CHAPTER FOUR
Noah
Noah walked into The Sin Bin and nodded at the hostess. She smiled and directed him to his normal table, where he took a seat. Another day, another meal, and another chance to convince Jordan to come work for him.
To some people, the fact that he had a regular table here might seem odd, but to a hockey fan, this routine was normal. Players had their own rituals and superstitions on game day. Some guys wore the same underwear. Some had to listen to the same song. Some, like Noah, ate the same meal before every game. Noah’s meal ritual happened to revolve around The Sin Bin. On game days, he always had to sit in the same booth. And he always ordered the tomato soup and a sandwich.
A very small part of his routine was because he didn’t cook. He could only eat grilled cheese and cold cereal so many times. And The Sin Bin chef’s tomato soup was excellent.
“Noah,” Jordan greeted him, and nervously straightened her blazer. “Your food should be right out. Can I get you anything else?”
“Good afternoon to you, too, Jordan.” Relaxing back in his seat, he added, “I’m in no rush.”
Jordan moved her glance from him to the kitchen. “It won’t be long. I’ll circle back to check on you.”
“Hang on a second, Jordan. I was wondering, have you given my proposition any thought?”
Before she could answer, a waitress approached with his food. Her relief at the disruption was obvious, judging by the way she let out a breath.
Noah nodded at the waitress and flashed her his best grin. The young lady blushed and hurried away, like most of them did. But he didn’t miss Jordan roll her eyes at him.
“Care to join me?” His smile was meant for Jordan alone this time.
She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out and instead she shook her head. Clearing her throat, she looked around the dining room with purpose.
The fact that he made her nervous when they were one on one was proof that he affected her. Proud of himself, he patted the cushion beside him. “C’mon, I’ll give you half of my sandwich. I’m sure Talia gives you a lunch break.”
“Share your sandwich, really?” She laughed. “I’ve seen you eat.”
“I’ll just order a second sandwich, not a problem.” He shrugged, amused. “C’mon. You can see the whole dining room from here, and everyone can see you if they need anything. Plus, I’m sure Talia won’t mind.”
“Talia won’t mind what?” Talia Kidd asked cheerfully, as she closed in on his table.
“Just Noah being Noah,” Jordan scoffed.
It tickled his heart seeing her so flustered at him. “I suggested that she take a lunch break and I’d share my sandwich with her.”
“I think you mean order a second sandwich. Noah, I’ve never known you to share your food,” Talia teased.
She didn’t accept his offer of lunch, and he finished his meal while watching Jordan move around the dining room. She was beautiful. Her smile lit up the room, and her laughter was contagious. There was a confidence about her that let everyone around her know she was in charge.
She was just the type of general manager he needed.
Noah couldn’t help but run his eyes over her as she approached his table. She had her business smile plastered on her face, and he wished he could find out what she hid under that no-nonsense mask.
“Can I get you anything else?” she asked.
“Have dinner with me.”
“You just finished eating,” she shot back quickly.
“That was lunch.”
Without missing a beat, she answered, “I’m busy.”
“But you don’t know what night.”
“I’m flattered, but no thanks,” she said without looking at him. Instead, she focused on her handheld tablet. “I hope you enjoyed your meal, and thank you for dining with us. I’ll go get your check.” Before he could say anything else, she hurried away.
Amused, he couldn’t help but chuckle. Jordan had fire and he liked it. He also liked watching her walk away.
“Shot down, huh?” Talia asked, as she sat down next to him.
He shrugged. “This time.”
“Seems to me like it’s every time.”
He had to admit, he hadn’t expected it to take this long for her to warm to him. It was unusual for him, to say the least, since women tended to fall at his feet at the first smile. But he knew that he affected her. If it wasn’t for the subtle clues, his confidence might’ve taken a blow.
“What can I say? I’m persistent.”
Talia laughed. “I’m getting that. So how long are you going to wait for her?”
“As long as it takes.”
Noah knocked on the door of Harrison and Talia’s house. He’d known Harrison since they were young, and his friend was a major reason Noah had been so excited to come to Pittsburgh. Being taken in by any family in a new city was nice. But being taken in by Harrison’s was a bonus.
“Rodgers!” Harrison exclaimed, as he opened the door. “Come on in. You’re just in time!”
Stepping into the Dash house, he was hit with the smell of a home-cooked meal. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d had one. Immediately, he saw Sam and his family. “Oh, uh, I didn’t realize you were having a party—sorry.”
