Chapter 28
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
“Don’t try to make me grow up before my time...” ~Louisa May Alcott, Little Women
T he soft click of the door shutting broke into Nat’s dreams. Blinking her eyes open, she stretched. Streaks of early morning light peeked into the hotel room through a small gap between the drawn curtains. She reached, finding only emptiness beside her.
Where is he? She sat up in the bed. The sheet slid to her waist, exposing her very naked top half, which matched her very naked bottom half. Why had she wasted space in her suitcase for pajamas?
The only thing better than going to bed with Noah would be waking up with him. It still hadn’t happened, but she wouldn’t push. Sleep was difficult for him. The memories of what happened on that roadside in Iraq seemed to visit him most nights.
“Noah?” she called, hearing the shower turn on.
After no answer came, she slipped out of bed. The running water may have drowned out her voice. The sound of the shutting door must have been him returning rather than leaving.
Nat tiptoed to the bathroom, easing the door open. Tendrils of steam filled the bathroom, warming her body, which was both cold from leaving the bed and heated with the sight of Noah’s muscular back and ass facing her.
He stood underneath the showerhead as hot water rained down on him. The droplets cascaded across his defined physique.
Nat’s eyes fixed on the small Marine bulldog tattoo on his right shoulder blade. She’d never really seen it before. Her fingernails had skated across it or dug into it when he drove into her, but she’d never gotten a good look at his backside. The white bulldog outlined in blue appeared both fierce protector and an adorable playmate. Just like the man it was inked on.
Goddess, he’s beautiful. Licking her lips, she stepped over the small pile of workout clothes on the white tile floor and opened the glass door.
Noah turned. “Good morning, gorgeous,” he said with an almost wicked grin.
“Good morning, handsome,” she said with very wicked intentions.
“Care to join me?”
“Well, I am undressed for it.”
With a sated ache between her legs, Nat sat in the brown armchair, a fluffy white towel wrapped around her. The coffee she sipped was hot and rich. Noah, who would be heading down for the conference, was getting dressed in the bathroom.
She was going to meet Preeti for breakfast. It would make that story she’d told her family about visiting a friend from college the tiniest of white lies. After breakfast, she’d attend Noah’s speech. He secured a pass for her to visit the conference’s vendor area and attend his keynote speech at the end of the day.
Noah stepped out of the bathroom dressed in a fitted navy suit. As he turned to Nat, her breath hitched. The sight of Noah dressed like that, so fine and fit, was knee-wobbling. She resisted the urge to fan herself. Some men wore suits. Some suits wore men. What Noah did to that suit defied all laws of fashion.
“Good goddess,” she gasped. “Have you seen yourself in a suit?”
“I think you’re biased,” he said, walking over to her.
“I have half a mind to lock you in this room. You may cause a hormonal riot in that suit.”
Nat’s gaze swept over the perfect fit of the fabric on his broad shoulders and cut body. The color made his eyes shimmer like the Caribbean Sea. The combination of his boyishly dimpled smile, strong jawline, and that suit melded into a sexy boy next door package. A sexy boy next door that not thirty minutes ago pressed her against the tiled wall of the shower, driving into her and causing her to scream his name so loud that they feared someone would call hotel security.
Oh, goddess. The memory pooled liquid heat between her legs.
She was acting like a teenager. Although, she’d not acted like this as an actual teenager. Nobody had ever set her entire body on fire sexually while capturing her heart at the same time the way he did. Whether having sex or just being together talking, she burned for this man.
Noah bent and kissed her. “They’ll have your pass at the check-in desk at the conference. Have fun at your breakfast, and I’ll see you after my speech,” he said, starting to straighten up.
Nat grabbed his emerald tie, pulling him back to her lips. “Kick ass today, baby.”
A huge smile erupted on his face. “You called me baby.”
“Sure did,” she crooned. “You said baby first, so I thought I’d return it. It’s only fair, after all.”
With one last kiss and a big grin, Noah left. After she lounged in the memory of him in that suit and plotted to peel it off him later, she got ready to leave for breakfast with Preeti, her undergrad roommate and fellow primary care physician, who lived in Syracuse.
After breakfast and lots of “I can’t believe we did that” stories from her undergrad days, Nat went to the room to change from her casual sundress to something a little sexy business casual. After Noah’s speech, they’d be attending a cocktail hour and then head out for a romantic dinner.
Nat pushed into a pair of rose gold heels and then stepped in front of the full-length mirror in the hotel room’s small entryway. Twirling, she admired herself. The light green sheath dress fell just above her knees and hugged her petite frame. She may not have luscious curves like Summer, but this dress perfectly punctuated what she did have. She pulled on a fitted navy blazer and finished the outfit with a pair of rose gold hoops that popped out of her blown-out sandy locks.
