Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Bentley
Christmas Day
I walked down the stairs and into the bar. It had been a long night. I’d come back here, buried myself in my apartment with a bottle of whiskey, drank until I passed out to quell the loneliness I felt. It worked, temporarily, because when I woke up this morning, I still felt empty inside.
I knew without a doubt that I’d never be able to have Noelle.
I never should have even taken a taste of that sweet girl.
Yet, somewhere inside of me, I’d thought that maybe, just maybe, Bruce would have heard me out.
Listened to how I felt about Noelle, but my worst fear had come true. He cast me out instead.
I walked over to the only tree I had and switched the lights on, lighting up the corner of the bar.
I looked down at the base of the tree where three presents lay.
The only gifts I’d purchased were for the family who’d just cast me out.
I should have worked harder to explain myself.
I should have fought harder, perhaps even begged them, but that wasn’t my style.
I glanced out the window to see it was still snowing. The streets were quiet. No doubt everyone was spending time with their families.
I turned, feeling defeated, knowing she was gone and hadn’t spent the night in my arms and never would again, and made my way over to the bar.
I grabbed some bottles of booze from under the counter, changing out the empty ones for the new ones.
Irritation and anger filled me. I should have fought for her.
I should just go over there now, demand she come out to speak with me, and then whisk her away from her parents, back here.
Instead, I shook the silly thought from my mind.
I flipped the radio on. Christmas music filled the bar.
I wasn’t in the mood to listen to anything but needed and welcomed the distraction.
Once I’d changed out the empty bottles, I grabbed the glasses and ran them through the dishwasher again.
I didn’t open the bar tonight, but tomorrow the place would be in full swing, and I’d hoped doing some cleaning would take my mind off my troubles.
The next song that came on the radio had played that first night Noelle was in here, and memories flooded my mind.
I’d had to have her; I’d wanted her in a way I’d wanted no one, and after it was all over, even now, I knew I’d never felt that way about anyone before.
The more I thought about her and that night and all the other times we’d been together, the more I knew I couldn’t leave her there. I had to get her.
Twenty minutes later, keys in hand, I walked down the stairs and was about to shut the lights off when I looked up to see Noelle standing at the door.
I rushed over, unsure how long she’d been out there, and unlocked the door.
I grabbed her and pulled her inside, pulling her in for a hug. She was cold.
“What the hell? How long have you been out there?”
She shivered as she pulled away and slipped out of her coat. I glanced down at her feet to see her suitcase beside her.
“I’d have been fine. I walked here.” She shivered.
I frowned. It was at least an hour’s walk. Then I remembered her car was out back from the other night and that I’d driven her back to her parents’ yesterday morning.
I shut the door and brought her over to the bar, grabbing a clean glass and the bottle of whiskey and poured her a shot. “Drink this.”
She took the glass from me, looked into my eyes, and drank the liquid, closing her eyes as it heated her body. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“Now, what are you doing here?” I questioned, pulling her against me to help warm her. “Your father is going to be pissed.” I chuckled.
“I don’t care what my father thinks,” she murmured, her body shivering against mine. “Where were you going?” she asked, looking at me. I was still wearing my jacket and still held my keys in my hand.
“Nevermind, and yes, you do care.”
“I don’t. If he doesn’t want to accept us, then he doesn’t accept me. I love you, and my father’s opinion has no weight on that. If you still want me, I’m yours.”
I couldn’t believe the words I was hearing from her mouth. If I still wanted her? She was crazy to even think I wouldn’t want her, but still my heart sunk at the thought of what she was giving up.
“Noelle, you don’t want to lose your relationship with your parents,” I said, trying to keep my voice as calm as I could.
It didn’t matter how badly I wanted her. I refused to allow her to do something that stupid.
“He will not tell me who I get to be in a relationship with and who I can love,” she said, crossing her arms in front of her. She looked down at the bar, staring at it for what felt like minutes before she looked at me. “Do you not want me either?” she questioned; her voice barely audible.
I pulled her against me once again, pressing a kiss on her forehead.
“Don’t you ever allow those words to leave those perfect lips again, you hear me?
” I said, my voice low. “We will work through all this mess with your parents together, and I’ll do my best to make sure you are taken care of and happy, the same way you’ve made me happy,” I said, bringing her lips to mine.
“I don’t want to talk to my parents about it anymore. You know as well as I do my father doesn’t change his mind when he has it already set.”
She was right. I’d never known Bruce to change his mind when he was adamant about something. He was as stubborn as they came.
“Noelle, I want you to think about what it is you are saying,” I said, getting up and grabbing another glass from behind the bar.
I poured us both a shot of whiskey before sitting back down beside her.
“What about all the important events—family events, birthdays, thanksgiving, holidays, your wedding, babies?”
She looked at me, thinking about what I was saying.
“I walked away from my family when I was young and stupid. I just want to make sure you really think this through. There will come a time you need them.”
“They don’t seem to care where I am right now. As for the rest, well, I’d hope it’s you I’m walking down the aisle toward, that it’s your babies I’m having, because you are all I need.”
“It will be me, I can assure you of that,” I said, picking up my glass and drinking down my whiskey.
When I placed my glass back down on the bar and glanced over at Noelle, I saw tears in her eyes. She leaned over and placed a kiss on my lips.
“I’m so sorry that my parents hurt you the way they have, and I’m sorry I didn’t come to you last night. I just hope I won’t have to wait too long for you to make me yours,” she whispered.
I stood up from the stool and picked her up, kissing her as she wrapped her arms around my neck.
“If I could marry you right now, I would,” I whispered, wrapping my arms around her. As I held her against me, I heard the sweet sound of her laugh. “What is it?” I questioned.
She looked up at me, her cheeks flushed. “If we can’t get married today, I have an idea what we could do.”
“What’s that?” I asked.
“I think maybe we should practice the wedding night,” she purred.
She let out a giggle as I flipped her in my arms so I was carrying her bridal style.
“Don’t have to ask me twice.” I chuckled and carried her upstairs to my small apartment.