Chapter 3
“So, Wesley, do you want to tell me what’s the deal with you and Stacie?” Noah laughed as he studied the woman seated across from him. God, she was beautiful. Being allowed to look into her smiling face felt like an act of worship. Today the stunner was dressed in a neon pink off the shoulder sweater and a gauzy pink skirt, reminiscent of Tinker Bell, showcasing long legs that she had every right to brag on. When he’d arrived at the skating rink just a short while ago, she’d been wearing pink sequin roller skates in the same shade as the sweater, gliding on the wood floor as “Head to Toe” by Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam played from multiple speakers. He’d watched her for a bit, enjoying the show as her body swayed to the eighties classic.
When he finally revealed himself, Leah stepped off the rink floor and replaced the skates with pink high top tennis shoes laced up with coordinating satin ribbon. “It’s nothing really. We went on a date and our relationship styles didn’t mesh. She disrespected one of my boundaries after I asked her not to. She said she was only kidding and that I was being too sensitive. When I called her ill-mannered, she told me to “forget we ever met” and not to contact her again. So, I did just that.”
Leah covered her mouth in an attempt to stifle the Infectious giggles that poured from her. “You’re so petty,” she wheezed, a hand resting on her décolletage as if clutching imaginary pearls. Noah could imagine his large hand resting in the same area as he took those plump lips in a kiss. “I can tell by the way you committed to the role that this isn’t the first time you and she have had that conversation.”
“Nope. And the sad part is, she probably doesn’t remember the reason why I wasn’t interested in getting to know her any better or her flippant comment. But I won’t forget and I’m gonna hold her to it.”
“I’m just glad I got to play a part in your petty. I don’t want to call her a mean girl, but since the day I met her, she has always given off those vibes to me. I’m not too proud to admit I liked seeing her knocked down a peg.”
“She leans too hard on those good looks of hers. Stacie is as shallow as a kiddie pool and about as interesting.”
Her tinkling laughter was music to his ears. Noah could get used to the melodic sound and the way the smile accompanying them took over her entire being. “I wonder if she’ll be bold enough to ask me about you.”
Noah hoped so. He knew without a doubt that Leah would lay on the cutesy in a thick nauseating layer. Top it off with the fact that she was an undeniable natural beauty whereas Stacie had a bit of surgical enhancement done, it was sure to be an interesting confrontation if it came about. “If she does, let me know.”
“Would you finally end the farce and tell her off?”
“Absolutely not. I’d report her to management for harassment. And I know the gym has great video equipment. Once they run it back and hear that I don’t know her, she’d be up a creek.”
“Committed, aren’t you?”
“Until the day I breathe my last, Foxy.”
Leah looked very much like the young woman he’d briefly encountered one afternoon in the hallway at Leddel High. He remembered the meeting vividly. While he did keep feminine hygiene products in his locker and had been able to help his sisters and a couple of close friends when they got into a bind, he’d never approached a stranger. Upon seeing Leah looking despondent, he took a chance. Now, he was glad that he did. Leaving a good lasting impression on a woman like her had come back to pay him in dividends.
“I meant to ask you. Why did you call me Foxy? I mean, I know it’s a term of endearment but it’s an older one. How did you come up with it?”
Noah felt a smile pull at his lips as he remembered the short moments he’d held her in his embrace. “Seeing that I didn”t know your name, I had to think of something on the fly. You had a cute little fox on the sleeve of your shirt the other day and I just ran with it.”
“That’s my favorite hoodie. I have it in three colors.”
“Let me guess.” Noah rubbed a tattooed forearm as he pondered. “You had on a purple one yesterday, so I’d say the other two are pink and blue.”
“Ding, ding, ding,” she said with a laugh. “Am I that transparent?”
“You give me girly girl vibes and girly girls love bright colors.”
“That goes back to being raised a PK. To say we dressed boringly would be an understatement. Once I gained my freedom, I added the rainbow to my wardrobe.”
“You make it sound like being released from prison.”
“Do I?” she giggled. “Let’s just say I learned my lesson and have no plans of recidivism.”
“Thanks for saying yes.”
“To what?”
She had to be surprised at the pivot in conversation. “Going out with me.”
