Mindi
Ten Days before Christmas
Things were finally coming together at the Community Center, and with Ethan’s help, we worked together to set up Noah’s office. So far he’d been with us a full week and already had a full schedule. I’d gotten lucky to get Sarah in to talk to him today.
I glanced at my watch as I made my way down the hall to his office and stopped just outside the door, peeking in the window to see them sitting on the couch talking away.
I had feared she’d never open up and that when the time came for her to be moved to her new family that she’d struggle.
I wanted to give her the best chance of success at settling in with whomever they placed her with, and I’d done all that I could to help.
Noah was the next logical step. I was surprised to see that she was talking his ear off and even laughing.
I knocked on the door, wishing I didn’t need to interrupt, and popped my head into Noah’s new office.
“Hey, Mindi, we were just finishing up,” Noah said, smiling.
“How did it go?” I questioned, looking at Sarah.
“Good.”
“Great. Well, are you just about ready to head on over to see Gracie?” I questioned.
“Yes! I’m so excited to sleep over, and if I go now, that means you can head out on your date,” Sarah said, batting her eyelashes at me and giggling.
Sarah asked me last week if she could sleep over at Gracie’s this week, and so we called and spoken to Iris and made a plan. Shortly after my phone call with Iris, I invited Noah for dinner, which he’d quickly accepted.
“Alright, miss, that is enough.” I laughed as she puckered her lips and sent kisses into the air. “Where is that coming from?”
Sarah shrugged and then laughed as she took off out of the room and headed to my office to grab her things.
I stood there watching as Noah made a couple of notes and then tucked a file into the pile on his desk before looking up at me.
“Everything go okay?” I asked.
“Yep, went fine. We worked through a lot today,” Noah said, getting up from where he sat and moving to his desk. “You don’t need to worry about her. She is going to be fine.”
“I’m glad, but I’ll always worry.”
Noah looked up at me and smiled. “I know. It wouldn’t be like you if you didn’t.” He said, coming over to me, placing a kiss on my lips. “So, shall I bring dessert tonight?”
“That would be nice. I am going to run her over to Zach and Iris’s and then head on out and get the stand closed down.”
“Sounds good. I will see you about six then?” he questioned, glancing at his watch.
“Six works.”
“Okay, see you then. Ready, kiddo?” I questioned as Sarah stopped in the doorway watching the both of us, bags in her hands.
“Ready.” She smiled. “Could we stop at The Crispy Biscuit and get some treats for Gracie and I?” she asked, looking up at me.
“Well, what about the boys, Dylan and Noah? Should we get something for them too?”
“I guess.”
“You guess? I think we should. I also think that we should get something for Iris and Zach as well, okay?”
“Okay, have fun on your date,” Sarah said, waving to Noah.
“Have fun at your sleepover.” He winked at Sarah and then winked at me as we turned to leave.
“You awake?” I heard Noah ask quietly.
I opened my eyes to see the credits rolling on the TV, my head rested on his shoulder.
“Hmmm, yes,” I said, sitting up a little and looking at Noah with sleepy eyes.
We’d had a nice quiet dinner, talking about the past and catching one another up on all that we’d been through over the years.
After, Noah built a fire while I cleaned up the dishes and put things away.
Then, we settled down together, curled up on the couch with a couple of blankets, and watched a movie.
“Wow, it’s late. I didn’t realize the time. I guess I should get home,” he said, placing his hand on my thigh and smiling gently.
The conversation between us had flowed as easily as it always had, but I knew there were still a lot of unsaid words between us, and now the thought of him leaving was causing a very heavy feeling inside of me.
He got up from where he was sitting and made his way over to the front hall closet as I came up behind him.
“Thank you for dinner. It was wonderful,” he said, pushing a strand of hair behind my ears before stopping to look me in the eyes.
“You’re welcome. I’m glad you enjoyed.”
He threw his coat on and then leaned forward and pressed his lips to mine. I closed my eyes, allowing myself to let go and just let the warm feeling awaken me.
“Night, Mindi,” he whispered and opened the door, stepping out into the snowy night air.
“Night.”
I watched him walk down the stairs toward his truck and then went back inside and shut the door.
As I stood there with my back pressed to the door, I realized I didn’t want him to leave; I wanted him to stay, but I couldn’t move.
It was rare for me to have the house to myself, and I knew I needed to open the door, call out to him and tell him to come back inside, but I just stood there, leaning against the door.
I heard his engine start and then trail off into the night.
I made my way into the living room, stopping after only a few steps. I really didn’t want him to leave. I turned around and made my way back to the door, pulling it open. I was shocked to see Noah standing there, and before I could say anything, he’d wrapped his arms around me, kissing me hard.
He backed me into the house, closing the door behind him, then shrugged out of his jacket as we continued to kiss.
“I couldn’t leave,” he whispered. “Not this time.”
My hands found the buttons of his shirt, unbuttoning one at a time, finally shoving the material off his shoulders.
He broke our kiss only to lift my shirt up and over my head, dropping it to the floor where his lay.
Then he pulled me against his warm chest, his hands running down my body, cupping my ass as he pulled me closer.
“Is it wrong that I’ve wanted you all this time?” he murmured. “That I still want you?”
My body heated as he kissed the side of my neck, his one hand now resting gently on my cheek as his other snaked through my hair, gently tugging it as his lips met mine again.
“I still want you to.” I closed my eyes, relishing the feel of his lips against my skin.
I couldn’t help but let out a quiet moan as his tongue washed through my mouth as his hands ran over my back.
He played with the clasp on my bra, my nipples hardening as the material fell away.
He looked down into my eyes as he gently removed it, dropping it to the pile that lay at our feet, before he took my breasts in his hands, cupping them, running his thumbs over my nipples.
“I want you,” he murmured, pulling me against his bare chest, kissing me hard.
“I want you too,” I whispered, tugging on his jeans to follow me down the hall where we entered my bedroom and closed the door.