Noelle's Golden Christmas Read online

  “You say that like being smart is a bad thing.”

  “Don’t get me wrong. I’m proud of being smart, but when you’re a teenager, you’d rather hear you’re beautiful.”

  James grinned, cocking his head to the side. “I wouldn’t know. No one’s ever called me beautiful.”

  “I think that’s a bold-faced lie. I bet plenty of women have called you beautiful, or at least the male equivalent of beautiful.”

  “What about you?” His voice dropped… low and gravelly. “What would you call me?”

  “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were fishing for a compliment.”

  “I’m fishing all right… and I sure hope something’s taking the bait.” He lowered his head to nuzzle against her neck, sending a thousand volts of electricity down her spine and stopping her dead in her tracks.

  “James.” His name left her lips in an airy gasp.

  Mindless of the other pedestrians who were forced to walk around them, he turned her, pulling her into his arms. He murmured into her ear, “We could skip the movie and go back to my place.”

  Sirens went off. Literally. A police car raced down the street with lights flashing and sirens blaring, followed by another, and then a fire truck.

  The loud noise effectively cleared the fog from Noelle’s head, and she pushed out of his arms, shocked at how her body had taken over her mind. So much for me being a good influence on him. I’ve got the spine of a jellyfish.

  Breathing a sigh of relief, she grabbed his hand, tugging him down the street. “Come on! I can’t wait to see that zombie movie. I just love to look at decaying flesh after eating a good meal.”

  James let out a hearty laugh as he followed without further protest.

  Meanwhile, Noelle’s mind churned, admitting perhaps her sister’s earlier warning held an element of wisdom. Dating James was the equivalent of juggling hot irons. If she continued, she was bound to get burned.

  *****

  The cold night air seeped into Noelle’s bones by the time they navigated the two blocks to the theater, but she didn’t seek the warmth of James’ arm around her shoulder. Avoiding temptation was a lot easier than resisting it. Slipping through the heavy doors into the heated air of the theater lobby, a flash of blond hair caught Noelle’s eyes.

  “Oh no,” she groaned, as a hand waved at her.

  “What’s wrong?” James was already peeling off his wool coat.

  “Over there. That’s Shara, a girl from my office.”

  James squinted his eyes in the direction Noelle indicated with a nod of her chin.

  “Oh no,” he mumbled.

  “Do you know her too?”

  “No, but I just spotted my brother.” James said brother like it was a curse word.

  “Doc is here?” Noelle couldn’t hide the curiosity in her voice, especially after what Lisa had told her earlier.

  James turned his scowl her direction. “I thought you’d never met him.”

  “I haven’t, but… you know… I’ve heard about him.”

  James eyebrows drew down so far she almost couldn’t see his eyes any more. His jaw muscles flexed on both sides. “I really wanted to keep you to myself. You’ll probably be like all the other girls and choose my brother over me.”

  “Don’t be silly. I’d never do that.” Squeezing James’ arm, she caught his gaze and smiled, a double assurance that she meant her words.

  Then a scent wafted past her nose—fresh snow and spicy male—causing her head to swim and her heart to palpitate.

  “Sexy Tex?” Thank God the words came out as a whisper.

  Doc’s startling blue eyes crinkled in the corners, his mouth twisting in a crooked grin. “I remember you. You almost knocked me over at the dental office the other day. Noelle, right? Noelle Holiday?”

  Her knees went weak when his lips curved in a smile, double dimples hiding in his shadowy beard. It had to be a sin the way he let his beard grow just a tiny bit, looking that much more rugged and virile. Noelle had an insane urge to reach out and touch his face, to let her fingertips explore the soft bristles. What would it feel like if he rubbed it against her neck? Her fiancé had never been able to grow much of a beard. Her ex-fiancé. What was his name, again? Charles? No… Carl.

  Noelle opened her mouth to speak, but no words emerged from the sandy Sahara Desert of her throat.

  Shara clung to Doc’s arm like static electricity, looking anything but happy at the moment. Her mouth hung open as her gaze alternated between Noelle and James. “This is the guy you were talking about at lunch Wednesday?” Shara’s upper lip curled as if she’d swallowed sour milk.