“Now you got me second guessing.” Noah admired her neck as she took a swallow of her water. Kisses. The pulse he could see pounding at the side of her throat needed his kisses. “Maybe Stacie was right about you. Just because I don’t care for her doesn’t mean you’re not problematic. Two things can be true at the same time.”
“True. But you want to find out for yourself, don’t you? A girl like you has to.” His gaze was steady as he met her eyes. “And maybe I am problematic, but maybe that’s just the kinda guy you like.”
The pink tip of her tongue peeked out of her mouth, resting on her top lip as she appeared to mull over his words. “Two things can be true at the same time. So, Texas, where are you taking me?”
“Are you free next Saturday night? I have tickets to an art exhibit and we can go to dinner after.”
“What kind of art?”
“20th Century modern. My best friend’s wife is the organizer.” Hendrix wasn’t a fan of art, but he got behind any and everything his wife did, so Noah was strong armed into buying the tickets whether he planned to attend or not.
“I minored in Art History during undergrad. Sounds like fun.”
“I’ll reach out later this week and if you’d like, I can pick you up. If not, we’ll meet at the museum.” Nothing would please him more than for her to allow him to pick her up from her home, but he understood the need for caution. He was a stranger to her. That was something that hopefully would not last long.
***
The lights inside Lawson Gallerie shone brightly against the night sky, beckoning the expectant patrons who stood in line for entrance. It appeared the showing tonight had drawn many of the big wigs in Sanderson and surrounding counties. Leah hadn’t visited the gallery before and hoped that it was worth her time. She also hoped that Noah was worth hitting up her esthetician a few days early for a full body wax. Leah absolutely had plans to get to know him in the biblical sense. As if she’d conjured the man up by thinking of him, Noah appeared at the valet stand, a small smile playing on his lips as he rounded the front of the vehicle a few steps in front of the slim young man in the yellow reflective vest. Her door was pulled open, and Noah’s large hand was extended, waiting for her to accept it. “Good evening, Foxy.” The appreciation she saw in his eyes as she stepped out of the vehicle told her that pulling her strapless pink dress out of the closet had been worth it.
“Hey, Texas.” She put up no resistance when the slightly callused hand that held hers moved to snake her waist and his mouth met hers in a brief kiss. “You seem to be doing this date in reverse,” she said as he led her towards the double glass doors at entrance.
“What do you mean?” The fire from his blue eyes practically scorched her. The feeling of being pressed against his side elicited a soft moan and although she thought she’d swallowed it in time, the tilt of his lips said it reached his ears.
“You might have gotten a kiss at the end of the date. You just decided to take one.”
“I wanted to put both of us out of our misery.”
“You think pretty highly of yourself.”
“If I don’t, who will?” Leah again allowed him another peck. “You look damn good. Taste pretty good too.”
“Thanks. So do you,” she said, giving him a slow once over. Suits were her weakness and Noah filled out the dark blue three-piece number as if he was about to take to the runway. She couldn’t wait to get a peek at the body underneath. Noah walked past the line, giving a nod to the pair of people taking tickets at the door, and one of the glass doors was pulled open and he led her inside. “Are you gonna be stealing kisses all night?”
“Probably.”
Leah studied him behind hooded lashes. “I might steal a few myself.”
“Feel free, Foxy.”
The cool air danced across her bare shoulders upon entrance. The bright white space was abuzz with the soft hum of the crowd as nicely dressed people milled around the room. Canvases, large and small lined the walls, arranged by style, greeted the eye. Leah didn’t know what she’d expected but the large variety of art was a pleasant surprise. “I saw this while on an art crawl with my sister a few years ago in New York,” Leah said, pointing to an Early-cubist piece. “Your friend’s wife must know some pretty affluent people because this comes from a private collection.”
“Sidney is a trust fund baby, so you would be right about that. I’m sure her dad had a lot to do with the art that’s on display. Seeing that the money raised from the showings is for charity, I’m sure they pulled out all the stops.”
So far, Leah was impressed. Even after just stepping into the exhibit, she could tell this show was well worth the expense. “Is that Leah Vines?”
They both turned upon hearing the heavy voice calling her name, the arm about her waist holding her just a bit closer. A smile bloomed on her lips upon recognizing the face. “Pax.” Placing a tap on Noah’s hand, she silently asked him to release her. After a moment, he loosened his grip and she walked into the handsome blonde’s embrace. “How are you doing?”
