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  Noelle’s

  Golden Christmas

  by

  Tamie Dearen

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead is coincidental and not intended by the author. To the extent any real names of individuals, locations, businesses or organizations are included in the book, they are used fictitiously and not intended to be taken otherwise.

  Noelle’s Golden Christmas

  by Tamie Dearen

  Copyright © 2015

  All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means now known or hereafter invented, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the author.

  Table of Contents

  Dedication

  Acknowledgements

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  About the Author

  Books by Tamie Dearen

  Dedication

  To Bruce… the most romantic husband in the world. I knew it would be you after our first date. Thanks for showing me the meaning of agape love.

  Acknowledgements

  Writing a book takes a village. Thank you to everyone at the office who put up with me writing every single spare minute. Thanks to my husband for keeping me fed and forcing me to go to bed at midnight so I could still work in the mornings. Thanks to my beta readers for your precious feedback. Thank you to both my incredible editors for all your hard work. Thanks to my fans for encouraging me to keep writing when I was exhausted. Love you all!

  ∞ 1 ∞

  “YOU’RE ALL DONE.” Noelle’s voice held an enthusiasm she didn’t feel, and she feared her plastered-on smile looked fake as well. Her patient was wearing a red top, Christmas ornament earrings, and a Rudolph pin with a light-up red nose, and the woman hadn’t stopped talking about the upcoming holiday since she came into the room, even with sharp instruments in her mouth! Noelle was sick and tired of pretending to be excited about Christmas.

  “What color of toothbrush would you like, Mrs. Harris?”

  “I’ll take a green one if you have it. Thank you so much, Noelle. You always do such an amazing job of cleaning my teeth, and you never hurt me. That other hygienist—what was her name? Bridget?—she always tore my gums to shreds. You’re so much more gentle.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Harris.” Noelle heaved a sigh of relief as her patient moved toward the door. However, her reprieve was short-lived.

  “You know, I was so busy talking, I never even gave you a chance to tell me your Christmas plans. I’m sure with a name like Noelle Holiday, you must love this season even more than I do.”

  “Yes, this season means more to me than you can imagine,” Noelle replied with only a hint of telltale sarcasm. More heartache and more depression. “Thanks again, Mrs. Harris.” Noelle practically shoved her down the hallway toward the front desk.

  Retreating to the sterilization room, Noelle tossed her instruments into the ultrasonic cleaner with such vigor the solution splashed out on the counter.

  “Taking out your frustration on those poor hygiene instruments?” Nancy’s teasing voice startled Noelle out of her grumpy mood.

  “Sorry. I’ll clean up the mess.”

  “No worries. I’ve got a paper towel right here. What happened to get you in a tizzy? Mrs. Harris hasn’t been flossing?” Though her tone was light, Noelle squirmed under the penetrating inspection of Nancy’s deep brown eyes.

  “Ha! Of course she hasn’t flossed. I’m always shocked when a patient actually does. No, I’m just so tired of Christmas already. All it does is remind me of miserable things that happened during the holidays. I’m thinking of paying to have my name changed.”

  “You get no sympathy from me for having a Christmas name. Try growing up with a last name like Pisani. You can’t imagine what I got called as a kid.” Nancy’s eyes crinkled with humor.

  “Yes, but that turned out to be a good thing.”

  Nancy stopped bagging instruments, turning with a questioning stare. “How’s that?”

  “You might not have been willing to marry Edward if you hadn’t had that last name.”

  Nancy let out a snort. “I suppose becoming Nancy Fuquay wasn’t really a step up. I actually thought about keeping my maiden name. Our poor boys are going to catch all kinds of flack when they’re school aged. It’s okay though; it makes you grow up tough.”

  “Maybe that’s my problem. I’m not tough enough. I just need to suck it up, I guess.” Noelle snatched a bag of sterile instruments from the drawer, arranging them on her tray. “One more patient and I’m done for the week.”

  “Got big plans for the weekend?”

