Chapter 2
2
KILLIAN
I let her precede me into the room, mainly because I didn't want her watching me struggle with the crutches. I hated feeling weak and dependent on others.
Plus, it gave me a few seconds to admire her silhouette in that red dress. I remembered her having an athletic body when we were kids, but she'd grown into womanly curves. Curves I wanted to trace with my hands.
Her eyes were wide as she took in the accommodations. It was a condo that I used whenever I was in town, a place to rest my head for a night or two before I headed back to my life. I was used to traveling and staying in various hotels. Nothing about this condo was different from any of the others, except this one had oversized framed photographs of me and my brothers on the slopes lining the walls. "I can't remember whose idea it was to blow up our pictures and put them on the walls."
"They're impressive."
Something about her tone made me think she was less than impressed. I hobbled over to the fridge. "Would you like something to drink?"
"Water. But I can get it." She brushed past me, reaching for a water bottle. "I'm the one who ordered your groceries. Your assistant, Riley, sent an email with your requirements." The word requirements was said somewhat snidely.
"Riley knows exactly what I need. We've worked together for a long time."
Noelle's lip curled slightly. "Of course, she does."
"You want to sit for a minute? We can talk about my expectations." I couldn't help but resort to the way I acted around those who worked for me. I was aiming for professional in order to create distance between us. It was necessary after my reaction to her tonight and the time she sat in my lap when I played Santa a few weeks back.
Noelle sat on the edge of one of the armchairs in front of the large screen TV and fireplace.
My knee was aching, so I took the couch and propped my leg onto the cushions next to me. I let the crutches fall to the floor, making a clattering noise. I'd regret that later when I had to lean over to grab them, but all I could think about was the ache in my knee. My hand instinctively massaged the leg muscles above it.
Noelle rose, setting the crutches against the edge of the couch within my reach. "I'll grab you an ice pack."
I nodded, attempting to breathe through the pain.
She returned with an ice pack, a water bottle, and two pain pills. "I figured you could use these."
I almost argued with her, but the truth was, I was in pain. It was a long day hanging out with my family, ending with the charity event.
She balanced the ice pack on my knee, then handed me the water bottle and pills.
"Thank you." It should have felt weird having her wait on me. She'd been a friend when we were younger. Then there was that kiss. I hadn't let myself think about that in a long time.
Noelle flashed a tight smile. "Just doing my job. Do you need me to be physically present, or would you prefer to send me texts or emails with things you need?"
I was bored. Lonely even. I was used to focusing on training, eating healthy, and getting enough sleep. There was always film to go over, coaches to strategize with, and publicity to juggle. Here, I didn't have anything to do, and my brothers had kept their distance, wary of my surliness. It would be nice to have company. "I'll need you here."
Noelle's eyes widened as she sat across from me, perched on the edge of the cushion as if she planned to bolt at any second. "What time? I have other responsibilities."
"I thought you were my personal assistant. Riley is by my side as soon as I wake up until I go to bed." That wasn't exactly true, but Noelle didn't need to know that.
Noelle looked surprised for a second, and then her lips curved into a smile. "Is that so?"
"I pay her well." I believed in paying people what they were worth, and an assistant was my most valuable asset. She procured anything I needed at any time. Even when she wasn't with me. You couldn't put a price on that level of availability.
"Is that what you think matters the most?"
I frowned. "It's important."
"I'll strive to give you everything you need, but I have other businesses to run, and my family to support. I won't be as available as Riley apparently is for you." Her tone suggested that she thought there was something else going on between me and Riley.
But I wasn't tackling that tonight. I could barely think straight through the incessant ache. I opened the water bottle, threw the pills down my throat, then chugged the water.
Noelle jumped up. "You should eat something with that. It's not good for your stomach."
"How do you know I haven't eaten?" I asked her as she moved to the kitchen and returned with a banana in her hand.
Noelle sighed. "I notice things."
I thought she'd been focused on the event itself.
"You're my priority. I'll figure out how to juggle everything."
My stomach twisted with an emotion I couldn't quite identify. I wasn't sure I wanted to be a job for Noelle. We'd competed together as teens and had grown close training together. We were focused on making one of the elite college's snowboarding teams. "Why didn't you take the scholarship to U of C?"
Her lips pressed into a flat line. "I'm happy to discuss my job duties, but my personal life is off-limits."
That was interesting. I polished off the banana and threw the peel on the table.
Noelle's gaze flicked to the peel and then up to my face. "I think we should discuss what you expect me to do. Is it just errands, or will you need me to organize emails, phone calls, obligations, clean, and cook?"
Her list was extensive and beyond what I expected of an assistant. "I thought you'd do whatever Riley did."
Her brow raised. "Which was?"
There was something in her tone, like she was insinuating Riley performed other tasks for me, personal ones. That couldn't be further from the truth, but I wasn't ready to disavow her of that notion. She seemed to think the worst of me. "She was by my side ready to assist with whatever I needed. She also managed my schedule and emails. But I'll need you to drive me to my appointments, keep my fridge stocked."
