by Tamie Dearen
Cold air raised goose bumps on her arms as the exit door creaked open. “I’ll see you sooner than you think.” David spoke in a firm, confident tone as if nothing had happened—as if he hadn’t just picked her up at will and played her like a violin. And then he was gone.
*****
How does David know all about me? How did he know my middle name? Why did he say we were only friends and then touch my chin and kiss my forehead? These questions had churned over and over in Noelle’s mind since yesterday, even disturbing her sleep. Her heart rate picked up its pace as she remember the incident. How could a kiss on the forehead be so mind-alteringly intense?
Noelle knew her current patient would be annoyed if he could perceive the images in her mind.
“So, how do my teeth look? Pretty good, right?” asked James with well-deserved confidence. He had beautiful teeth, straight and white, without a single restoration to mar their perfect anatomy. In fact his teeth had only one flaw.
“You really need to stop grinding,” Noelle remarked as she scraped the last bit of calculus from the lingual of James’ lower anteriors.
“I don’t grind my teeth.” James sounded positively offended.
“Yes, you do. You wouldn’t have this much wear if you didn’t grind your teeth.”
“I would know if I ground my teeth, and I don’t.” He folded his arms across his chest, which resulted in emphasizing his muscular biceps and erasing David from her thoughts… well, almost.
“I’m only suggesting you might benefit from a night guard to prevent grinding. Are you under a lot of stress?”
“I am at the moment,” he said, sarcastically.
“I meant at work. Sometimes people who are stressed at work will grind their teeth at night.”
“Well, your brother-in-law is my direct boss, and he’s a great guy. Now your father… he’s another story.”
“What’s wrong with my father?” As much as Noelle complained about her father, she didn’t really want anyone else to criticize him.
“He wants to control everything outside of work. Says we have to uphold a certain ‘professional image’ in our personal lives.”
She shrugged. “Makes sense to me.”
“Then you’ll both be happy to know I went to church Sunday.”
“And?”
“And… doesn’t that make you happy?”
“It’s not like joining a social club.”
“Ha! Maybe not for you, but I think for most Christians that’s exactly what it is.”
With more than a tinge of regret, Noelle recognized the truth in his words. “I’m hoping you’ll find the secret about God that most Christians are missing when they join the social club.”
“What’s that?” He arched his eyebrows.
Noelle smiled as she loaded the prophy paste into her polishing cup. “You have to figure it out for yourself. Let me know when you think you’ve got it. I’ll tell you if you’re right.” She moved the polishing handpiece toward his mouth. “Can you turn toward me?”
That impish dimple appeared on his cheek, and he waggled his eyebrows. “Baby, I thought you’d never ask.”
*****
“Hi, James. You look really nice in a suit.” Shara leaned forward at the checkout counter, in a practiced move designed to draw attention to her exposed cleavage.
That cleavage has to be fake, by the way, ‘cause I saw her in regular clothes and she’s way too skinny to have boobs that big.
“Uh, thanks. You look nice, too.” When James’ eyes fell into the abyss on her chest, Noelle wasn’t surprised. Very few guys could keep their gazes from dropping below Shara’s neck when she set her trap. His face turned fiery red as he realized Noelle had caught him checking out the scenery.
Shara went on, oblivious to his discomfort. “I’m stuck wearing these frumpy scrubs every day. They really aren’t very flattering.” She tugged on her top for emphasis, stretching it even tighter across her ample chest. This time James looked everywhere in the room except at Shara, who frowned at the perceived snub.
“We’re going to lunch, Shara,” said Noelle, in as friendly a voice as she could conjure. “Would you like to join us?”
James shot Noelle a look that said, “Are you crazy?”
As she had all day Monday and Tuesday, Shara refused to make eye contact with Noelle, answering in a tone that came straight out of the freezer. “No, thank you. I have things to do.”
Blowing out a relieved breath, James indicated the door with a toss of his head.
“That was close,” he remarked as they headed across the parking lot, toward his SUV.
Tucking her scarf around her neck against the cutting wind, Noelle waited until they were inside the car to respond.
“You don’t like Shara?” Noelle hadn’t expected her to accept the lunch offer but was surprised at James’ negative reaction.
“She’s fine if you’re looking for a quick… I mean… she’s the kind of girl you date if you want a shallow, short-term relationship. Not like you. You’re long-term material.” His self-assured smile told Noelle she was supposed to be flattered by his comment.
“That’s the saddest thing I ever heard.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean I’m fairly certain Shara would do just about anything to be considered long-term material. She has no idea the kind of vibes she’s giving off.”
He popped a shoulder shrug. “Maybe Doc will tell her. He has a tendency to give his opinion when it isn’t requested. I’d be glad for him to turn his attention to Shara and leave me alone.”
“David’s not so bad as all that, is he?”
Tightening on the steering wheel, James’ knuckles blanched. “You don’t know him like I do. Honestly, I don’t even know him anymore. We used to be close, even lived together in Austin when we both attended UT. But he’s changed so much since he started doing the church thing.” He glanced toward Noelle. “No offense.”
“None taken.”
“I blame it all on his fiancée.”
“David’s engaged?”