“Look at you,” she said, wiggling her hips in the mirror. Grabbing her purse, she headed out.
Nat zigzagged through the vendor tables outside the large auditorium where Noah would speak. Each table highlighted different rural business resources. Business consultants, social media/marketing experts, and various small business organizations filled tables lining the long stretch of hallway. She wandered, grabbing pamphlets, cards, and free swag to share with Noah and for Summer’s growing event planning business.
“Yes, the grant can be used to fund equipment for expansion.” A husky man with gray-streaked dark hair addressed a young woman.
Nat turned from the table she was in front of and listened to the man go on. His deep voice commanded attention. The man picked up a laminated postcard from the table draped in a blue tablecloth embossed with The Clark Foundation .
“Thank you,” a young woman said, taking the advertisement and walking away.
Nat stepped up to the table, picked up the advertisement, and read it. “What is the Clark Foundation?” she asked.
“We’re a nonprofit focused on supporting rural community development. We offer grants, business coaching, and resources to support rural communities.”
Her brow wrinkled. “Have you ever worked with rural medical clinics?”
The man cocked his head to the right. “We haven’t, but there’s always a first time. I’m Caleb Walters.” He reached out his hand.
Nat took it. “Dr. Nat Owens. I work with a small clinic in Wyoming County.”
“Nice to meet you, Dr. Owens.”
A giddiness rippled through her. Dr. Owens. She was Dr. Owens, goddess damn it. Time to not just say it but be it.
After a lengthy discussion with Caleb, she found her way to the fourth row of the auditorium. The room was filled with whispering people in white dress shirts, suits, and business casual attire. A blue wooden lectern stood in the center of the raised stage with four chairs flanking each side.
Two men in black suits and a woman in a gray dress walked onto the stage, followed by Noah. Each took a seat beside the lectern. Noah’s gaze drifted around the room.
She stood up pretending to adjust her blazer, but in hopes he would see her. The pop of that dimple in a big grin told her that he’d seen her.
With an equally big grin on her face, she mouthed, Kick butt, baby .
Those butterflies jigged as he mouthed back, Thanks, baby .
The woman in the gray dress strode to the lectern, calling everyone’s attention. “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Annual Rural Business Conference. I have the distinct pleasure of introducing this year’s Keynote Speaker, Mr. Noah Wilson. Noah is not only the owner of three successful businesses, helping revive the Main Street of Perry, New York, but serves as a coach through the New York State Rural Business Association and mentors future entrepreneurs as an advisor to the Perry Central School’s Future Businesspeople of America club. Please help me welcome Mr. Noah Wilson,” she announced.
Nat clapped as loudly as she could, just skirting obnoxious. She had no idea he was coaching fellow businesses and mentoring students at the school, but she was unsurprised. There were so many things around the community that he did without people noticing. He quietly cross-promoted other businesses in town by, along with his staff wearing T-shirts with their business’s names, having their advertisements at his businesses, or doing joint events. Each Saturday, he brought free cookies to Cow Tales for their weekly children’s story hour. He volunteered for most of the village’s events. Summer shared that he’d even rocked the pink Easter Bunny costume the last three years for the VFW’s Annual Easter Egg hunt.
Noah strode to the lectern. “Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. I’m here this weekend because of love?—”
What!? Nat’s freaked-out internal monologue cut Noah off. He couldn’t be talking about her. This was too new for love. Also, was he proclaiming his love in front of two hundred people? Nope, this was not happening.
“—Love is what drives me to do the work I’m doing. The love for my community and the people there.” Noah went on, interrupting her internal freakout.
Thank the goddess. She exhaled.
The tense muscles in her body melted as Noah spoke. With rapt attention, the attendees listened as he explained his professional philosophy about the importance of staying anchored in the why. That success is more than profit. If a business owner is focused on taking care of their staff, they’ll take care of your business. That supporting a community results in thriving businesses.
Noah talked about his first business, the Farmer’s Wife, that he hadn’t bought to get rich. The bakery had struggled for years, but he knew that there was still a need for it. People doubted that a man with a recent business degree from UC San Diego and four years of experience managing a sports bar after getting out of the Marines could turn around a bakery. By focusing on his community’s needs, allowing the bakery to meet those needs, and becoming an essential part of the village, he’d done what he set out to do.
Admiration fluttered throughout Nat’s entire body as she listened to Noah speak. He was everything she knew he was and so much more. Her heart burst with affection and pride.
After the speech, she followed the crowd into a large banquet room. Two bars were set up on either side of the room. Servers in black shirts wandered through the clusters of networking people, offering different hors d’oeuvres.
