderful gift all by itself.”
Silas looked up at her. “Better than a Christmas star?”
“Yes. You and me surprising the family with a pretty tree.”
Silas snuggled closer to her.
Jake entered the room. “So, this is how you two spend time when I’m away working,” he said, beaming as he approached them.
Silas jumped off Noelle’s lap and ran over to him. “Noelle and I are going to make the prettiest Christmas tree ever!”
Jake picked up Silas and hugged him. “I’m sure it will be. The two of you are a fantastic team.”
Noelle got to her feet. “Give me a minute, and I’ll be ready to go.” In her room she sat on her bed, shaken. For a brief second, she’d had the image of the three of them together like this in the future. She told herself it was her imagination, that this time of year did funny things with her mind and her emotions.
“You ready?” Jake called through the door.
“Just a minute more.” She got to her feet, brushed off her dress, and took a deep breath. Moments like that were exactly why she’d decided not to celebrate the Christmas holidays. Shattered dreams, unfulfilled wishes, foolish thoughts plagued her during this time.
When she emerged, Silas rushed over to her. “You look beautiful again, Noelle.”
“Again?” said Jake, glancing at her with a questioning look.
She laughed. “He said that earlier and I told him it was a nice thing to say to a woman.”
Jake nodded. “I get it.” He patted Silas on the back. “Way to go, son.”
“I know,” said Silas with amusing confidence.
Jake and Noelle smiled at one another.
The doorbell to the suite rang, and Silas raced to answer it.
A gray-haired woman stood in the doorway.
Jake hurried over to her. “You must be Mrs. Murphy, one of the hotel’s babysitters. I’m glad to meet you. All the reports I’ve read about you are excellent.”
“Yes, sir.” She gave a tiny bob of her head. “I’m happy to be of service.”
“Are you going to read me a story?” Silas asked her.
Mrs. Murphy smiled. “I love reading stories.”
“King likes them too.” He held up the stuffed dog. “This is King. He loves books about Captain Underpants. I have a big dog at home. His name is Duke. He likes those books too.”
“Well, then that’s what we’ll read,” Mrs. Murphy said agreeably.
“I imagine Silas will fade fast. It’s been a busy day,” said Jake. He turned and hugged Silas. “Have fun and behave for Mrs. Murphy.”
“I know,” said Silas, saying it this time with impatience.
“See you in the morning,” said Noelle, giving him a quick hug, and then obliging Silas’s wishes, hugged the stuffed dog Silas held up to her.
“Later, alligator,” Silas said, bringing a smile to her face.
Jake led her out of the suite, down the corridor, and into the elevator.
“Where are we going?” Noelle asked.
Jake grinned and pushed a button on the elevator’s panel. “You’ll see.”
“Wait!” said Noelle. “We’re going up.”
“Exactly. I thought we might have dinner in the Presidential Suite. It’s not in use.”
Noelle’s lips curved. “It sounds lovely. I’m ready for a relaxing evening.”
“Me too.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
On the top floor of the hotel, Noelle stepped off the elevator into a reception area outside wide double doors. An arrangement of fresh flowers sat on a long, narrow table that stood against the wall on one side of the doors. An upholstered bench of equal length sat on the other side. Admiring the setting, Noelle could hardly wait to see the interior.
Jake knocked on the door.
A man dressed in a butler’s uniform opened it and smiled at them. “Good evening, Mr. Bellingham. Welcome to our Presidential Suite. I hope you and your lady will have a pleasant evening here.”
“Thank you. I’m sure we will. I appreciate your help.”
The butler made a small bow. “Yes, sir. We’ve done everything as ordered.” He stepped away and held the door for them, indicating for them to enter.
Jake held back and then followed Noelle inside.
She stopped a moment to appreciate the setting. The large, green Oriental rug covering most of the off-white carpet in the living area served as the foundation of the color scheme of green, white, and hibiscus pink. Green-and-white-striped fabric covered two of the overstuffed chairs. A floral print with a green background featured flowers in white, pink, and orange. Two white-leather couches faced each other, accented with pink pillows and others covered in a pink, white, and green plaid. A glossy-white grand piano filled the far corner of the room. Noelle felt as if she were in a lovely, tropical garden.
Jake led her to a small room off the living room.
“Thought we’d have a drink here in the library.”
“Sounds lovely,” Noelle said, gazing at the white shelves along the interior wall loaded with books. The two green loveseats in front of the shelves were inviting.
She sat in one of them and looked around while Jake signaled the butler that they were ready for their drinks. She loved the idea of having some time to relax without thinking about cooking a meal for herself or cleaning up afterward.
Jake smiled as he sat on the loveseat across from her. “I thought you might enjoy a nice evening without worrying about Liz or anyone else making trouble for us.”