  “I’m volunteering at the animal shelter this afternoon.” Noelle’s stomach made a loud gurgling sound, eliciting a chuckle from Nancy.

  “After lunch, I hope.”

  “Yes, after lunch.” Pressing a hand against her growling stomach, Noelle tried to silence the monster. “It’s been doing that all morning—growling in the patients’ ears. So embarrassing.”

  “So you’re working at the shelter again this weekend? That’s like four weekends in a row, right?” There was no mistaking the disapproval in Nancy’s voice.

  “I was going to work there all day on Saturday, but my sister has me signed up for a spa day with the works: massage, hair, manicure, pedicure, makeup. And then she’s taking me shopping. She thinks she can make me beautiful enough to snag a husband. Personally, I think it’s going to take a lot more than one day at the spa.”

  “I knew I liked your sister,” Nancy replied with a wink.

  “That’s no surprise—everybody likes Lisa.” It was a true statement. If only I had a tenth of Lisa’s charisma and outgoing nature.

  “I’m glad she’s making you spend time with humans this weekend, instead of devoting yourself to a bunch of mangy mutts. You need to go out Saturday night after your spa day and take lots of pictures.”

  “Knowing Lisa, she’s arranged a ball at her mansion just so she can show off her handiwork. She told me I’m hers until midnight, and then I can go back to tending my cinders.”

  Stopping as she exited the lab with a tray of instruments in one hand, Nancy laid the other hand on Noelle’s arm, suddenly serious. “Listen, Noelle. I’m glad you’re at least open to the idea of dating again. That jerk, Carl, has ruined the past two years of your life… eight if you count the years you wasted dating him. It’s high time you moved on.”

  Though she could have been offended, Noelle took Nancy’s words as she knew they were meant—encouragement spoken from a true friend. “Please pray for me, Nancy. To be honest, I’m still afraid of opening myself up to that kind of hurt again.”

  Grimacing, Nancy shook her head. “I wish I could tell you that you wouldn’t get hurt, but it’s not true. You can’t experience love without pain. Even if you have the perfect relationship, there’ll be pain in your life.”

  Blinking at sudden tears in her eyes, Noelle swallowed a huge lump and nodded. “It’s so scary.”

  Nancy squeezed her arm and smiled. “I’ll tell you this, though… it’s worth it. Real love—agape love, the eternal kind that comes from God—that kind of love is worth all the pain you’ll ever experience. And without it, your life is empty.”

  “You know it’s possible I won’t ever get married, even if I start dating again. What
if God plans for me to be single all my life? There’s no guarantee.”

  Nancy’s shoulders lifted as she sucked in a huge breath. “I don’t know the answer to that, but I’m going to pray that you’ll find your soulmate like I did.”

  “Thanks, Nancy.” Noelle chuckled. “For now though, just pray I won’t be too terrified to go on a date.”

  “Forget that! I’m going to pray you’ll open your eyes enough to notice a guy. How can you ever get asked on a date if you don’t talk to any men in the first place?”

  “I talk to men,” Noelle argued.

  “Who? What guys have you talked to this week? This month? This year? When have you carried on a single conversation with an eligible guy?”

  “I talk to my patients,” Noelle defended. “I can’t help that most of them are unavailable or old enough to be my father or grandfather.”

  “Oh! I have a great idea!” Nancy’s grin split her face. “We should trade patients. I’ve got a new one, a man about your age, I think. I was looking at his chart, and he’s single.”

  “Is he cute?” What am I asking? I can’t believe I’m actually considering this.

  “I don’t know. I could peek into the waiting room and see.”

  “No way. Forget it. I don’t want to meet someone while I’m dressed in scrubs wearing a facemask and nerdy glasses anyway. If he’s my age and single, he’s probably a loser. I bet he’s got periodontal disease.”

  “Okay, but don’t say I didn’t offer. Not every single person your age is a loser, you know. You’re a perfect example,” Nancy quipped as she departed, without allowing Noelle a chance to retort.

