Sweet Noel

by Jeanette Lewis

  “Humph! You underestimate my ability to hold on to useless items,” Gina said. “I might have a scarf. I’ll check when we get home, and then you’re going to be sorry.”

  “It has to be knitted,” Noel reminded her. “You said knitted.”

  She’d been hoping to slide that one by him. She knew she didn’t have any knitted scarves, but she probably had a silk one lying around somewhere—or, more likely, polyester pretending to be silk. “One hundred dollars?” she asked.

  “Unless you want to substitute something else of similar value,” Noel murmured. His eyes dropped to her lips and then back up.

  “Like what?” she teased, wishing she could stay in this moment with him forever. In this fragile beginning, everything was new and exciting, and even the smallest touch sent heat pooling in her stomach.

  “I’m sure I could think of something,” Noel said quietly, so only she could hear.

  Gina pressed her lips together to keep herself from breaking into a giant smile. “Sounds like I should do my best not to find a knitted scarf when we get back, then.”

  Noel grinned, and Gina felt like she’d swallowed a dozen jellyfish that were now joining the butterflies spinning circles in her stomach, making her want to dance.

  “Mom!” Arthur’s voice cut through her thoughts. “What’s down there?”

  They turned to see him pointing farther down the beach, toward the area where black rocks pockmarked the coastline. Typical of a five-year-old, Arthur had lived in this house and played on this beach since February, and he was just noticing the faraway cliffs.

  “The cliffs,” Gina said. “We used to go explore the caves in high school.”

  “There are caves?” Jordan demanded, an excited lilt to his voice.

  “Let’s go explore them,” Noel suggested.

  “Sweet! Let’s go!” Jordan took a few running steps before being called back by Gina’s voice.

  “Not today, guys. Noel’s done a lot of walking, and we still have to haul all this stuff home.” Why did she care about how far Noel had walked? He wasn’t complaining. She flushed. “Plus,” she glanced at her watch, “the tide’s in. It’s too dangerous.”

  Arthur’s eyes grew round. “Why is it dangerous?”

  “The caves can flood,” Gina said. “Not always, but the water gets pretty high. It’s not a good idea to be in there when the tide’s in.”

  The boys stared at the dark spots with new respect.

  “That’s enough,” Gina said briskly. “You two start picking this stuff up. We need to go make dinner.”

  The boys began packing Noel’s tools into the various buckets and pails littering the sand. He unrolled a length of fabric she’d thought was a beach towel. It wasn’t, though; it had pockets for the smaller tools, and Noel carefully wiped the sand off each one before putting it away in the correct slot. Gina knelt to help him.

  “Sounds like you’re speaking from experience about the water in those caves,” he said, glancing toward them.

  “Not me. My mother would have grounded me for a year if I’d put myself in that kind of danger. I only went there when the tide was out. But some of the other local kids liked to dare each other,” Gina said. “They still do, according to Ben. He’s had to rescue more than one group since he’s been on the police force.”

  Noel shook his head. “Kids will do anything for a little adventure. When I was a kid, it was making hills and jumping our dirt bikes. The local ER always racked up plenty of broken bones over the summers.”

  “Where was that?” Gina asked. She reached out and took the pails Arthur offered, thankful for something to do with her hands as they began the slow walk back to the house.

  “Southern California,” Noel said. “But not the good part. The interior where it’s hot and dry and dusty all year round.”

  “Yet you make sand sculptures like you grew up with a beach just outside your door.”

  “Yeah, well. Beach sand isn’t actually the best for sand sculptures.”

  “Really?”

  He nodded. “The professionals use river sand. It doesn’t get as worn by the water and the angular grains stick together better.”

  She shook her head. “I never would have thought of that.”

  “But I do love the ocean,” Noel said. “It was about two hours to the beach from my house and once I got my license, I’d go there every weekend. You’re lucky to have this right out your back door.”

  “I didn’t realize how lucky until I’d moved away,” she told him. “One of those don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone kind of things. I knew I’d miss my family when I went to school, but I never thought I’d miss the beach like I did.”