“A party?” Talia repeated, as she came out of the kitchen to greet him. “No, this is just dinner. You know Sam, and this is Sam’s wife—my sister, Trina.”
“Nice to meet you, Noah. I’ve heard all about you,” Trina said.
“All lies, I swear,” Noah teased.
“Oh please.” Talia chuckled. “Noah is one of the good ones.”
Talia’s kindness and warm welcome gave him the tiniest twinge of guilt in the pit of his stomach, because he’d tried to hire Jordan out from under Talia. He needed to have a sit down with his friend and tell her everything. It was the only way to handle this.
As he shook Sam’s hand, a little blond boy peeked around from behind Sam’s legs, where he was hiding. “And who do we have here?” Noah asked.
“This is my son, Hank.” He looked down at his son. “Hank, this is daddy’s friend, Noah.”
But the little boy continued to hide.
Sam shrugged. “He’s five. I don’t know where the shyness came from.”
“Not from his mom, that’s for sure,” Talia commented.
Music played in the living room. Noah turned just in time to see a little blonde girl dancing. She stopped and stared at him.
“You look different without your jersey on,” she said.
“Oh yeah?” He smiled, thinking she meant his that his hair made him look different, or something like that.
“You seem shorter in real life,” she said, matter-of-factly.
“Willow!” Trina scolded from the other room. “Don’t be rude.”
The little mini-Sam shrugged and very innocently said, “Well, he does!”
“This little spitfire is our daughter, Willow.”
“Morgan calls me a spitfire, too,” Willow replied. She zeroed in on his wrist. “That’s a really big watch you’re wearing. It’s like—like as big as my head!”
“I am so sorry.” Sam laughed, as he redirected Willow’s attention elsewhere.
“She talks more than you do, Morris.”
“That’s where she takes after her mom,” Talia teased. “Everyone ready for dinner?”
Noah watched them all take a seat in the dining room, waiting to see which chair they wanted him to sit on.
“Sit next to me, Noah!” Willow commanded.
Noah nodded, and took the seat between Willow and Harrison.
“Noah, I have an idea I’d like to run by you,” Harrison said.
“Sure, what’s up?” Noah admired the delicious looking roast, vegetables, and rolls sitting on the table.
“I’m getting a few guys together for a casual meet and greet for a big fan.”
“Oh yeah? I’m always up for photos and autographs. Where are we talking? Maybe take them out for a drink?” Noah’s brain flooded with so many fun ideas.
“Um, that’s not what I was thinking, considering the fan we’re meeting is nine. So are you in?”
Taking a bite of his food, he nodded. “Of course. Yeah, I’m in.”
“Morris?” Harrison asked.
“Yeah, I’m in, too. I love doing stuff like that. Where are we meeting the kid?” He took a bite of food. “By the way, Talia, the food is delicious.”
“It was all Harrison, as usual. He’s the cook in our little family,” Talia answered.
“Unless it’s frozen pizzas, then she’s the master chef,” Harrison added.
“Just like her sister,” Sam said with a laugh.
They got sidetracked and ate most of dinner before the conversation made its way back around to the meet and greet.
“I was thinking the arena,” Harrison continued. “We could bring him out for a private skate, and then maybe shoot the puck a little. And his parents and Jordan will be there, too.”
Noah perked up at her name. “Jordan?”
“Yeah, the little fan is her nephew. I think she said he’s from Ohio.”
Even better. What better time to show off his skating skills?
“Oh great,” Sam said with a groan. “That look on Rodger’s face tells me he’s all excited to show off on the ice for Jordan.”
“Shut up. Am not.”
“What are you? Five?” Willow asked, and rolled her eyes at Noah’s lame response.
“Woah, dissed by a seven-year-old!” Sam laughed.
“Yeah!” little Hank added.
“Wow…” Noah shook his head.
“You guys need to be nice to Noah. He’s Uncle Harry’s friend. How would you feel if Noah was mean to your friends?” Trina said to the kids.
Willow simply shrugged, then she said, “Hank doesn’t have any friends.”
Noah couldn’t help but laugh.
“Sorry.” Trina grimaced. “But speaking of impressing her on the ice, you should invite her to a game.”
“Yeah, I can make sure the restaurant is covered so I can bring her,” Talia suggested. “I don’t think she’s been to any games since she came to Pittsburgh.”
