Kanton.
“ . . . RUNNING YOUR OWN business takes a lot of hard work and discipline. That means a huge investment of not just my money but my time as well.”
“I just need a year or two to find my footing with the company. Then I’ll focus on my personal life. I promise. A relationship doesn’t make sense right now.”
The goal was to put a smile on Noel’s face, but I demolished the one on mine. She had promised to deliver the perfect Christmas experience, and she had . . . until I stood in the kitchen with my laptop with the intent of showing her the website Shelby emailed me a few minutes after Noel took the call from her mother.
It was only a mockup because my guy was off until the first of the year, but he did spend a few hours pulling photos and information from her site and social media, which were linked to her site, and dropping them in to make it feel more natural.
I would bet that his last-minute scramble cost me a pretty penny, but that was money well spent. I didn’t mind at all. I didn’t mind anything when it came to Noel. Not her quirkiness or her quick-witted assumptions of spending my money to put a smile on her face, or mine, like that dress did last night.
But overhearing Noel talking to her mother further proved that I was overstepping. No matter how great my time with her had been, it was time to head home. She wasn’t looking for anything and, instead, invested in her business. A business that I was now helping her navigate.
Although she didn’t know that.
I considered how busy she would be if my contacts agreed to offer her contracts and how busy I would be accepting the deal from Brighton. I was optimistic about both, and adding in that she lived in Atlanta and I called New York my home, that sealed our fate.
This wasn’t possible. I didn’t want a long-distance relationship with anyone, and I was sure she would want one with me. Her life was hers. Her friends, her chosen family, Lewis and his wife.
Asking her to give that up was absurd. The idea of me moving here wasn’t fathomable either. My company was based in New York, and yes, I could work remotely, but I worked just as hard as my team, and being present was important.
No, the idea of us wasn’t possible, and I refused to present it only for Noel to choose me or try to make it work and then realize that she’d chosen wrong. I refused to put that on her shoulders, which only meant one thing: Today was all we had left. Tomorrow, I would leave, and Noel would return to her life. I would begrudgingly get back to mine.
I buried any thoughts of considering something with Noel and plastered on a smile, determined to enjoy what little time I had left with her just in time to see her heading toward me.
“Sorry about that. I had to convince my mom that I was enjoying my Christmas.”
“Don’t apologize, but I have to ask, are you?” I swiped my fingers over the trackpad of my laptop to clear the visual of Noel’s mock website and placed the device on the counter.
“Enjoying my Christmas?” She beamed. “Hell yeah, I am! Seeing a grown-ass man all but crying over toys was a highlight I will never forget.”
A bark of laughter shook my shoulders as I turned to the sink to wash my hands, lifting a hand towel to dry them when I faced Noel again. “I’m pretty sure you’re exaggerating. There were no tears involved.”
“I have the video. Would you like to watch?”
“No, I’ll pass. Since I dropped the ball on your present, I was thinking I could do something nice for you. Maybe cook you breakfast or something?”
A weird look passed behind her eyes, and I almost retracted the offer, but she swallowed thickly and narrowed her eyes on me.
“I thought I nailed the Christmas thing.”
“You did.”
“Then why are you offering up food promising a return on my investment?”
I threw my head back and laughed again. “You’re terrible for that.”
“I’m not. You can’t cook. You’re the one who told me you couldn’t.”
“I did, and I can’t, but I can read recipes, and what can be so hard about holiday pancakes with green eggs and ham?”
“First of all, that’s Dr. Seuss, and pancakes are a lot more complicated than you think.”
“Shouldn’t be. Some flour, food coloring, a couple of cups of oil ...”
“What! .” No! Cups of oil do not belong in holiday pancakes.” She looked mortified, and I chuckled, kissing her cheek.
“I’m kidding. I’ve got this. Go . . .”
I bumped her hip with mine, but before she could get too far, I hooked an arm around her waist and pulled Noel into me, leveling my mouth over hers. “Thanks again for my presents. They were perfect.”