  “Where was school?”

  “Coastal Carolina. It’s by Myrtle Beach, but I couldn’t afford to live too close to it. Definitely not in the backyard like we have here.”

  “So it must be nice now, to be back.”

  She lifted one shoulder. “Sorta. It’s not the same.”

  Noel looked ahead where Arthur and Jordan were running toward home. Jordan was almost to the dunes while Arthur lagged behind on his shorter legs. “They’re good kids,” he said softly. “Fun.”

  “They had a good time today,” Gina said. “Thank you for helping them forget about fishing.”

  Noel nodded slowly. “You’re welcome. I enjoyed it.”

  “I never thought I’d end up like this,” Gina confessed. “Marriage is supposed to be forever, you know? It’s funny how things change.”

  “I know. I thought I’d be with Maren forever.”

  A small dart of jealousy shot through her. He’d loved someone else, had belonged to someone else. No, her mind skittered way from that word—belonged. Like Noel was some kind of prized show pony. Or like she was. Memories rose fast and thick, choking her.

  “Hey, are you okay?” Noel asked.

  “Yeah. It just stinks. I mean, I thought we were good together, but apparently he didn’t.”

  Noel squinted down at her. “Why not?”

  “He said he was tired of being married, wanted more.” The words burned in her mouth, but not quite as hot as they had nine months ago. “The implication being I wasn’t enough, I guess.”

  “Then that makes him a dirtbag,” Noel growled. “You’re more than enough.”

  Gina sighed. “Thanks. But I’d give just about anything to not be a single mother. It’s a whole new level of stress.”

  “Yeah, I’ll bet. But you’re doing a good job. They’re great kids, and they adore you. I know it’s not easy, but you can be proud of yourself.”

  She gave him a small smile, and they started walking again, following the boys back toward home.

  13

  Dinner was loud, as both of the boys regaled their grandparents about the adventure of the day and the sand sculptures they’d built with Noel. Noel sat back and enjoyed the meal and the company, sharing secret smiles with Gina whenever the boys got particularly excited. This was a new thing for him, to be the one responsible for making children so happy. It was strangely rewarding.

  “We even gave the sandman a parrot on his shoulder!” Arthur crowed triumphantly. “Mom, where’s your phone so I can show them the pictures?”

  “No electronics at the table,” Gina’s mom said gently. “But tell me more so I can see it in my head; then later we can compare it to the pictures.”

  “He’s really tall, and he has a rock for a hat. I found a perfect piece of driftwood for his mouth, and it looks like he’s smiling. And he’s got an eyepatch,” Jordan added. “Noel made it. He’s really good.”

  “You guys did the hard work, hauling all the sand and water.” Noel speared a piece of asparagus on his fork and popped it into his mouth. “This is delicious, Marjorie. Thank you.”

  Marjorie gave him a warm smile.

  Noel turned his gaze to Gina, who was sitting across from him. Her eyes sparkled when they met his, and he noticed her cheeks were pink. “Did you get sunburne
d?” he asked.

  “Did I?” She pressed her fingertips to her cheeks. “I don’t think so.”

  “She’s blushing.” Arthur giggled. “Noel and Mom were hugging.”

  Gina’s cheeks went an adorable shade darker. “You weren’t supposed to see that.”

  “Well, we did,” Jordan said.

  Noel turned to look at Gina’s older son. He’d expected to see fight in his eyes, a stubborn defiance that would speak in defense of his father like he’d shown at the beach. But it wasn’t there. Jordan’s eyes were clear and bright, and he looked at Noel with something akin to hero worship. Maybe she’d misread him earlier.

  “Well!” Gina’s mother broke the silence. “Who’s ready for dessert?”

  Later, Noel stepped onto the deck. The moon was bright, glinting off the water beyond the dunes. The salty breeze drifted across his face, and he took a deep breath. It was peaceful here; he could get used to it.