He placed a kiss on her temple. “I’m great. How about yourself?”
After the brief hug, Leah put space between them. “Pretty good. I can’t complain.”
“I didn’t know you were a patron of the arts.”
“I’m actually a plus one.” She slid her hand into Noah’s who hadn’t left her side. “I’m on a date with this wonderful man.”
“Noah Wesley,” he said, not waiting for an introduction, offering his hand to Paxton.
“Nice to meet you. Paxton Benjamin.” he said, giving his hand a few firm pumps. “You have a sweet girl here.”
“How do y’all know each other?” Noah asked, again capturing her waist.
Do I detect a hint of jealousy, Mr. Wesley?Leah thought to herself. Paxton was drool worthy. Growing up, he was a menace, the handsome teen leaning on his celebrity like good looks to burn a trail through a lot of the spoiled rich girls in Charleston.
“Leah and I grew up in very similar circles. My father’s in government and her father’s a high-profile minister. With the pull they both have in their communities, you can see how our worlds would somewhat intersect.”
“How is Willow?” Leah asked. “I haven’t seen your wife in ages.”
“That makes two of us,” Pax laughed. “Talked to her on the phone about a week ago and she’s still a pain in my ass.”
“Glad to see love’s still alive.” Leah laughed.
“Noah, if you don’t mind, I need to borrow Leah for just a minute,” Paxton said.
“And why are you asking for his approval?” Leah’s face screwed up, her eyes darting between both men. She wasn’t an object to be talked over. And she noticed that Noah had failed to release her.
“Just respecting your date, Leah. It’s a male thing.”
“Am I allowed to go, Daddy?” she asked mockingly.
Noah pulled her closer, placing a peck on her lips. “You really need to be careful with that honorific, Foxy. We’re in mixed company.”
She wanted to hold on to her annoyance but found it difficult when the combination of Noah’s touch and taste was at play. Giving herself an internal shake, she stepped out of his loosened embrace. Pax led her to a corner of the gallery currently unoccupied and they took a seat on a plush bench. “What’s this about, Pax?”
“Your brother.”
“Which one?”
“Joshua. I’m his biology teacher.”
“And?”
“He’s not applying himself in my class.”
“Oh really?” Leah leaned in, fisting her hand under her chin.
“That’s exactly the reaction I wanted,” Paxton laughed. “I get the feeling you’d be able to apply a bit more pressure than his parents.”
Leah didn’t correct him. Her father’s wife would probably go overboard with Joshua’s punishment. Her brother attended an expensive prep school and if his parents discovered they were possibly wasting their money, Josh would be in a peck of trouble. “What do you need from me?”
“I need him to participate. Honestly, I think it has something to do with a young lady in the class. He seems to be spending time trying to get her attention.” She rolled her eyes, eliciting a chuckle from her friend. “It’s late in the quarter, but he still has time to pull his grade up.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll handle it.” She wondered if this had anything to do with why he’d requested to spend a couple of days with her next week. “Do you happen to know if he’s doing poorly in all of his classes?”
“Not that I can tell. And he’s passing my class, but just barely.”
“It only takes a sixty to pass, correct?”
“Yes, but Josh is capable of much more. He’s in Math Club which means he has to have a high B in that class.”
Leah pondered if she should stay out of it and let the chips fall where they may when it came to her youngest sibling, but she was very protective of him. She understood how important these years were to a teenager. Outside of the church, she had no social life in high school. She didn’t want that burden on her brother. “I’ll talk to him. If you don’t see any improvement immediately, feel free to reach out. You know where to find me, Paxton.”
“Thank you, Leah. He really is a good kid. A bit of a class clown and asshole but who wasn’t?”
“You definitely were and still are, if your wife’s words on your wedding day still hold true.”
“That’s why I like him. He reminds me of myself. And my wife is prejudiced so her opinion doesn’t count.” They both laughed as Pax helped her to her feet. “Let me turn you back over to that bull that’s been not so patiently waiting for us to finish our conversation.” Her gaze floated over until she found his eyes, the blue orbs waiting for her. “He’s really into you.”
“It’s just our first date,” she said, still caught in his unwavering glance as she walked closer.
“Is everything okay?” Noah asked, his arm once again finding its home around her waist. He handed her a glass of wine that he’d procured from one of the waiters floating throughout the crowd.
