Heartstrings: The Complete Collection

2. Noah

Chapter 2

Noah

It’s safe to say I’ve never met anyone like Elli Dancer. It’s also safe to say I’ve never experienced such an immediate visceral reaction to a woman.

I heard her before I saw her, singing at the top of her lungs as I approached the cabin I’ve rented for the next two weeks. Despite shouting several times to get her attention, I couldn’t make her hear me. She was absorbed in her music as she flung herself around the living area, completely uninhibited as she danced. I found myself glued to the spot, gaping at her beauty. The seductive sway of her hips. The succulent wobble of her tits as they threatened to bounce right out of her tank top.

The excruciating pain of her foot connecting with my junk.

Even if she hadn’t brought me to my knees with a roundhouse to the nuts, her beauty would’ve had the same effect. Up close, she’s even more stunning. Oval face, gorgeous hazel-green eyes, high cheekbones, and full lips. Lithe, toned body with a nipped-in waist and curvy hips made for a man’s hands—for my hands.

And now she’s kissing me. It’s obvious she’s not an experienced kisser, but somehow, the knowledge has the blood roaring faster through my veins.

I should be taking a step away, putting more distance between us.

I should be listening to the voice in my head telling me that we’ve known each other for all of twelve minutes.

I certainly shouldn’t be running my tongue over her bottom lip so she opens up for me with a moan.

I shouldn’t be grabbing those curvy hips and tugging her closer while I lick inside her mouth to taste her sweetness.

And I sure as hell shouldn’t be thinking about bending her over the sofa with her chestnut hair fisted in my hand while I slide into her tight heat from behind.

Every cell in my body is attuned to her. I gather her closer and kiss her deeper, gliding my tongue along hers. She whimpers into my mouth, her hands bunched in my shirt at my chest.

And then she’s gone, backing away from me with shocked eyes and her hands covering her mouth. “I’m so sorry! I don’t know what came over me. I promise you I don’t go around kissing random strangers.” A 0.2-second pause. “Or any strangers, for that matter. I mean, I’ve kissed men before, well, one man actually, and that was only once because I nearly passed out from his overwhelming halitosis. That’s bad breath, in case you didn’t know, although you’re an intelligent man, so I’m sure you do. I don’t think the guy flossed a day in his life, and mouthwash wouldn’t have gone amiss, maybe even a breath mint. Your breath doesn’t smell, by the way. You taste amazing. I liked kissing you a lot more than Kermit.”

I try to keep up. “Kermit?”

Elli nods enthusiastically. “Yeah, that was his name. His mom was a huge fan of The Muppets.”

I shake my head. “Let me guess. He had a sister called Miss Piggy.”

Elli’s eyes widen. “Yes! How did you know?”

My mouth opens and closes as I stare at her, at a loss for words for the first time in my life. Then, her face crumbles into a grin, and she bursts out laughing. After a few seconds, I find myself laughing with her— really laughing, for the first time in a long time.

Shit, when did my life get so fucking serious and stuffy? Fifteen minutes in this woman’s company and she has me feeling like a teenager again. Admittedly, a horny teenager with a cock hard enough to smash a hole through the heavy wooden log walls of the cabin.

“Oh, God, I kissed a man and I don’t even know his name,” Elli mutters to herself, sobering instantly.

“My name’s Noah. And I kissed you back,” I tell her softly.

Her eyes pop up to mine and her face lights up as she smiles. “Noah,” she says, rolling my name over her tongue. I can think of other things I’d like her to roll over that sweet tongue. She thrusts her hand toward me. “Nice to meet you.”

I enclose her smaller hand in mine, and a zing of electricity arcs up my arm and down my spine, tightening my balls and making them ache in an entirely different way.

Elli shivers, and goosebumps break out on her upper arms before she pulls her hand from mine. “So, um, what brings you to Mountain Ridge Resort?” she asks in a high-pitched voice.

“A wedding.”

Her eyes widen and she groans. “You’re getting married? Oh, flaming tacos , this day keeps getting worse. I kissed an engaged man and, oh, lord, I hope I haven’t inflicted lasting damage to your?—”

“I’m not the one getting married,” I cut across her before she launches into another monologue. “It’s the son of my parent’s best friends. Mom recently had a hip replacement, so she and Dad couldn’t make it. I offered to come to represent the family. Plus, I needed the break. Work has been… hectic.”

“What do you do?”

“I used to be a professional ice hockey player, but I had to retire early due to a back injury. Now, I’m a sports agent. I negotiate employment and endorsement contracts for athletes. It’s stressful, at times.”

“Sounds interesting, but you know all work and no play makes Noah a dull boy, right? Although ‘dull’ is not a word I would use to describe you.” Elli chuckles then blushes as if realizing her mouth has run away with her again.