  He eased himself onto the porch swing and threw his head back to look at the sky. His knee throbbed, but the meds were mostly doing their job. He could move on at any time now. He should move on. Gina came with more baggage than Old Rose in Titanic; staying and falling in love with her would not be a good decision. But since when was he one for good decisions? Case in point: he wasn’t even supposed to be walking yet, but he’d done it anyway. If he ever went to rehab, the physical therapist would probably kill him.

  He closed his eyes, going back to better thoughts. Gina, and their conversation on the beach, of building the sandman with her kids. It had been fun. Their energy was infectious, and the look on Jordan’s face at dinner … it’d been satisfying. Invigorating, even.

  “Hey.” Gina appeared at his side, clutching two long-necked bottles. She offered him one.

  “Beer?” He raised an eyebrow.

  “Blenheim ginger ale,” she said. “The best there is.”

  The bottle was cool and frosty between his fingers. Noel took a swig, the ginger and the carbonation tingling on his tongue. The bite of heat at the end surprised him, and he blinked.

  Gina giggled. “You gotta watch out for those red caps. They pack a punch.”

  His stomach warmed from her smile as much as from the ginger ale. “It’s good.” He grinned, then tipped his head to the swing. “Have a seat?”

  “Thanks.”

  The swing dipped as she sat next to him. Her arm brushed against his, and an even warmer fire ignited in his gut. This one had nothing to do with the spicy ginger ale.

  “So, you were right. I couldn’t find one,” Gina said.

  “One what?”

  “A knitted scarf; I don’t have it. I even looked in Mom’s closet, but no luck.” Her tone hinted that she wasn’t too upset at her predicament.

  Heat blazed through him, and he raised his eyebrows. “Oh, really? This is a real quandary, then. I guess you owe me a hundred dollars.”

  From beyond the dunes came the crash of the ocean waves and the chill of the breeze. Above those, the scent of Gina’s floral perfume flooded his awareness.

  “I guess.” Gina tossed her head. “But you mentioned you might be willing to consider other options?”

  His brain thundered with all the reasons why this wasn’t a good idea. But he wanted her. He wanted to throw caution to the wind, to pull her close, to feel her lips against his.

  “Noel?” Gina trailed her fingers up his arm, sending another rush of heat through his stomach.

  Carefully, slowly, he leaned forward and set his bottle of ginger ale on the deck. His fingers brushed against hers as he took her bottle of soda and set it next to his. “I’d never hold you to a bet,” he whispered, “but I really want to kiss you right now.”

  She smiled softly. “I won’t object.”

  Gina tried to remember how long it had been since she’d been kissed. Not just a dry peck on the lips from Lee that had become commonplace in the last years of their marriage, but an actual, meaningful kiss full of longing and desire and affection.

  Affection. Yes, she was willing to go there with Noel. More than affection, even. Something hot and rebellious flared in the hollow below her ribs. She was tired of being an only. Only a mom, only a receptionist, only a woman whose best years were behind her.

  Noel’s gray eyes were questioning as he searched her face, as if asking for permission to move closer. Gina’s heart thundered, and she smiled, reached out to touch his arm. He shivered, and his eyes darkened with desire.

  His hand slid around her waist to rest on the small of her back, and the heat below Gina’s ribs sparked hotter. She leaned in, accepting the gentle pressure of Noel’s touch.

  Their lips met softly, almost shyly. His mouth was warm and full, rimmed with stubble that tickled her skin. He kissed around the edges of her mouth, teasing her. Just the top lip, then just the bottom. Gina couldn’t stop the little moan that seemed to come from her core.

  Noel growled in response, bringing up both hands to gently cup her face and angle her mouth so his lips fit perfectly with hers. The heat beneath her ribs flared, caught, growing into a fire that throbbed through her limbs and sang in her body. She parted her lips so Noel could deepen the kiss, the heat from the ginger ale dancing between them.

  Finally, they broke apart, both breathing heavily.

  “I’ve wanted to do that for a long time,” Noel confessed.