“I appreciate it. The last week has been hectic and challenging. I can’t imagine what you’ve gone through with all the emotions of thinking you’d lost your parents and then finding them alive.”
“It was a huge shock when we got the news they’d survived, but oh, so wonderful. Brett and I, along with the authorities, had pretty much given up the idea that they could’ve made it out of there alive. Now, we have to make sure they heal well and that the business keeps running smoothly.”
“Will your father take over again?”
Jake shook his head. “I don’t think so. He was thinking of retiring soon, and from what he indicated when I last spoke t
o him, both he and my mother intend to spend the rest of their lives catching up on things they’ve missed doing in the past.”
“So, you and Brett will continue,” Noelle said as the butler offered her a flute of champagne.
“Yes. That’s the plan.” Jake accepted champagne, and after the butler left, he lifted his flute in a toast to her. “Here’s to health and happiness!”
“Oh, yes! Health and happiness. Who could ask for more?” She held up her glass and smiled at him.
They each took a sip of the bubbly white wine and let out sighs of contentment.
“This is delicious,” said Noelle.
“Hold on. The best is yet to come.”
The butler walked in with a tray and set it down on a small coffee table in front of her. A small crystal container of caviar, toast points on a plate, chopped hard-boiled eggs, lemon wedges, crème fraiche, and slivered red onion in side dishes sat atop the tray’s surface.
Noelle clasped her hands together. “Oh my! You know how much I love caviar! But, Jake, you didn’t need to do something like this.”
He grinned. “I wanted to thank you for coming with Silas and me to Dr. Heard’s office. I think the days leading up to Christmas may give him the chance to open up about what’s bothering him.”
“I hope so. He’s such a fine boy.” Lifting a piece of toast, she scooped a small spoonful of caviar on top and added a tiny bit of crème fraiche. She slipped it into her mouth and closed her eyes. It tasted fabulous.
“I’m glad you’re enjoying the caviar,” said Jake.
She opened her eyes and smiled at him. “It’s divine.”
He studied her. “You know when you befriended Silas and shook things up at Nana’s house, I thought you might be after money or some other favor from the family.”
“And now?”
His look was sheepish. “Now I know better.”
“My ex-fiancé thought he could have anything he wanted by just paying for it. It’s something I’ve never liked. However, it worked for him because the woman he ended up marrying, his old girlfriend, loves flaunting all the material things he’s given her. And to be totally honest, he does too.”
“Ah, I see now why you took issue when I offered you money.”
“How about you? You have all these privileges, places like this you can use.”
Jake chuckled. “Believe me, this is an exception to my normal lifestyle. Hotel work is constant, competitive, and 24/7. I enjoy what I have, but all the material things are not what motivates me. I want to make our hotels the best they can be by providing our guests with a positive experience. That takes ongoing oversight and careful management of financials. If the Bellingham name is attached to it, I want it to be right.”
“Do you want to grow and add more hotels? Brett mentioned a hotel in Paris.”
“Definitely not. That was Dad’s idea. After dealing with the hotel in London, Brett and I are content with what we have. We don’t want to get sucked into working constantly. We want time for our personal lives too.” He stirred in his seat. “I know it goes against some business practices, but after thinking we’d lost both parents, it was an easy decision for Brett and me to make. Our parents worked all the time.”
“I like that you are happy with what you have,” said Noelle, feeling genuine respect for him.
“After speaking to Dr. Heard about Silas, I feel it’s the right position to take,” he continued.
“Me too. His face lights up when he talks about you.”
Jake’s cheeks flushed with pleasure. “Really?”
“Oh, yes.”
After sharing more caviar and sipping the champagne, Jake checked his watch. “I didn’t realize it was so late. Shall we go into dinner?”
“Sure.” Noelle didn’t know what he had planned for their meal, but if it was anything like the appetizer, it was bound to be fantastic.
Jake ushered her into the dining room. A long, mahogany table that could seat twelve was in the center of the room. A large sideboard covered a portion of the pale-pink interior wall.
“We’re together at one end. As you can see, the table is used for both dining and as a conference table.”
Two place settings were established at the end of the table closest to the wall of windows overlooking the beach and the ocean beyond it.
Noelle walked over to the windows and stared out at the scene below. The sun had long since set but lights glittered like stars from the buildings lining the shore. Light from the moon laid a path across the water, like the yellow-brick road in Dorothy’s story.
Jake came up behind her. “Seeing a moonlit path like that always makes me wonder what or who is at the exact opposite spot on the far shores.”
She liked the idea of sharing similar thoughts and smiled. “Me too.”
The butler appeared behind them. “Dinner service is ready any time, sir.”