  “I see you’ve met my annoying older brother already.” James stated the obvious while sliding his arm over Noelle’s shoulder and snuggling her to his side. Noelle couldn’t see his expression, but she saw the answering challenge on Doc’s face… David’s face… whichever.

  Noelle was in marathon mode… sweating, breathing rapidly, heart racing, feeling light-headed. The tempting allure she felt with James paled in comparison to the supercharged attraction of his brother. The air fairly crackled between them. David was a magnet—she was stainless steel. He smiled—her heart melted into a puddle at his feet. He winked—she swooned. He…

  Wait a minute… David’s here with Shara. What a pig. He’s flirting with one girl while he’s on a date with another. Just like something Carl would have done. Good grief! I’m here with James—I’m just as bad.

  Swallowing hard to clear her constricted throat, Noelle forced her eyes away from David and peered up at James. “We ran into each other at the dental office, but we don’t really know each other. In fact, I thought his name was David. And all I really know about him is he’s dating Shara.” From the corner of her eye, she saw David flinch.

  “My name is David.” His smile disappeared, replaced by a glower aimed at James.

  “David Oswald Christian,” James corrected with a smirk that made David’s eye twitch. “Thus his nickname—Doc. Everyone in the family calls him Doc… and most of his friends.”

  David muttered something that sounded a bit like James Jerkface.

  “How did you end up here with my little brother?” David slipped off his jacket, forcing Shara to relinquish her vise hold on his arm for a moment. Only for an instant, until invisible rubber bands snapped her back in place. “I didn’t know James frequented any establishments where he might meet a decent girl.”

  Was he questioning James’ habits or her decency? “My sister and brother-in-law have a fairly decent home. You might have heard of him… Reece Starkey?” Noelle retorted, gratified to see David wince.

  “I told you, you should have come to the office Christmas party.” James rewarded Noelle’s sarcasm with a nuzzle on her neck that sent blood rushing to her face and widened David’s eyes.

  As Shara’s face hardened, probably at some imaginary slight, she tugged on David’s arm. “Come on. I don’t want to miss the movie. Don’t forget you promised to be my security blanket if I get scared.”

  “Right. Just a minute.” Jerking his arm away and leaving Shara with a panicked expression, David addressed his brother. “James, can I speak to you for a minute?”

  “Why?” James squinted as if his brother might pull out a switchblade and stab him in the side.

  Lifting his empty palms, David displayed their weapon-free state. “I just want to tell you something. It’ll only take a second.”

  With obvious reluctance, James relinquished his hold on Noelle, speaking from the corner of his mouth, “I’ll be right back.”

  Left alone with Shara, Noelle scrambled for something pleasant to say. “You look very nice. That color of blue really compliments your eyes.” Shara truly had beautiful eyes that seemed to change color with whatever she wore. Early on, Noelle had suspected she faked the effect with colored contacts.

  “Thanks.” Shara’s tight shoulders relaxed a fraction. Her head tilted toward the brothers, in deep conversation with
intense expressions. “James is really hot.”

  Noelle knew the admission had cost Shara a lot of pride. “David is pretty sizzling. And the two of you make a very striking couple.”

  Her eyes brightened. “Do you really think so?”

  Noelle nodded. It was true.

  Shara gave a sheepish shrug. “I’m not really sure I’m his type. And I’m pretty sure he’s not my type.”

  “What do you mean? I thought you liked ‘em tall, dark, and smelting. What’s wrong with David?” Noelle couldn’t think of a single thing wrong with him, other than the fact that he was dating Shara. Although, if sparks were any indication, she would probably have even less willpower around David than James. Ten minutes ago she would have sworn that wasn’t possible.

  “He keeps inviting me to go to Bible study with him. I mean… not that I don’t think religion is cool and everything, but that’s not really my scene.”

  A thousand retorts came to mind, but Noelle swallowed them all, choosing instead what she felt might be an encouraging thought. “Could be God’s way of trying to connect with you.”