So are you.
I kissed her once. She blinked up at me and smiled before I let her go. “I’m glad that you loved them.”
I did. A little too much, but mostly, the person who made it happen is what stole my heart.
“Now go.”
I pulled up a search field and typed holiday pancakes. I found one that didn’t take much and seemed simple enough before I started searching for the needed ingredients.
“Hey, do you have food coloring?”
“Uhh, you don’t have to do that. Just regular pancakes will be fine.”
“It’s Christmas, Noel. You’re not a ‘regular pancake’ kind of girl. Do you have it or not?”
“Pantry, top shelf, in the corner. Please don’t overdo it. I’m not interested in cleaning up red goo from the stove and floors.”
I grinned after locating the food coloring. “I’ll do my best to keep it in the bowl and microwave.”
“ Microwave?! ” she screeched.
“I’m kidding; relax.”
“I can’t. You’re making me worry.”
“Well, don’t. Trust me. I’ve got this covered. I run a multimillion-dollar business. I can make Santa cakes.”
She peeked around the wall that separated the kitchen and living room. “Santa cakes?”
“Yes, now go.”
I turned my back and began measuring the flour. But I felt her watching me. Sure enough, when I glanced over my shoulder, I found her grinning, phone in hand, recording me.
“You really want me distracted while I’m measuring things?”
“Oh God, no. Okay, I’m done.”
Our day together was a combination of food, good conversation, plenty of flirtatious teasing, but, more importantly, good vibes. We stayed in all day, and I was content with the day just being about the two of us.
Even now, as we were cozy on her sofa, this was the best end to a wonderful day. Although she was at one end of the couch with her knees drawn into her chest while my frame was slouched, one foot on the floor, the other extended in her direction, I felt her presence.That presence had me angry that this was all we could be.
“What time is your flight in the morning?” Noel was staring at the tree. She had been doing that a lot this evening. Her eyes were everywhere but on me. I sensed her walls coming up, and as much as I wanted to tear them back down, I decided it was best for both of us to let things be what they were.
“Eight, which means I should be leaving here by five.”
“You should probably get some rest then.” Her eyes flickered over to mine. A stoic expression settled onto her face.
“I should.”
The silence lingered a bit longer before she smiled softly. “It’s going to be weird with you not being around.”
“Will you feel weird or relieved?” I teased, and her smile expanded.
“Maybe a little of both, but at least you can get back to your life, and I can get back to mine.”
“Sounds like you’re leaning more on the relief side of things. Have I been that much of an inconvenience?”
Her brows pinched, and she softly shook her head. “No.”
I chuckled, brushing a hand over my head. “You’re lying.”
“I am not . . .”
I narrowed my eyes, and her smile expanded. “Okay, maybe a little. It was hell getting that food coloring off the counters. But honestly, the week wasn’t unbearable. You weren’t any more of an inconvenience than I must have been to you. I’m willing to bet when you booked my place, you hadn’t in your wildest dreams planned on spending the week with the most stubborn Christmas enthusiast known to man.”
“No, I did, but you weren’t all that bad.”
This time, it was her brow lifting in challenge, which had me shrugging. “What person who loathes Christmas doesn’t mind being forced to overindulge in holiday romance movies, forced to wear Christmas attire while shopping for a tree that they were threatened to decorate while listening to the very off-key rendition of every holiday song ever written?”
She threw her head back and laughed, extending her leg, which allowed a foot to shove playfully against my thigh. I reached to grab that same foot, but she was quick enough to pull it back before I had possession.
“I’m only admitting to a few of those things.”
“What aren’t you claiming?”
“Threatening you to decorate the tree and singing off-key. My voice is lovely.”
“If you favor the sound of a cat being tortured.”
“You’re mean.” She pouted, and I lifted with the intent of inching closer. I wanted to kiss that pouty mouth, amongst other things, but the universe intervened, and my phone vibrated with a call.