"I didn't realize I'd be your chauffeur."
I didn't want to be cooped up in this condo, but now I was looking forward to seeing Noelle every day. We had been close, and then we'd lost touch. Now that I was here, I was interested in getting to know her and what she'd been up to over the years.
"I know this is asking a lot, but can I schedule your appointments around my availability?" Noelle asked.
"When are you busy with other things?" I asked, knowing she didn't want to talk about her personal life.
"I'm open during the day unless something comes up."
"What do you have in the morning and evenings?" I asked, wondering if it was a boyfriend that was keeping her busy. She'd mentioned businesses, but I couldn't remember if my brothers had told me about those.
"I'll make myself available to you at all other times. You can email or message me, but my personal life is not up for discussion."
Her tone was dismissive, and I didn't like it. "We used to be friends."
Noelle stood. "We haven't been close in a long time. This is a job for me, one that will greatly help me and my family. I'm a hard worker, but I won't compromise my other business obligations or my responsibilities to my family."
"I don't think that will be a problem."
She was only making me more intrigued about her life outside of this condo.
"Good. I meant what I said. I'm at your disposal." She turned to go and then paused. "Did you need anything before I head out?"
"Can you help me to the bed?" The ache had dulled, but I needed to get to bed so that I was comfortable for the evening. I wasn't ready for her to leave, but I sensed that she was eager to get out of my space and create distance between us.
"Sure." Her response was clipped as she held them for me. I shifted so that my feet were on the ground.
"Can you give me a hand?" I doubted she could lift my weight, but I wanted to feel her hand in mine.
She shifted the crutches to one hand and held the other out to me. My larger hand closed around hers, and I hefted myself to standing. I swayed slightly, and she let the crutches fall to the couch. Her arm came around my waist. Her head was tucked against my chest, her body pressed against my side. I breathed in her scent, enjoying the feel of her soft curves.
"Are you steady now?" she asked.
"I think so," I said reluctantly, not wanting her to move away.
She slowly removed her arm and reached for the crutches again. She held them in front of me, and when I shifted my weight to them, she headed down the hallway.
"It's the last room."
She flipped on the light, then moved to the bed to fold the covers down. "Do you need anything else? Pajamas?"
I probably shouldn't tell her I slept in the nude. "No."
"Water? More pain pills?"
"That would be great," I said as I moved toward the bathroom. I'd get ready for bed while she was here.
I brushed my teeth. It was slow and awkward. By the time I was done, my knee was throbbing again. I opened the door, and Noelle rushed to assist me. She stayed by my side as I slowly made my way to the bed.
She waited while I swung my legs onto the bed and then handed me water. I was exhausted. I hated that I was in recovery mode with no end in sight. I wanted to get back to my life and onto my board. My heart was still racing as I set the glass aside.
"I'll get you more water." Noelle lifted the glass, and I snagged her wrist.
Her wide eyes met mine.
"Thank you."
Her eyes softened. "You're welcome."
She was an employee I was paying to be here, but right now, she felt like a friend. Someone who was here because they liked me, not because they were under any obligation to me. I watched her walk out of the room. I enjoyed seeing her in my space, her hips swaying in that dress. She wore practical flats instead of heels, and I assumed it was because she was on her feet a lot tonight.
When she returned, she set the glass on the table. "If you don't need anything else, I should be going. I have to get up early."
Would she really have helped me change? The idea had my skin heating, and my pulse raising. "Will you stop by when you're done with whatever you have in the morning?"
"Of course, and you can call me if you need anything."
"Thank you for helping me. I know this isn't what you wanted to be doing." She hadn't spoken to me since that kiss when we were kids. One minute I'd been complaining about something, and then there was the shock of her lips on mine. It had been so unexpected; I didn't even react. Before I could, she was scrambling off the rock we were seated on, apologizing, unable to meet my gaze. She was gone before I could say anything.
I never expected her to kiss me. I wasn't sure I'd ever thought about her as anything more than a friend. I'd dated a lot of different girls. I liked to have fun. I wasn't looking to settle down or fall in love, and Noelle had always struck me as a forever kind of girl. She deserved everything. Not someone like me. Someone who didn't know who he was outside of snowboarding.
"This will be good for my personal-assistant business. My first client is the famous snowboarder, Killian Wilde." She said it with a smile, so I knew she wasn't making fun of me.
"I don't know about that." I was featured in sports magazines and occasionally gossip columns when I was dating a model, fellow athlete, or actress. But none of it was real. Most women liked to say there were dating the famous snowboarder. None of them knew the real me.
"Good night, Killian."
"Night, Noelle." I hated that I was injured, and my agent had sent me home to recuperate. I didn't want or need a babysitter, but I suspected I'd enjoy spending time with Noelle. I had a feeling I never knew the real Noelle, not even when we were teens. She was a mystery. One I wanted to solve.