Sam chuckled. “You lucky duck. You now have the Kidd sisters meddling in your love life!”
“Helping. We are helping with his love life,” Trina corrected.
“Yeah Daddy, we’re helping,” Willow said. Then she put her hand up to her mouth like she was going to tell a secret, but she didn’t whisper. “And Noah, if you need any help with skating, I’m really good at it. Just let me know and I’ll teach you.”
“Okay, I think that’s our cue to head on home,” Trina said.
“Thanks for a great dinner, guys,” Sam said to Harrison and Talia. “And Noah, yes, this is my life,” Sam teased. “See you tomorrow.”
After the Morrisons had departed, Noah decided he needed to get the Jordan situation off his chest. “Talia, can I talk to you about something?” He looked to Harrison, who nodded, then put his feet up on the coffee table and turned on a hockey game.
“That sounds serious. I’m not sure I like that.” Talia grimaced. “Let’s go sit in the dining room, it’s quieter in there.”
Noah sat across from her at the table. His nerves were through the roof, and he was pretty sure he was sweating. Talia had become family to him. And if this was just business, then why did he feel like he was doing something immoral?
“Okay, what did you want to discuss, Noah?” Her friendly smile made him feel even worse about what he had to say.
“As you know, my bar will be opening soon.”
She nodded happily. “And I think it’s a great location. Attached to the arena, you should get tons of foot traffic on game days.”
“I hope so. But here’s the thing…” He stared down at the table, not able to look at his friend. A rock landed in his stomach. Talia and Harrison had welcomed him as part of their family. And here he was, trying to poach her best employee. Yes, he was a huge jerk. “Talia, I am trying to recruit Jordan as my General Manager.”
“Wait. What?” She stared at him as though she hadn’t a clue what he’d just said.
“I’m trying to—”
“No, I heard you.” She stared back at him as if she were shooting daggers. “You want to steal Jordan from me?”
“Hear me out.” He pushed his shoulders back as he pressed on. “Being a General Manager is a promotion for her. And you know I can’t be there most of the time, and then of course there are the away games… What I’m saying is, as my General Manager, she’d be running the place on her own. She would be the boss.”
Talia nodded. “And she is a natural at that.”
“At The Sin Bin, she can’t move up from where she’s at. If she’s happy with that, I won’t push. But I want to at least offer her this opportunity.”
Talia didn’t say anything. Dakota’s cries filtered through the baby monitor.
Harrison walked through the room. “I’ll get her.”
Talia stood up, held up her hand to stop Harrison in place. “No, it’s fine. I’ll do it.” She hurried out of the room to the crying baby.
“Well.” Harrison laughed. “Looks like she’s handling the news well.”
Noah dropped his head into his hands. “Ugh. She hates me.”
“Want a beer?” Harrison asked, as he walked towards the kitchen.
“Yes, please,” Noah called to him. “Why didn’t you stop me?”
Harrison returned to the table, handed Noah the beer, and sat across from him. “Because as much as I don’t want to lose Jordan, I think this is a great opportunity for her. And I know that after Tal thinks it over, she will agree.”
“I’m not so sure.” He took a long drink of the cold beer.
“Trust me, she’ll come around.”
“Even if she does, and let’s say I miraculously don’t lose her friendship over this, none of this matters if Jordan turns down the job. And I’m sure she will.”
“Why wouldn’t she take the job?” Talia asked, as she entered the room. There was no anger on her face as he had expected.
“Why? Because she is loyal to The Sin Bin and to you,” he said cautiously. “And that’s fine.”
“No, it’s not fine,” Talia said firmly. “A job as a General Manager is a wonderful opportunity. And she’d better take it.”
Noah looked from Talia to Harrison in confusion.
“Dude, I told you,” Harrison said with a grin.
Talia sat down in her husband’s lap. “Noah, get that deer in headlights look off your face. You came in here looking terrified. My God, what did you think I was going to do?”
“I don’t know.” He shrugged. “This is Jordan we’re talking about. She’s your star employee, the kind you could entrust the restaurant to while you’re unavailable, and never worry.”
“Yes, I know. And she trained Emily, so I know I’m in good hands. But kudos for coming to me, owner to owner.”
“I was thinking more friend to friend.”
She smiled at him. “See, I was right. You are one of the good ones.”
Now all he had to do was try to convince Jordan to accept the job.