Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
Noelle
After Bentley chased that creep away, he took the rum and soda and poured me a whiskey instead, adding two ice cubes before setting the glass down in front of me.
“You probably won’t like it, but I always remember you asking me what I drink.” He chuckled as he met my eyes. “Try it.”
I wiped the condensation off the side of the glass, then picked it up and took a sip of the light-golden liquid. It took my breath away, and it burned, yet made me feel warm as it went down. I took another sip, this time keeping it in my mouth.
“It’s good,” I said, taking yet another sip.
“Drink it slow, don’t need you passed out over in the corner.” Bentley chuckled as he added some glasses to the dishwasher.
As I sat there sipping on my whiskey, I couldn’t help but wonder why he kept chasing the men away from me. Well, I could understand the first guy, but the other two after that were about my age, yet he kept his eyes on me every time he had to step away from where I was sitting.
Maybe he was doing it as a favour to my father, I thought to myself as my eyes focused on him. I wished it wasn’t because of that. I’d had thoughts of this man for the past five years, and they weren’t friendly, clean thoughts either.
I let out a sigh; I wanted the reason he kept chasing them off to be because he wanted me for himself, not because he felt an obligation to my father to keep me safe.
He placed a plate of fries and a bottle of vinegar in front of me, along with a piece of the chocolate fudge cake and then went over to make some drinks for a couple of customers.
“Salted those myself, exactly how you like them.” He added, then winked as he grabbed a bottle from the shelf.
I couldn’t help but smile. He’d been saying that since I was a little girl.
I shoved one fry into my mouth. Like always, they were perfect.
I popped another in my mouth and heard my phone vibrate against the bar.
I grabbed it from my small clutch purse to see a message from Kelsey, who I’d left at the other party.
Kelsey: Where the hell did you go? Been looking for you.
I tapped the side of my phone, debating telling her where I’d gone.
I remembered her reaction when I’d mentioned earlier I wanted to stop by and see Bentley.
At first, she gave me a disgusted look, and then she warned me.
She’d gone after a man double her age a while ago and ended up with a broken heart.
He’d taken advantage of her, slept with her, and made her all these promises, and then one night she found him out for dinner with his wife and kids.
She’d cried for days over it, and in the end vowed never to go after an older man.
When I told her I didn’t have to worry about Bentley, that he wasn’t interested in me that way, she just shook her head and said, “No, but you are interested in him, and that is enough to start something.”
Noelle: I’m at Bentley’s bar.
Kelsey: Are you serious? Why did you lie? Melinda just told me you said you were going home.
Noelle: I didn’t lie. I was going home, but I got a flat tire.
Kelsey: Did you really get a flat or was it a flat of convenience?
Noelle: I’m shocked you’d think that of me…
Kelsey: I just don’t know if you would stick a screwdriver in the side of your tire just because or…
Noelle: KELSEY!!!!!!
Kelsey: What? I’m just saying…
I rolled my eyes, annoyed with my best friend. I was about to text something when I looked up and caught Bentley looking at me. He winked, then turned back to what he was doing. When I looked back down at my phone, Kelsey had already messaged.
Kelsey: Just be careful. Don’t get in over your head.
Noelle: Wise advice if he ever noticed me. Although he has been chasing men away from me all night. Maybe I should have stayed at the party.
Kelsey: You are so bad. Now, what do you mean by chasing them away?
Noelle: It’s like he is doing some huge favour to my father, keeping his little girl safe, you know what I mean.
Kelsey: …or he is wanting you all to himself ;)
Noelle: Here you go telling me to be careful and you fill my head with all sorts of things, besides I doubt that…
Kelsey: What is he doing right now?
I glanced up and noticed he was watching me again and only this time he quickly averted his eyes when he caught mine.
Ellott: Watching me, making drinks and looking away like a teenage boy when I catch him.
Kelsey: Perhaps he’s noticing you more than you think he is. Just be careful. I have to go. You sure you will get home, okay? Do you want us to swing by and get you when we are on our way?
Noelle: No, I’ll be fine. Bentley won’t let me leave without a ride in either his car or a cab.
Kelsey: Or a ride on something else Okay, message me when you get home or if you need a ride before.
Noelle: You too. Like I said, I’ll be fine. Night. Oh, and your comment didn’t go unignored.
I shoved my phone back into my bag and went to take the last mouthful of my drink when Bentley appeared with the bottle in hand.
“Want a little more?”
I looked at my glass, already feeling the effects of the whiskey hitting me.
“Only if you have one,” I said, running my finger around the edge of the glass before bringing it to my mouth.
Bentley chuckled, then grabbed a clean glass from the bar and added ice into both glasses before pouring us a drink.
I looked around at the people who were in the bar.
There was no one I recognized, so I knew the chances of them knowing my father was probably low.
They were all focused on what they were doing, so I figured I’d test the waters.
Once he went about cleaning up some of the dirty glasses, I stood up and reached over the bar, grabbing the bottle of whiskey he’d left within my reach.
Just as I grabbed the bottle, his hand landed on mine.
I looked up, meeting his eyes. It had gone exactly how I’d planned.
He’d come over, and I was going to place a kiss on those lips of his but stopped.
I could feel his breath against my cheek as his eyes met mine, before they travelled down to my lips and then to my breasts and back up to my eyes.
I could smell his cologne along with a mixture of whiskey and inhaled deeply and then closed my eyes.
It was then I heard a low groan escape his throat, and when I opened my eyes, they met his, a definite look of want in them.
He stared at me for what felt like minutes and then cleared his throat. “Noelle, you’ve had enough to drink.” He reached for my glass. “I think it’s best if I call your father to come and get you.”
I sat down on the stool and grabbed my glass before locking eyes with him. I’d been wrong on what I thought I’d seen, but I’d been right on the other part. He was only chasing men away as a favour to my father.
“You don’t need to call my father. I’m fine,” I said, doing my best to give him my usual smile, knowing full well anyone who knew me would see right through it. “Besides, they are away this weekend.”
He watched me as he took the bottle and placed it back with the others, his eyes not leaving mine. Then he turned and went back to clearing the dirty glasses, while I sat there ready to cry. Maybe I should just text Macy and Kelsey, I thought to myself as I played with the zipper on my purse.
Bentley had ripped my heart out when he denied me. He didn’t want me in the same way I wanted him. I was stupid for even thinking he could, and I wanted nothing more than to go home and curl up in my bed. I just needed to figure out how I was getting there.