Nat stood at a high top in the front of the room. Noah had been surrounded by people offering congratulations and picking his brain, so she’d slipped away to let him mingle. She was content sipping her glass of rosé and nibbling on a bacon-wrapped date. She used the time to pull up the Clark Foundation’s website on her phone. The more she read on the website and thought of the conversation with Caleb, she knew with certainty that this was her answer.
“Hey, gorgeous.” Noah sauntered over, resting his hand on the small of her back and pressing a kiss to her cheek.
“Hey, tall, blue-eyed, and handsome.” She winked.
He chuckled. “Are you drinking rosé? Elle would be so proud of you.”
“They didn’t have cider,” she pouted.
Rosé wasn’t her favorite. Ever since her first illegal sip of alcohol when she was fourteen, she had been a cider girl. Just don’t tell her soon-to-be sister-in-law, who, no doubt, would require the entire wedding party to drink tea or rosé. Since Elle had joined the family there was always a bottle chilling in Clayton and their parents’ respective fridges, standing ready for Elle.
“Your speech was wonderful. I’m so proud! I wish I had recorded it. Your mom and dad would burst with parental pride.” She almost squealed from her own sense of pride.
It wasn’t just his story that captured the room, but how he spoke. Confidence, humility, inspiration, and sincerity were woven seamlessly into the fabric of his speech.
“The conference organizers recorded it, so it will be available on their website on Monday. I’ll send my parents the link,” he offered.
Nat’s heart squeezed. “You’re such a good son.” Her face scrunched. “You’re such a good everything.”
Bemusement curled his lips. “Well, I’m failing as a boyfriend because my beautiful girlfriend has been reduced to rosé. I need to rectify that immediately. Ready to head to dinner? We’re going to the Cider Mill, so I know for a fact they have cider for…” He paused and then winked. “…my baby.”
A big laugh sprinted out of her. “Lead the way, baby.”
Fifteen minutes later, she jumped out of Noah’s SUV. She slipped her blazer off and tossed it onto the front seat before shutting the door. The evening was still warm, so the jacket wasn’t necessary. Also, the full effect of the dress needed to be experienced.
Noah rounded the vehicle. Stopping as he reached her, his throat bobbing and eyes raking down her figure. “You’re stunning.”
“Oh, this old thing?” she said with sassiness, shaking her hips. She’d only bought the dress the previous Saturday just for this trip.
He stepped close, settling his hands on her waist. “You worried about me causing a hormonal riot in this suit, but you in that dress…” He hummed his appreciation.
She lifted to her tiptoes, snaking her arms around his neck. “Good thing I have my warrior to protect me from horny rioters.”
“I do enjoy your wit.” He dipped his head, kissing her. “I have something for you.” He released her and stepped back.
Nat arched an eyebrow, and a salacious smile kicked across her face.
“Not that.” With a teasing smirk, he slipped his right hand into the pocket of his jacket and pulled out a rectangular purple velvet box.
Nat took it, biting her lip as she opened it. A delicate rose gold gardenia pendant necklace was inside. “Noah.” Her words and breath both hitched.
“Do you like it?” The playfulness of his tone was replaced with a nervous hopefulness.
“I love it. A gardenia.”
It was just like the flowers he’d given her. The ones that meant secret affection.
Noah took the box from her. “May I?” he asked, removing the necklace.
She nodded, turning her back to him. The heat from his body enveloped her as he stood behind her. Goosebumps bloomed across her skin. His hands were gentle as he placed the necklace around her neck.
Nat raised her fingers to the pendant, tracing its smooth edges. “It’s lovely.”
“I saw it and thought of you.” He cupped her upper arms. “Besides the obvious, gardenias are both beautiful and strong, they have an intoxicating fragrance that lingers, and they aren’t every day. They’re special.”
“Baby,” she crooned, twisting to face him. “Thank you for seeing me. For reminding me who I am and not expecting me to be anything else but that.” She wrapped her fingers around the necklace.
The gift wasn’t just about the secret romance they had, but it represented her. Since coming home, she lost herself. So much of the spunky Nat had been tamped down by self-doubt.
Noah caressed her cheek. “Who you are is far too special to be marred by being anybody else. A rose can never be a gardenia.”
“And a gardenia can never be a rose, and that’s okay.” She smiled.
It was a ridiculous metaphor, but it made sense to her. So, what if she wasn’t the Dr. Owens. She was a Dr. Owens. Better than that, she was Dr. Nat Owens. She didn’t need to be her father. She could be herself and win them over, just as she’d done with classmates in medical school and fellow residents in her residency program. Whoever didn’t get on the Dr. Nat Owens train, well… Fuck them!
“I have an idea that I’m really excited about. Can I pick your sexy business brain during dinner?” She pitched her voice low and seductive. “I’ll let you bend me over the desk in the hotel room in return for your business god knowledge.”
“There’s that cutthroat negotiating mind of yours at work again.”