“Yeah. He wanted me to get into my baby brother’s ass about his biology grade.”
“I kinda feel bad for your brother. You look fit to be tied.”
She took a dainty sip of the pale liquid, enjoying the cool sensation moving down her throat. “Let’s not worry about that. I want to enjoy this date.” Noah guided her back toward the thickening crowd and her eyes roved over the wall of large watercolors. Her steps faltered upon seeing the Horace Pippin oil painting on an easel. “My goodness. This exhibit is extraordinary. Last I heard this was in a museum in D.C.”
“You know your art,” Noah said. “I don’t know the difference between a Picasso and a print from a home décor store, but your excitement is contagious.”
“You can thank my sister for my knowledge. She’s an Art Crime Investigator. I’ve gotten to see some of the most exquisite art in the world. And some of the best forgeries too.”
“How did you convince such a beautiful woman to accompany you, Noah?”
Her date slowly swung them around as a unit to face the person addressing him. “She thinks I’m pretty wonderful if you must know, Hendrix.” Noah quickly made the introductions and Leah told him how much she admired his support of his wife’s endeavor.
“She’s pulled off quite the amazing feat. I was telling Noah that I’ve not seen some of these pieces outside of museums and private collections.”
“My father-in-law forgets the word “no” when Sidney is involved.” Leah thought she detected a bit of a grumble in the tall redhead’s tone. “An appreciation of art is her newest fixation.”
Could be worse things,Leah thought but kept the words to herself.
“Hen, would you come here please?” a soft voice almost sang. Hendrix made no attempt to hide the irritation on his face. “Excuse me. My chain is being yanked.”
“He hates being called Hen and yet she continues to do it,” Noah informed her.
“You condone what you allow,” Leah said. It was a lesson she learned during the early years of therapy. It came in handy in business as well as in her personal life.
“So, you’ve shared your love of art with me, but I’d like to know a bit more about you, Foxy.”
“I’m just a girl that loves roller skating and went a bit overboard.”
“That smile you’re wearing tells me you wouldn’t change a thing about it either.”
She felt the grin he mentioned grow. “No, I wouldn’t.” Everything from the rink to the custom skate and accessory business she owned was in honor of the maternal side of her family. The business was called “EZE-Skate,” her mother’s last name. The maternal side of her family was Nigerian, with her mother having been eight years old when their family moved to the States. Leah’s grandmother, Nafisa, instilled the value of education and hard work in her. Even though her grandmother insisted that her father raise her, the weekends Leah spent with her and her Uncle Dayo were the bright spot of her younger years.
“Most people would be so lucky to enjoy their life as much as you do.”
“Believe me, it took time.” Leah took a sip of wine, using the glass to conceal a bit of the sadness she felt rising to the surface. “Now why don’t you tell me a little about yourself? All I know is that you’re a gym rat that likes to steal kisses.”
Noah took that moment to secure another peck. “I’m not a gym rat in the typical sense. I just happen to use it as a way to unwind.”
“It can be relaxing.”
“Did I mention you look beautiful this evening?”
“Yes, you did but a girl can never hear it too much.” Even though it was nearly Spring, Leah was one of the few ladies at the event wearing a color other than black. After years of dowdy clothing, and being confined to the background, she loved being a literal rose among thorns. “And flattery will get you everywhere. But I want to get back to you. What makes Noah tick?”
“My family.” Leah didn’t miss the silly smile that lit up his face. “We’re a close-knit bunch. I told you I have four sisters and I’m the oldest. They’ve given me a gaggle of nieces and nephews and I wear the badge of favorite uncle with pride.” For a moment, she felt a tug of sadness. Although she loved her siblings, thinking of growing up with them didn’t evoke the joy she saw on Noah’s face. “And because I work with my father and grandfather, being able to get along is a must.” Noah plucked the empty wine glass from her fingers and placed it on the tray of a passing waiter.
“So, it’s a family business?”
“Yes. We own a few car dealerships.”
“Wait. Your family owns Wesley Premier?”
“Yes. Well, to be truthful, I own Wesley Premier Outdoors, my dad owns Wesley Premier Lux and my Big Daddy owns Wesley Premier EV.”
“You call your grandfather Big Daddy?” she giggled.
“Yep,” emphasizing the word with a nod.
“How very southern of you.”