  Escaping to her hygiene room, Noelle grabbed the chart for her last patient, a cute six-year-old boy who’d proudly showed her a wiggly tooth on his last visit. Studying the notes as she stepped into the hallway, her shoulder collided with someone, knocking her off balance. A hand grasped her arm in a steadying hold.

  “Oh, I’m sorry!” she exclaimed. “I wasn’t watching where I was going.” Startled, Noelle looked up to find a muscular chest, stretching the confines of a cornflower-blue shirt. Nancy’s new patient. Her eyes drifted upward, revealing a pair of broad shoulders. He must be six feet two inches tall… maybe even more.

  “No problem, ma’am. I never mind being run over by a beautiful woman.” His deep voice boomed with a definite Texas accent, the resonance sending a warm tingle down her spine.

  Taking a step backward and craning her neck, she locked gazes with the most incredible crystal blue eyes she’d ever seen. All coherent thought left her mind as she stared into their depths.

  His brows drew downward, while those mesmerizing eyes filled with concern. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m… uh…” A hot flush crept up from Noelle’s neck, spreading all the way to her hairline, as blood pounded in her ears. Blinking to break eye contact, she studied his face. His jaw was broad and strong, covered with the short stubble of beard that screamed masculine. His face was perfect, marred only by a tiny white line, a small scar, across his left cheekbone. The words ruggedly handsome came to mind. “I’m fine.” Her voice came out as a squeak.

  “Are you Dr. Madison?” As he asked the question, his mouth curved upward, a deep dimple appearing at each corner. His lips parted in a smile to reveal perfectly-aligned teeth.

  White teeth. Looks like he bleaches. Healthy gingiva. I bet he’s a daily flosser. Why didn’t I trade with Nancy? “No, I’m a… I’m a…”

  “This is another of our hygienists, Noelle Holiday,” Nancy interrupted, sporting a smug smile.

  “Holiday? That’s not a very common name is it?” he asked Noelle, seemingly poised to ask another question, when Nancy tugged on his arm.

  Noelle couldn’t have answered anyway, because she was too busy reveling in his scent. She sucked in a deep breath through her nose, closing her eyes in pleasure. The fresh clean smell was like the outdoors after a new snow, reminding her of fun times skiing with her sister. But there was something else… a hint of spicy-musky scent, so masculine she felt like growling, “He’s my man,” as in the popular television commercial.

  Pulling him away, Nancy said, “Noelle could have cleaned your teeth today, but I’m afraid you drew the short straw and got me instead.”

  Noelle fought the sudden desire to be Nancy’s hand so she could touch this man’s arm, even though it was covered with a long-sleeved shirt. Or even better, he could take his shirt off. Akk! What am I saying?

  “Oh no, I bet you’re a great hygienist, Nancy.” Mr. So-Sizzling-Hot-Texas-Couldn’t-Hold-Him spoke in a conciliatory tone, obviously afraid he’d hurt Nancy’s feelings.

  Wouldn’t you know he’d be considerate as well? Noelle backed up a step, her gaze dropping to study the rest of him. His broad shoulders tapered to narrow blue-jean-clad hips. As he turned to follow Nancy into the hygiene room, Noelle couldn’t help admiring his firm rear end. And his pants actually fit. I love that they aren’t hanging loose.

  Nancy chatted as she led him away. “David, did you say you recently moved to Denver from Dallas?”

  Noelle stood dumbfounded, watching until they disappeared into Nancy’s hygiene room. After a moment had passed, Nancy’s head reappeared, leaning out past the doorframe. Fanning her face in dramatic fashion, she silently mouthed, “I. Told. You. So!”

  God certainly has a sense of humor. Noelle peeled her cottony tongue from the roof of her mouth, straining to find enough saliva to swallow and soothe her tight throat.

  “Wow!” A voice behind Noelle’s shoulder made her jump.