I tip my head to the side, narrowing my eyes on her. “What word would you use?”

She purses her lips thoughtfully. “Are you fishing for compliments?”

I lift my eyes to hers. “From you? Always.”

Elli’s blush deepens, but she answers my question anyway. “Cocky.”

I burst out laughing. “I think you kicked the cocky out of me with your big toe.”

Elli groans and presses her hands to her cheeks. “I’m never going to live that down, am I?”

“It’s got mileage in it yet.” I smirk.

She shakes her head, but her eyes twinkle with laughter.

“So, what are your recommendations for things to do around here, seeing as I have two weeks of vacation?” I was given this information at the front desk when I checked in, but I’m looking for ways to keep Elli talking.

“Well, you can take out a rowboat on the lake or do some paddle boarding or canoeing. There’s mountain biking, hiking, dance, and archery lessons, not at the same time, obviously because that would be weird and dangerous.” Elli snorts but continues undaunted. “If you don’t mind a short journey, there’s golf, horseback riding, and ziplining nearby.” She reels it all off as if she’s recited it a thousand times.

“And what about you? Do you have a favorite?”

She frowns. “Hard to have a favorite when I haven’t done any of them.”

My eyebrows rise in surprise. “Why? You work here. Surely you get the opportunity to make use of the facilities.”

Elli shrugs carelessly. “I start work at five and finish at noon. Then I go home and cook and clean for my family. Sometimes I come back to work if they’re short-staffed in the restaurant or need cover in the bar, after which I’m ready to fall into bed.”

Something about the way she says “family” catches my attention. “Your family can’t cook and clean for themselves?”

Elli sighs and her mouth twists wryly. “Now, that is a long story I wouldn’t dream of offloading on you after your long journey and considering I barely know you and you’re a guest and I’m just the maid.”

This woman intrigues me. Now she’s calmed down a little, I see the sadness peeking through the cracks of the happy persona she projects.

I take a step closer, lifting a hand to cup her cheek. “You’re not just anything, sweetheart. You’re beautiful and bubbly and goddamn lethal when you’re dancing.”

The smile I’m expecting doesn’t come. Instead, her eyes widen with surprise. “You called me ‘sweetheart’ and ‘beautiful.’”

“You make it sound like no one’s ever done that.”

“They haven’t.”

“Called you ‘sweetheart’ or told you you’re beautiful?”

“Both,” she whispers.

Huh. That doesn’t compute. “Have you been living under a rock?”

She barks a laugh. “Kind of.”

“Why don’t you offload on me over dinner?” The offer is out of my mouth before my brain can catch up.

She looks at me blankly. “Offload what?”

“The long story about why your family can’t cook and clean for themselves.”

“Oh. That. You want to have dinner. With me.” She points at her chest as if checking.

I smile. “Yes. I, Noah Tensly,” I point at my chest, “would love to have dinner with you, Elli Dancer.” I point at her.

Elli opens her mouth to reply when the theme tune from The Addams Family bursts into the silence. She reaches into the pocket of her black work pants and pulls out her phone, giving me an apologetic look as she hits the answer button.

Before Elli can speak, a gruff male voice barks loudly from the earpiece. “Where are you, girl? You’re late, and we’re waiting for our lunch!”

Elli winces and holds the phone away from her ear as he continues to rant. Her mouth tightens with displeasure, and all the joy seeps from her face. In a second, she’s a pale imitation of the happy, bubbly woman who’s entranced me in such a short time.

When the man finally stops ranting, she brings the phone back to her ear. “I’m on my way now. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”

He starts to say something else, but she ends the call abruptly. Pasting on a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes, she says, “Sorry about that. It was nice to meet you, Noah. I’m sorry again about the whole kicking and kissing thing.”

I step in front of her as she makes for the front door. “I’m not.”

She tips her head back to look up at me. “The kicking or the kissing?”

I tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear, smiling as she shivers. “I think you know the answer to that. I’m taking you to dinner tonight, Elli Dancer, and afterward, I plan to show you exactly how not sorry I am about that kiss.”

She blows out a shaky breath and her hazel eyes search my face for any sign that I’m joking. “I’ll meet you at the Tavern at seven. It’s casual dress, and they serve great bar food.”

With that, she slips past me, dodges my abandoned suitcase, and heads out the door. I watch as she rumbles off with the cleaning trolley until she disappears from view.

Elli is a whirlwind of energy and enthusiasm. She’s turned my world on its axis with a painful kick and a heart-stopping kiss. I want her in my arms again. I need my hands and mouth on her gorgeous body.

My cock hardens as I imagine her spread naked on my bed, those long legs wrapped around my hips as I make her mine. Jesus, she’s tied me up in fucking knots—and she’s the only one who can unravel them.