8. Chapter 8
Chapter 8
Noah
" W ho's that guy who has his arm around Stella?" I whispered to Royal as the mayor began to speak.
"Why the fuck do you…." He trailed off when he saw my jaw tighten. "Lev Steele. He's Luna's brother."
The same Luna who'd been a protective mama bear when I was in Stella's office.
"Darlin', Daddy wanted to know if you wanted me to come up on stage with you." Eden strolled up to me, and then leaned into my side like she had every right to do so, which she didn't.
Both Royal and I looked at her bemused.
"You know, when the mayor announces the bridge project." She smiled. "Daddy thought it would be good for everyone to know we're together."
That was fucking news to me. We had slept together on and off for a year or so, but I wasn't in a relationship with Eden. Hell, I hadn't touched her intimately since a few days after before I started seeing Stella. And after, I had not been interested in any woman but my Sweet.
"I don't think that would be appropriate," Royal said quietly.
"Why not? We are dating, Royal, whether you like it or not," she snapped.
"We're not dating, Eden." I moved away from her.
"Of course, we are." Eden put her hand on my chest to stall me. "Now, you don't want to piss off Daddy, do you?"
Christ, this bitch was unhinged.
"Don't threaten me, Eden; it gets my back up. I'm not a nice Southern Gentleman. I'm a raging asshole. Now, before I embarrass you by letting the world know we're not dating, you should behave yourself."
I let her stay next to me while the mayor spoke. My hand on her waist was light, cautionary.
"How dare you?" she whispered mutinously.
"How dare you suggest we're dating when all we've done is fuck a few times? And the fucks weren't even that memorable," I retorted.
She couldn't flounce away without causing a scene. I knew that. She knew that. Hell, Royal, who was chuckling, knew that.
"I'm so excited to announce the return of a son of Savannah. Come on, Noah, get up here and meet the city." The mayor held out a hand.
I brushed my lips against Eden's cheek, and whispered, "Now behave, darlin'."
I walked to the stage to a smattering of applause.
"Carter Construction is going to build us a bridge in Savannah," the mayor continued, "And I'm proud to introduce you to Noah Carter. I'm sure you all remember Neville Carter, a former District Attorney. Noah comes from good ol' Savannah stock."
He stepped away after shaking hands with me, allowing me access to the microphone.
There were a couple hundred people in the large ballroom, but my eyes found the one who shone the brightest.
She wore a blue chiffon dress that made her look a fairylike. She didn't have much jewelry on except for diamond drop earrings. Her hair was up in a loose chignon. I wanted to run my hands over her tresses, and make them fall around her shoulders.
I hated that there was another man's arm around her.
Had she already gotten over me? Of course, she had. What was there to get over? I fucked her over. Who could blame her if she wanted comfort in the arms of another man? A man who showed her how desirable and beautiful she was. A man who could see how sweet she was, and not take advantage of that sweetness to destroy it as I had.
"Thank you, Savannah and Mayor Jackson. I'm grateful for this opportunity. It's been a warm, welcoming return to my city. I have several of y'all to thank. First and foremost, Senator Hunt, you've been a guide and mentor. I couldn't have done it without you." The son of a bitch raised his glass and cheered.
I remembered what Stella said. I'd hurt her while her father remained untouched. Not only that, he also didn't seem to hold a grudge against me in public.
"Carter Construction is grateful for the opportunity to build the most consequential bridge in Savannah. I'm also delighted to announce that Savannah Lace, this city's very own architecture and design firm, will be getting the contract to design the bridge." I paused, Stella's eyes were on me now and I couldn't look away. "Savannah's premier landscape architects will develop two parks that will grace each end of the bridge, making it more than just a route of transportation, but also a place where the city's residents can come together."
I waited for the applause to die down.
"I'm grateful to everyone at Savannah Lace for embracing Carter Construction and me. Nina, come on up here, darlin'."