“He was engaged… to Darian.” James spit out her name like it tasted bad. “She was a piece of work. I don’t know what he saw in her, other than she was a really fun drunk. But she was wild as anything, and she even slept around, though he didn’t know or wouldn’t admit it.”
“What happened? They broke up?”
“She did the drunk driving thing and tried to fly off an overpass.”
Noelle gasped. “She died?”
He nodded, grim-lipped. “Fortunately, she didn’t kill anyone but herself. And Doc took it all as a sign that he needed to straighten up his life and find God. He said no one knows how much time they have left.”
“That doesn’t seem too awful.”
Pulling into a parking place at the restaurant, James shut the car off and turned to Noelle, both hands still holding the wheel in a death-grip. “You know how you told me you hate Christmas because of your name? Well, I get that, because I hate Christians because of mine. Especially since a lot of the so-called Christians do and say things that are full of hate.”
“I’ll give you that, as long as you know that doesn’t apply to all believers.”
“I’m not stupid—I know what’s written in the Bible, and the Christians I’ve seen are big-time hypocrites. Doc and I used to talk about it all the time. We always had the same opinion about Christians and how they ruined our name.”
“Ha! I’ll bet Jesus Christ feels the same way about those people.”
“I hadn’t thought of that,” he admitted, relaxing his hands and drumming his fingers on the steering wheel. “Still, you can imagine my shock when Doc moved here and turned out to be a different person… a born-again Christian. It’s like he broke the bro-code.”
“Maybe it’s his way of defending your name.”
“Don’t get me wrong, Noelle. Doc makes me mad and drives me crazy, but he’s my brother, and I love him. I just don’t appr
eciate it when he shows up uninvited and interferes in my life.” His brows drew down even further, almost obscuring his eyes.
“That’s very unfortunate,” she said, hiding her eyes with one hand.
“Why do you say that?”
“Because he’s standing outside your car door.”
*****
“What are you doing here?” James was out of the car in an instant, standing nose to nose with his brother.
“This is a restaurant. It’s noon. I came here to eat lunch.” David’s innocuous smile served only to infuriate his brother.
“You expect me to believe you accidentally chose to eat here, at the same restaurant where you knew I was taking Noelle for lunch?”
“Nah, I don’t expect you to believe that, but it’s going to be my official story anyway. Shall we go inside?” David bent in a magnanimous bow, sweeping his arm toward the restaurant entrance.
“I’ve lost my appetite,” James said, his jaw muscles flexing as he spoke between his clamped teeth.
“There! You’re doing it!” Noelle pointed at his mouth with a cry of victory. “I was so right and you were so wrong. I told ya you were gritting your teeth.”
Pressing his lips together, James’ lone dimple blinked in and out of sight as he made a valiant attempt to hold on to his anger. Until Noelle continued her dance of triumph, nodding and pointing her finger in the air as she proclaimed, “Who’s yo momma? Huh? That’s right! I know my stuff!”
Then he lost control, a cackle of laughter bursting from his lips. “Fine, I admit you were right, but this proves I don’t need a bite guard. All I need is a new brother.”
“What do I have to do with your teeth?” David asked.
“You’re causing James undue stress,” Noelle explained, with a wink. “If you keep it up, you may be required to compensate him for lost enamel.”
Hooking his arm around her, James dragged her toward the entrance. “Come on. Maybe we can find a table for two.”
David followed on their heels. “I don’t see why it’s such a big deal if I join your lunch date, especially since you’re here as friends.”
James flinched at the last word, shooting his brother a dark look that made Noelle suspect the two had engaged in an earlier discussion about the meaning of friends.
The lunch conversation was a bit stilted at first. But Noelle was excited about eating at The Soupery and determined not to allow the brothers’ bickering to spoil her meal.
“The chili is perfect!” Noelle closed her eyes, basking in the delicious vegetarian chili, topped with cheese. “I wish I could’ve added onions, but my afternoon patients wouldn’t appreciate it, I’m sure.”
“I’m not having onions either,” James remarked. “I thought you’d want to know I’ll still be kissable.”
“You’re supposed to be friends,” growled David, setting his drink down with such vigor it rattled the table.
“Who said friends can’t kiss?” Curling one corner of his mouth in a teasing smirk, James looked to Noelle for confirmation. “Friends are allowed to kiss, aren’t they?”
“Evidently so,” Noelle responded, catching David’s eyes and daring him to disagree. “I, for one, have been kissed by more than one guy who claimed to be only a friend.”
James seemed quite pleased with her statement. David didn’t.
She kept a straight face. Barely. “To me, kissing means more than just being casual friends.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” Lowering his voice, James leaned over to speak in her ear. “I guess that means we’re more than friends after all.”
The awkward turn of the conversation sent her appetite away and heat rushing to her face.
David’s voice came out calm and even, but his expression was one of barely controlled rage. “James, I don’t think you understand how things work with a girl like Noelle. She expects a kiss will be associated with commitment of some kind.”
When James turned to glare at his brother, Noelle thought steam might actually come pouring out of his ears. But she was angrier than James, and it was time David quit talking down to James when his own behavior had been just as bad.