  This idea seemed to instill more terror than a horror movie. With her eyes bugging out, Shara stumbled back a few steps. “I… I’m not really ready to connect with God.”

  Before Noelle could think of a way to calm Shara’s unfounded fears, the brothers returned. James reinstated his possessive arm-hold on her shoulder, ushering her toward theater number eight. A quick glance over her shoulder told her David was trailing behind them with Shara, once again clothes-pinned to his arm.

  “I take it they’re going to the zombie flick, too?”

  “Yes, and I plan for us to sit on the very back row.” James flashed a warning look behind him.

  “Why?”

  “Guess what my brother wanted to talk about.”

  “What?”

  “You.”

  “Me? Why would he talk about me?” He barely knows me. What nerve!

  “It seems my brother thinks you’re too good for me. He told me I’d better not take advantage of you. Huh!” James huffed. “As if I’d ever take advantage of a woman. What does he think I’m going to do? Get you drunk and sleep with you?”

  “That’ll never happen, ‘cause I don’t even drink,” Noelle threw in her two cents.

  “He’s been like this—all holier than thou—ever since he got religion. He used to be a lot of fun, but now he can be a real downer. I think God sucked all the fun out of him. I almost wish I hadn’t talked him into moving up here.”

  “You know, I think you’ve got the wrong impression about religion,” Noelle ventured. “I love God, and I’m still fun.”

  James flicked his eyebrows up, his lips curving in a smoldering smile, as he paused to open the door leading into the theater. “I’ll give you a chance to prove it to me later.”

  Noelle dashed through the door, grateful to escape the light, although her face was probably glow-in-the-dark red. “That sounded like a threat,” she whispered as he moved beside her.

  “Not a threat… a promise.”

  She couldn’t see his enticing dimple, but she knew it was there, teasing her, laughing at her naïve response.

  True to his word, they climbed to the very top row of the mostly empty theater and seated themselves in the center. From their position they could see Shara and David slide into place a few rows below them.

  She could barely hear when James muttered, “Good.”

  With her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she saw a satisfied smile on his face.

  “We’re early.” He stood up, bending over to speak quietly. “You want some popcorn or a drink?”

  Her stomach was completely full from dinner, but her lips said “yes” of their own volition.

  His eyebrows popped up in surprise. “Really? You’re hungry after that huge dinner we just ate?”

  She might have been offended if he hadn’t already told her he liked women with healthy appetites.

  “I plead temporary insanity, brought on by the smell of buttered popcorn.”

  He chuckled. “If the way to your heart is through your stomach, I plan to get there by the end of the night. One large buttered popcorn coming up.”

  As he made his way out to fetch their snacks, Noelle dug in her purse, rummaging for a disposable pocket flosser in case she got popcorn stuck between her teeth.

  “Found it!” she announced to herself, pulling out the small plastic package with a victorious flourish.

  “What is that?” The deep male voice at her elbow almost sent her flying over the seat in front of her.

  “Good grief!” She glared at David, who’d somehow materialized in the seat next to her. “You scared me to death!”

  Frowning at her hand, folded tightly around the plastic-wrapped flosser, he asked, “Is that what I think it is?”

  She scowled back, clueless about his question, but determined not to admit it. “Maybe it is. Maybe it isn’t. I suppose it depends on what you think it is, but I also suppose it’s none of your business.”

  “You don’t know my brother very well—you just met him Saturday night.”

  “I know him better than I know you,” she retorted. “What are you doing up here, anyway? And where’s Shara?” As she shifted her purse in her lap, she dropped the flosser from the palm of her hand to the inside pocket. Why does David care about my flosser anyway? Maybe he’s one of those people who get grossed out about hygiene.

  “Shara just went to the restroom.” He motioned toward the exit with his chin. “I thought I’d try to talk to you before they came back.”

  “Okay. Go ahead. Talk.” She spoke in a short, punchy pattern to hide the sudden quiver in her voice. David’s proximity was making her entire body tremble. Is he going to ask me out? Right here, when I’m on a date with his brother and he’s on a date with Shara? What am I going to say?