  “Good grief, Shara! You scared me to death.” Flattening her hand on her chest in an attempt to calm her racing heart, Noelle glared at their receptionist. The ever-flirting bleached blonde, with perfectly applied makeup, stared shamelessly at the doorway where the handsome new patient had disappeared. How does Shara manage to look sexy—or should I say ‘sleazy’—wearing scrubs? Dr. Madison had scolded the girl multiple times about displaying her ample cleavage to the patients, but it hadn’t slowed her down a bit.

  “Are you interested in him?” asked Shara, narrowing her eyes.

  “Interested in who?” Noelle feigned innocence, but Shara looked toward the ceiling as if praying for patience in dealing with a child.

  “Are you interested in that hunk-on-a-stick new patient from Texas? Or are you drooling because you had a stroke?”

  “I’m not drooling,” Noelle protested. “And no, I’m not interested. He’s really not my type.” Flinching at her lie, Noelle said a quick prayer asking forgiveness. Surely God understands why I can’t be honest about a guy when I’m talking to Shara.

  Shara lifted her chin, gazing down her nose at Noelle, no real feat considering she towered five inches over Noelle’s five feet four. As Shara’s glossy lips parted in a broad smile, she flung her shiny blond hair over her shoulder. “Yeah, he’s too tall for you, isn’t he? I’m glad you’re not planning to make a move on him, because I certainly am.”

  Not that Shara would change her plans if Noelle had professed interest. Noelle knew all too well that Shara was simply sizing up her competition. I may as well give up now… there’s no way I can compete with her. What guy would choose me when he could have Miss Universe? While Shara’s gaze was still fixed on Nancy’s doorway, Noelle scowled at her flawless face. Wait… Is that a pimple? Does Shara actually have a blemish? Yes! Finally, she has a defect. Noelle danced an internal victory dance, until Shara turned back, and the blemish—simply a shadow—disappeared.

  Drawing in a huge, disappointed breath, Noelle forced herself to recognize the futility in pursuing the tempting Texan. She reached a hand up, tentatively touching her own blond hair, mousy and limp compared to Shara’s. Maybe my sister has a good idea, giving me a makeover.

  In a way Noelle was glad she was attracted to the guy, even though he was miles out of her league. It was the first time she’d felt drawn to any man since Carl had dumped her two years ago. Maybe this was God’s way
of telling her it really was time to get back in the dating game.

  With a satisfied smile, Noelle moved toward the waiting room to fetch her patient, quietly humming Strangers in the Night.

  *****

  “Noelle, I’m so glad you’re here. We’re absolutely swamped. We’ve had nine new cats and five new dogs come in today. And the one they just brought in… well, we may have to put the dog down. It’s such a shame…”

  “Garrett, you know I live in an apartment. You do this every time we get a new batch of animals here at the shelter, trying to guilt me into taking one home. It’s not going to work.”

  “But this one is different, Noelle. Come see.”

  With some trepidation, Noelle followed Garrett to the back, not to the kennels, but to his private office. On the floor by Garrett’s desk lay a beautiful golden retriever. He lifted his head to greet them, his tale giving a feeble wag, accompanied by a whimper. In an instant, Noelle was kneeling beside him, gingerly patting his head.

  Noting a bloodstain on the towel that was his only padding on the concrete floor, Noelle raised her eyes in question. “What happened? Is he injured?”

  “She,” Garrett corrected. “Her name is Abby, according to her collar. She was hit by a car and has a broken leg.”

  “What about her owner?”

  Garrett shook his head. “No chip and her collar’s missing the ID tag.”

  Noelle’s heart sank into her stomach as she stroked the soft fur on Abby’s back. The shelter couldn’t afford to pay for emergency medical care. According to the official policy, if the owner couldn’t be located by five p.m., the animal would have to be euthanized.

  “We’d wave the adoption fees if you’d be willing to take her home. I’ll even try to help you pay the vet bill.” Garrett ran his fingers through his straggly brown curls, leaving his hair in the same messy array as Noelle’s emotions.