She held up her hand for silence before James could make a retort. “You’re absolutely right, David. When a guy kisses me, I get awfully confused if he shows up a few days later claiming we’re only friends. I don’t understand why a guy would do something like that.”
“Noelle, this isn’t the best time…” All the blood appeared to have drained from David’s face.
“It must be a great time to talk about what it means to be friends, because you keep bringing it up,” she said.
“Noelle…” David shot a glance at his brother, who was listening to her diatribe with wide eyes.
“Don’t Noelle me! At least with James, I know exactly where I stand. He doesn’t give me mixed signals, like you do.”
“Mixed signals?” James cut in. “What are you talking about? What kind of signals has Doc been giving you?”
“You tell him, David,” said Noelle, wiping her mouth with her napkin and tossing it on the table. “I’d like to hear your version of the story.”
“So would I,” growled James, pinning his brother with an unrelenting stare.
Silence.
“Go ahead,” said James, as his fingers tap-tap-tapped on the table.
“It’s between Noelle and me.” David spoke into his soup bowl as he stirred the contents, his eyes carefully trained on his spoon.
“What exactly is between you and Noelle?” James asked.
“He’s talking about kissing me,” Noelle explained in a nonchalant tone. “But don’t worry, James. It didn’t mean anything at all.”
“That’s not what I said,” David muttered.
“You kissed her?” James shouted the words, his hand tightening on his tea glass. Several nearby diners turned to stare. “When?”
“Friday night,” Noelle answered.
“You low-down…” James began.
“I didn’t plan it,” David defended. “It just happened.”
“Like I said, it didn’t mean anything to him.” Noelle pressed her lips together in a hard line.
“You’re putting words in my mouth,” David mumbled, scrunching his imploring brows together, and reaching out to touch Noelle’s hand. “That’s not what I said.”
She absolutely hated that his touch sent a thrill down her spine.
James stood up, grasping his brother’s arm, and David rose to face him. “I can’t believe you lectured me about backing off under the guise of protecting her.”
Noelle wanted to hide in a corner, embarrassed by James’ too-loud voice that drew the attention of way too many people.
“James, you’re causing a scene,” said David.
“You were trying to steal her out from under my eyes!”
David wrenched his arm from James’ grasp. “This isn’t the time or place for this discussion.”
“That big-brother-talking-down-to-me won’t work any more, Doc. I don’t have to listen to you.”
With one last imploring look toward Noelle, David turned on his heel and exited the restaurant, leaving his half-eaten meal on the table.
Collapsing into the chair, James dropped his face into his hands, with his elbows propped on the table.
“I’m sorry, James. That was kind of my fault for egging him on.”
“That wasn’t your fault at all. My two-faced brother brought that on himself.” He pushed his half-full chili bowl away and took a deep breath, allowing his downturned lips to curve upward. “But I’m happy now. At least we got rid of him.”
∞ 7 ∞
“MAYBE I SHOULD SWEAR OFF GUYS altogether, Abby. Who needs them, anyway? They’re a lot more trouble than they’re worth.”
Abby smiled. At least she looked like she was smiling. The beautiful, sweet Golden Retriever was always happy to listen when Noelle complained. In fact, Abby was just about the best friend she’d ever had, and she
looked forward to spending time with her every day after work. She scratched Abby’s side, provoking a reflex foot-shake.
“James has been super sweet, dropping by with donuts for breakfast and sending funny texts. I really think I could fall for him if I’m not careful. I feel pretty sure I won’t get physically carried away again as long as we stick to public places, but I just don’t have a peace about him. You know what I mean? He’s not a believer, even though he went to a Bible study and visited a church.”
Abby stopped panting long enough to push her nose under Noelle’s hand, begging for a bit more petting.
“Oh, you want to hear about David?”
Abby gave a little bark, as if she really recognized the name.
Chuckling, Noelle scratched around her collar. “Well, somehow or another he got my cell number. I never did text him, and I know, after lunch last Tuesday, James would never give it to him. So I don’t know how he got it. Who would give my cell number to David?”
With another bark, Abby made her best dog-guess.
“Lisa? You think it was Lisa? That’s pretty interesting, because that’s exactly what I’ve been thinking. She’s denied it over the phone, but I’m going to ask her again when I see her tomorrow, because she can’t lie to me in person.”
Abby answered by licking her foot, and Noelle giggled, jerking it away.
“That tickles, Abby!”
She licked Noelle’s other foot.
“Stop torturing me. Okay, fine… I’ll tell you about David. You know how he left that box of chocolates in my car last Tuesday? And remember how the card said he was sorry for causing a scene at the restaurant and he wouldn’t interfere if I wanted to date James?”
As had become their custom, Abby lay on top of her feet, keeping them toasty warm. “Yesterday, he calls me and says he wants to do something for me to make up for the trouble he caused. He asked to trade cars overnight. He said he was going to wash my car for me. Somehow he convinced me to let him do it, which is pretty amazing since I’m usually so stubborn about accepting help. But today he came by and traded keys and left my car again, and when I went out to my car after work… You just can’t believe how clean and shiny and beautiful it looked, inside and out. And I swear, it even idles better now.”