  “You’re not going to make this easy, are you?”

  “Make what easy? I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Her heart beat a wild drum pattern on the inside of her chest. He likes me—oh my gosh—he likes me!

  “I don’t think you’re the kind of girl who… I don’t think you should date my brother.”

  “Oh.” Her hope-filled balloon popped. I’m such an idiot. Of course he doesn’t like me. He just doesn’t want me to date his brother.

  “You’re just not his type,” he continued. “At least I think you’re not his type.”

  “What type do you think I am?” she snapped, snaring his eyes in her infamous stare-down.

  His brows lifted in surprise, but then his forehead furrowed. Narrowing his eyes, he pinned her in place with a sharp, unblinking stare that burned through her fake fury.

  She blinked, lowering her gaze. I can’t believe David just beat me at my own game. I never lose the stare-down.

  Yet when he spoke, his voice wasn’t arrogant. In fact, he sounded tentative… nervous… almost penitent. “I think you’re—”

  “Doc! What are you doing here? Why aren’t you sitting in your own seat?”

  The few other occupants of the theater turned to check out the commotion, and Noelle tried to slump out of sight.

  “It’s a free country. I can sit anywhere I want.” Contrary to his words, David leapt to his feet.

  Rigid with anger, James stood, glaring across Noelle at his brother. “Anywhere except right here.” He gestured with his popcorn-filled hand, spilling a few buttered kernels.

  “Here, let me take that from you.” Noelle grabbed the popcorn, slipping a few heavenly morsels onto her tongue, while the brothers sliced each other up with testosterone glares. She tugged on James’ sleeve, persisting until he finally gave her an impatient glance.

  “What is it?” James hissed.

  “I just wondered… is this going to be a bloody fight? Because I’d rather you two didn’t hemorrhage on my popcorn. Maybe you could take it outside, and I’ll meet you at the hospital after the movie?”

 
“What?” James shook his head, as if uncertain he’d heard her correctly.

  David, on the other hand, let out a snort of laughter. At James’ confused expression, David laughed even harder, holding his stomach and falling into his seat. “Angela,” he said, waving toward Noelle. “She’s just like Angela.”

  At first James held on stubbornly to his glowering visage, but finally succumbed to his brother’s gaiety and joined in the laughter. “You’re right,” he admitted. “She is like Angela.”

  “Who’s Angela?” Noelle wondered aloud. Could Angela be an old flame of one of the brothers? Or perhaps a girl they competed over in the past?

  Anger abated, James slid into his seat and reached for a handful of popcorn. “Angela’s our sister.”

  Oh. Great. I’m like his sister. Just what I wanted to hear. At least I won’t have to worry about James making a move on me now.

  *****

  Somehow, her similarity to their little sister dissolved all the animosity between the brothers, and James didn’t object when David suggested he and Shara might join them on the back row. Shara’s pouty face indicated she wasn’t pleased with the new chummy relationship, especially when Noelle ended up sandwiched between the two handsome brothers. For her part, Noelle’s entire movie experience was an amalgam of campy, disgusting humor and moments of tense horror from the screen, combined with mixed signals from Hunk One and Hunk Two.

  On her left, James no longer attempted to place his hand on her knee or nuzzle her neck or whisper suggestive comments in her ear, leading Noelle to believe he now viewed their relationship as more platonic. Yet his hand frequently found its way to the back of her chair, tracing idle patterns on the smooth silk of her right shirtsleeve. This rather innocuous action resulted in Noelle missing lengthy sections of the movie as a consequence of having her eyes closed. Somehow, this seemed at odds with her idea of brotherly affection, so perhaps he hadn’t moved their relationship to that plane after all.

  On her right, David mostly kept his hands to himself, though Shara used every scary moment in the movie—and quite a few that didn’t qualify as frightening in the least—to grab David’s arm and bury her face in his chest. David didn’t react at all, positively or negatively, to her actions. He did, however, take delight in making her jump during truly tense parts of the flick.