Nina was clapping along with the others as she came to stand next to me. She was in a navy blue dress that was molded to her body. For a woman in her late forties, Nina was a beautiful and handsome woman. I hugged her, and kissed her on her cheek.
"I am also proud to be a partner at Savannah Lace. I'm grateful to work with and learn from Nina and her executive team."
I raised my glass of champagne. "To prosperity and a brighter tomorrow for Savannah and the state of Georgia."
Afterward, there was enough small talk to make me want to pull my hair out. By the time the dinner announcement was made, I was ready to bolt. And it appeared someone else had the same need because as I led Eden to the dining room, I saw a flash of blue leaving the ballroom.
"Royal, can you escort Eden? I'll be right back." I handed a disgruntled Eden to my friend and, as unobtrusively as I could, chased after the woman to whom I had no right.
I saw Stella standing at the entrance, looking at her phone.
"I'll take you home," I said softly as I got closer to her.
She looked up, surprised. "No, thank you. I've called an Uber."
"Let my car take you home." I wanted to do something for her. Anything . I wronged her. The guilt that was churning inside me was painful all the time, and debilitating when I saw her.
"The Uber will be here in eight minutes." She looked away from me.
I was a moth drawn to a flame, and moved closer. I Inhaled her unique floral scent.
"Why aren’t you staying for dinner?"
She shifted so I wouldn't be in her personal space. "My father only required me to stay through the mayor's speech."
"You always do what your father wants?"
She turned to face me. "No, Noah. He wanted me to stay the whole evening. This was a compromise."
I wanted to touch her so fucking badly.
Would she respond if I kissed her? God, I missed her taste. We may have made love only once, but we kissed and touched for months. I had my fingers inside her. She would get so wet, and she tasted so fucking sweet. The sounds she made when she came, the way her eyes flashed with pleasure. Fuck! I was hard as stone, wanting nothing more than to haul this woman, caveman style, somewhere and find release.
" Noah ," I heard Eden's voice call out. I let out a deep breath.
My hard on deflated. No other woman but Stella would do for my enraptured cock.
"Stella, darlin'." Eden did the air kiss-kiss thing with Stella. "Do you both know each other?" She lightly smacked her forehead as soon as the words were out. "Of course, you do. Noah is now a partner at Savannah Lace. Honey, Stella, I hear you're not anymore."
Stella smiled that plastic smile of hers. The same smile I was starting to hate with a fucking passion.
"How are you, Eden?" Her voice was a stranger's. This wasn't my Stella. Where had the vivacious, genuine woman who brought me wildflowers she picked by the roadside gone?
Eden snuggled against me. "Really good. Come on inside, baby, Daddy is—"
"I just need to finish my conversation with Stella," I murmured, taking Eden's hand off my body, making it clear she had no claim on me. "Go on in, darlin', I'll be there in a minute."
Eden wanted to make a face and a fuss but, instead, made do with brushing her lips against mine.
Once she was gone and definitely out of earshot, I muttered, "I'm not dating her."
A Lexus came and stopped in front of the mayor's mansion.
"Stella?" I called as she moved to the car.
"What do you want?"
I want you to forgive me. I need you to forgive me. I'm so sorry for what I did.
"You," I whispered, letting her see lust and desire in my eyes.
She laughed, but it was harsh, edgy. "You're such a tease, Noah Carter. Bless your heart ."
On that blatantly "go fuck yourself" polite Southern salutation, she got into the Uber.
I watched her leave, feeling bereft. If only I hadn't been so intent upon revenge, she'd be mine now. She'd be sitting with me at the dinner table. She'd be with me tonight in my bed or hers, riding me, coming on me and with me. She'd be the one talking to me, telling me her stories, and listening to mine.
But regardless of how arrogant I was, even I knew that there was no going back when it came to Stella. What I had done was unforgivable, unredeemable. There was no tomorrow in which my Sweet would be mine again. There was no future where I would be inside her, watching her come as she whispered shakily, honestly, " Noah, I love you ."