Chapter Nineteen Noah #2
I don’t get as annoyed over that as I did before. It just makes sense at this point, especially with the wedding being a week and a half away.
“So, Odette, do you have a date to the wedding?”
My ears perk at my mother’s questioning, and I glance up just in time for Odette to flit her eyes my way briefly.
I’m sure she’s remembering Izzy insisting we go together too. If only my sister knew what was happening between us now . . .
Odette shakes her head, patting her lips with her napkin. “I don’t, no.”
“What? Even your mother does.”
She looks surprised by this development, raising her brows at her mother. “You do? Since when?”
“Well, my dear,” she says, “since yesterday.”
“Yesterday? But I just saw you on Thursday. What happened since then?”
“I took your nonna’s advice.”
Advice? What advice?
But Odette doesn’t seem as confused by this as I am. Instead, her eyes light with happiness. “Oh, Mom, that’s wonderful. Who is this mystery date of yours?”
“Ken.”
“Ken? Ken from Sunnie’s?!” Izzy explodes. “But he’s like a serial nondater.”
Elaine shrugs, a soft smile on her lips. “I guess he’s breaking his own rule.”
She looks happy, smitten even, and it’s a good look on her.
Smitten? God, I sound like such a fucking sap. If Ezra could hear me, he would probably punch me in the balls on principle.
I kind of want to punch myself too.
My mother reaches over, squeezing Elaine’s hand. “I’m happy for you, honey. I truly am. Ken is a wonderful man.”
Elaine nods, agreeing.
Then Odette reaches for her mother next. “That’s amazing, Mom,” she says. “I . . . I hope it works out for you. I truly do.”
They exchange a look, and I know instantly what it means—the curse.
They’re both thinking that at any time the curse could strike, and all the happiness Elaine feels could be gone in a flash.
“You know, Odette,” my mother says, “you could always go with Noah. He doesn’t have a date either.”
“That’s what I said!” Izzy exclaims. “Can you imagine them sharing a dance together?” She snorts out a laugh.
“Yeah, I couldn’t possibly imagine that.” My dad chuckles beside me, and I shoot him a dirty look.
“Mom, Dad thinks you cheated at your marshmallow game,” I rat him out.
“I won that bet fair and square, Brian Stevens, and you know it!”
My dad gives me a look that tells me I’m going to regret that later, but I don’t care. For now it’s gotten the attention off me and Odette, and that’s all that matters.
When I look at her, I’m surprised to find she’s not already looking back. She’s still staring up at her mother, and there’s no mistaking the worry in her eyes.
She’s still nervous about the curse, and I wish there were something I could do to help her see she doesn’t have anything to worry about.
Especially not when I might be falling for her.
“I’m bored.”
“Then go home.”
Odette throws a cashew at me, and it brings me back to the day when Izzy sat here doing the same thing. That was when she tried convincing me to use my cidery for her wedding. Even though it was only two months ago, it feels like a lifetime somehow.
I laugh, pick the nut up off the floor, then fling it back at her.
The usual crowd left shortly after the trivia wound down for the night, so the cidery has been quiet for about thirty minutes now.
We still have forty-five minutes to go until close.
With the place being empty and Ezra being in Seattle for another doctor’s appointment, I considered closing it down early, but I don’t want Ezra yelling at me for missing out on revenue opportunities.
Odette showed up here ten minutes ago, and now she won’t leave me alone. Not that I’m truly complaining. I like having her around. Probably a little too much even.
“You know, I kind of missed you being mean to me. It was hot when you were all grumpy and growly.”
I look up from the inventory I’m doing. “You think I’m hot?”
“No. I’m just having sex with you because I’m bored.” She rolls her eyes. “Of course I think you’re hot, Noah. Look at you.”
Look at me? Look at her. She rolled in here in the shortest pair of shorts I’ve seen her in yet and that damn Anaheim shirt she knows drives me wild.
I’m glad she wasn’t around to help me finish the chicken coop earlier today. I’m not sure I would’ve gotten it done with her distracting me.
We are officially one week and one day away from the wedding, and the farm makeover is complete. Not to toot my own horn or anything, but it looks damn good.
Now it’s Odette’s turn to do her magic and really make this place wow the guests.
“You’re bored now. Are you saying we should be having sex?”
“Is that all I am to you? A piece of ass?”
She’s teasing. I know she is.
But I still can’t let her think that’s the case.
I drop my pen and push off the counter, then stand right in front of her. Stooping low enough so I can look right into those blue eyes I adore so much.
“No, Odette. You are not just a piece of ass. You’re funny, and you’re smart.
You’re an incredible problem solver. Every animal you meet falls in love with you.
You’re kind, and you don’t think you’re better than anyone.
You always make time to talk with people, even if they are just trying to sneak another cat into your purse.
And, yeah, you’re drop-dead gorgeous, and you make my cock hard in the most inappropriate of situations, but you’re not just a piece of ass.
I wish you could see beyond the curse. Wish you could see what an incredible woman you truly are.
You are so much more than every bad thought you’ve ever had about yourself, and I wish you could see you the way that I see you. ”
She blinks up at me, her perfectly pouty lips parted.
I’ve done the impossible and stunned Odette Chambers completely silent.
“Got it?”
“Got it,” she whispers, tears brimming in her eyes.
Then she grabs me. Right by the collar.
She pulls me down to her lips in a hard kiss. It takes me by such surprise that I don’t kiss her back right away, but once I realize what’s happening, it’s me who takes control.
I grab her face, holding her as I explore her mouth, and before I know it, we’re both a panting mess.
She whimpers when I pull my mouth away.
“What? Noah, why?”
“Doors. Unlocked. Bar.”
She laughs, just as out of breath as I am. “What?”
“I’m closing the cidery and locking the door. Get on the bar.”
Her eyes widen, then she scrambles to follow my directions.
I flip the open sign to closed, bolt the door, and when I turn around, she’s sitting on the counter, leaning back on her hands and looking like the fucking goddess she is.
I dim the lights, then practically sprint to her because I need to touch her again.
I don’t stop until I’m fitted between her thighs.
“You know,” I say, slipping my hands into her hair. She arches toward me, giving me access to run my lips over her neck. “I know I just gave a big speech about how you’re more than just a piece of ass, and I meant every word of that, but I’m going to fuck you on this bar now, Odette.”
I feel her swallow, then replace my lips with my hand, squeezing her throat gently as I look down into her eyes.
“Is that okay with you?”
She nods. “Yes, please.”
I laugh at her politeness, especially when the last thing I want to be is polite.
I want to rip these shorts down her legs and bury my cock inside her until she screams my name.
But first I want to taste her. I might have just had her last night, but I already want more.
I’ll always want more.
I release her throat, then drop my hands to flick open the button on her shorts. She lifts, letting me pull them and her panties away.
I follow the garments to the floor, dropping to my knees before her as I yank her to the edge of the countertop.
Somewhere in the back of my mind, I know we shouldn’t be doing this right here.
It’s not technically closing time yet. Anyone could pull up at any moment.
But I don’t care about that or the security footage I’m certainly going to have to erase later.
I’m too focused on the way Odette’s watching me with anticipation.
“I might be here a while. Is that what you want?”
She nods, her chest already heaving, and I haven’t even touched her pussy yet.
“Say it. I want to hear you say it. I want to hear you say you want to come all over my tongue.”
“Lick me, Noah. Lick me until we’re both sweaty and messy and completely a wreck.”
“Oh, Odette.” I grin up at her. “I’m already a wreck for you.”