My eyes shot over to the trunk where it was resting, and I internally groaned when I realized it was Shelby. I had every intention of ignoring the call. I was seconds away from doing so, but Noel swung her knees to the side and dropped her feet on the floor.
“You should get that.” Her brows pinched like she was struggling with something.
“It can wait.”
“It’s late, and I need to call my parents before they’re off to bed. You also have a very early flight, so it’s best if you get some rest.”
The call ended, but it started back seconds later, which had me lifting the device and growling out a command.
“Shelby, hang on a second.”
“You’ll likely be asleep when I leave.”
“You know the code. Make sure you lock me in.” She smiled, and I nodded. “You have all your things?” She turned her head to the corner where my luggage was sitting: all but the duffle by the sofa. I had already showered, so all that was left was to clean up in the morning, which I could do in the half bath, change my clothes, and then shove them in my duffle. There was no reason for me to bother her in the morning. She knew this as well.
“I do.”
“Great.” She inched closer to me, hugging my waist, which prompted my arm to lift around her waist. “Thanks for not calling the cops.”
“I would have never done that.”
“You sure because you seemed pretty adamant about forcing your hand?”
“I needed to stay. You didn’t want me to. I had to use what I had.”
“Right, frivolous threats. Either way, this was fun. Having you here. My Christmas wasn’t so terrible after all.”
“Mine either.” Our eyes locked, and she kissed my cheek after a minute, but I turned, allowing my lips to graze hers. It was quick because she pulled away, and I let her.
“Good night, Safe travels.”
“Good night, Noel.”
I stood in place and watched her walk away. I didn’t move an inch until I heard the soft click of her door separating us. It wasn’t until then that I lifted my phone to address Shelby.
“What’s up?”
“Sounds like I was interrupting.”
You were.
“No, my flight is early. Just saying good night.”
“You sure that’s all it was?”
I reeled in my annoyance. “Yes, Shelby. That’s all it was. Did you need something?”
“Brighton reached out. He’s on the books for Jan 2. I guess things went well.”
I glanced toward the tree after I settled back onto the sofa. “On the books?”
“Yes, he’s flying in for a meeting on the second. I assumed you set that up.”
“No, I didn’t, but I know who did.”
“Care to share?”
“Not now. We’ll discuss it when I return, but he asked for an in-house meeting?”
“He did, and he called personally.”
“How did he get you?”
“Your business line was transferred to my work cell since you left.”
“You’re supposed to be on vacation.”
“I am, and apparently, so are you, but the point is, he’s going to sit down with us, and it pretty much sounded like his mind was made up about becoming our client. What did you say to him?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing? You had to say something, He said he talked everything over with his business partner and—”
“I didn’t say anything to him, but I did talk briefly with his wife at the Christmas party Noel invited me to. She forbade me from discussing business last night, and if I kept my promise, she would guarantee me a meeting with her husband.”
“You finessed his wife?”
“I was honest with her after she overheard me talking to you.”
“I knew that pretty face of yours would become a valuable business tool for you. Good job, boss.”
“I’ve learned from the best. Use what you have, which is the motto you live by.”
“I would be offended, but I can’t be because that is the motto I live by. If I can seal a deal by smiling pretty, then so be it.”
“Which makes you a dangerous woman. Brains and beauty.”
“You should keep that in mind and keep me on your team.”
“I hadn’t planned on letting you go, Shelby.”
“I know, but just in case you’ve considered doing so, I’m laying the groundwork. Your car is scheduled and will be outside the building by 5:00 a.m. sharp. Safe travels and I’ll see you in a few days.”
“Safe travels to you as well, Shelby, and Merry Christmas.”
“That it has been,” she sang with a little too much amusement before the call ended.
After a few moments of staring at the spot where Noel had been, the need to be near her crawled beneath my skin, but my rational brain took over, and I decided to leave things as they were.
It was the best thing for both of us, so I stretched out, closed my eyes, and decided to get a few hours of sleep. It was time to return to my life, which didn’t include a spirited woman who somehow managed to change everything about me.