Jake turned around. “Guess it’s not fair to the chef to keep it waiting. You may go ahead and tell him. And please pour us each a glass of the decanted wine.”
“Madame?” Jake playfully held out an arm for her to take.
Going along with him, she took it and allowed him to lead her to her chair at the table.
A man in a white chef’s coat soon entered the room wheeling a cart holding two covered plates. “I think you’ll find this meal quite suitable,” he announced, placing a plate of food in front of Noelle and then Jake. With a flourish, he lifted the silver covers from the plates.
“Mmm. It smells and looks delicious,” said Noelle, inhaling the aroma of lemon, garlic, and a host of other smells.
“Beef Wellington, lemon and garlic roasted potatoes, and French green beans,” the chef announced with pride. “A crisp romaine salad will follow.”
“Thank you so much,” said Jake. “It’s cooked beautifully.”
Alone in the room, they dug into their food.
“The crust on the Wellington is delightful, so crisp,” said Noelle, wondering if the day would come when she would dare to try a recipe as fancy as this.
“I specifically ordered this meal because the next occupant of this suite has requested a private dinner, and I wanted to make sure this would do nicely for him.”
“Oh, he’ll be happy,” said Noelle, taking another taste of the rare roast tenderloin.
Jake looked at her and smiled. “Please don’t be offended, but I usually don’t see women enjoying their food like you do.”
“What’s better than an excellent meal? I don’t eat huge portions, but I want what I eat to be tasty. Otherwise, why bother?” As she said the words she understood her enjoyment this evening came from sharing the meal with him.
Jake’s smile crinkled the skin at the corner of his eyes. He shook his head. “You are one of a kind, Noelle North.”
She shrugged. “I am who I am.” Noelle realized how much good this trip had done for her. Others might have been led to believe from all the gossip that she was such a horrible person that Alex had left her at the church. At least this man appreciated her for who she was.
When prompted, Jake told stories of funny happenings at the hotels. Soon, they were laughing.
As they finished their main course and began on the salad course, Jake set down his fork and gazed at her. “I can’t remember when I’ve had such a relaxing evening. Thank you, Noelle.”
“You can ask me to eat this kind of food with you anytime,” she joked.
Jake’s expression grew serious. “I know you don’t want any serious relationships right now, but couldn’t we share some meals now and then? I’ve thought of a recipe I’d like to try with you.”
“That might be fun. You could cook at the cottage and show me what you’re doing,” Noelle said.
“Sounds great,” Jake said. “It may be a last-minute thing, but as soon as I can arrange some time, we’ll do it. You’ll be going back to Boston, and I might as well teach you as much as I can in the weeks we have left.”
Warmth floo
ded Noelle’s body and crept to her cheeks. The thought of spending more time with Jake was even more appealing than the food he promised her.
Dessert was a slice of Crème Brûlée Cheesecake and a cup of decaf coffee.
Mentally counting the number of laps she would have to swim in the pool tomorrow to burn off the calories, Noelle sighed with satisfaction. “What a fabulous meal!”
“I don’t think any guests could complain about a meal like that,” said Jake. He helped Noelle out of her chair and walked her over to the window. “A beautiful night.”
“Yes,” she agreed. “It’s lovely.”
He turned to her. “I really like you, you know.”
“It’s been a wonderful evening and I’ve enjoyed getting to know you better.”
They smiled at each other. Jake leaned toward her and ...
. . . And the butler entered the room, shattering the moment. “Sorry, sir, I thought you and your lady had left.”
“Not a problem,” Jake said, but there was a note of disappointment in his voice.
###
The next morning, as Jake and Silas were getting ready to leave for Dr. Heard’s office, Jake turned to her.
“Do me a favor, will you? Check out the gift and clothing shops here and tell me what you think.”
“I’ve hoped to be able to do just that,” she said, pleased he cared about her opinion.
As they headed to the door, Silas, holding King, said, “Later, alligator.”
She laughed. “After a while, crocodile.”
Silas burst into laughter. “’Bye, crocodile.”
Noelle still had a smile on her face as she prepared to do a little scout work in the shops.
A while later, Noelle decided the gift shop, the men’s shop, and the evening-wear store were fine as they were, nothing special, but fine. Her favorite store was a shop of women’s clothing. Seaside Boutique carried the kind of clothes she liked—casual but with a subtle, more upscale difference. The sales clerk was genuinely friendly and eagerly showed her around. Noelle left with a sundress she’d found on sale.
Noelle was overwhelmed by the jewelry store. It was filled with dazzling, sparkling, glittering jewels. She browsed throughout it, taking in everything. The pleasant clerk answered her questions about prices, stones, and suggested wear. She left the store certain Jake would be pleased to know he had such a knowledgeable person working there.