  “Oh, really?” A smile sprang to her lips. “How long, exactly?”

  “Since the hospital.”

  She drew back in surprise. The hospital had been a place of fear and anger, not passion. “Well, you were pretty high on painkillers,” she joked.

  “No.” He shook his head. “No. That’s not it at all. I felt something when I first saw you. It was weird. Like … coming home.”

  This would end badly. They’d only known each other for a few weeks and under extreme circumstances. There were so many reasons why Gina should gently withdraw from his arms, slam some kind of shield over her heart, and let this go.

  But she couldn’t. Every bit of her yearned for him.

  “Coming home,” she whispered.

  He reached for her again, drawing her closer. As their lips met, fresh heat pulsed through her body—sparks and butterflies twirling in an endless dance that she never wanted to end.

  14

  What was he doing? Noel scratched irritably at the stubble on his jaw, his arms aching to hold Gina again. They’d said good night twenty minutes ago, and he still had the taste of her lips on his, spicy from the ginger ale and sweeter than any candy. If given the choice, he’d jump out of bed and sprint back to the porch to resume where they’d left off.

  That was what his heart wanted. His head wasn’t so sure. Since when was he the kind of guy who would settle down and live in one place with a ready-made family? He’d never been the type to want responsibility for other people’s things. He’d even declined to pet-sit for a friend once because he didn’t want to take care of their little mutt for a mere three nights. And now he was lying here daydreaming about being with Gina and her boys for the rest of his life?

  It was the whole situation. Extreme would be an understatement, so his reaction to it would also be extreme. Right? Then why did it feel so natural? Why was it so easy to picture himself marrying her, taking care of her boys, maybe having their own child someday?

  Man, he was losing it. Noel sat up and grabbed his phone. “Call Tony,” he instructed.

  A few minutes later, the phone rang. There was a muffled scrape as Tony answered and started giving him the business right away. “Dude, what the crap? It’s after midnight.”

  “Since when are you asleep before midnight?” Noel asked.

  “Who said I was asleep? I was right in the middle of the final boss battle for Exodon Three; now I gotta grind all the way back.”

  “Sorry,” Noel said. “You could have not answered.”

  “Yeah, right,” Tony said. “And listen to you call me a hundred times in a row? You definitely don
’t know how to take a hint.”

  Noel chuckled. “You’re probably right.”

  “So what’s up? How’s the knee?”

  “Looking pretty good.” Noel flexed gently, and a twinge of pain shot up his leg. He’d definitely overdone it on the sand today. “I can walk.”

  “You going to make it for the competition?”

  “Uh … maybe.” Thoughts of Gina in his arms flashed through his mind. “What happens if I back out?”

  There was a pause on the other end of the line. “Back out?” Tony finally asked. “You’ve never backed out before.”

  “I know, but—”

  “I thought you said the knee was good.”

  “It is. But I might need a little downtime. Maybe hang around here for a while.” He touched the edges of the idea, staying in Indigo Bay long-term, finding somewhere to live, settling down. It felt warm and comforting and …whole.

  “Okay, who is this and what have you done with Noel Hamilton?”

  Noel grunted. “Knock it off. Just because I need a break once in a while …”

  “You have never needed a break before,” Tony pointed out. “What’s going on?”

  “I met someone,” Noel said.

  The sounds of the Tony’s video game echoed in the background. Noel could picture his friend—seated in a comfy leather recliner, bottle of beer within reach, attention fixated on the screen. He’d probably been there all night.

  Tony scoffed. “Seriously? You’re going to throw away a twenty-five grand prize because you met a girl?”

  “This is different,” Noel said.

  He was not a hook-up kind of guy. Not the type of drifter who had a woman in every town. In fact, he hadn’t been with anyone since Maren, preferring to keep his heart locked down and safe.

  But Gina had changed that. She’d woken him up, made him see what he could be missing.

  “A win would pay off all your medical debt, and put you a few thousand ahead,” Tony said.