Page 24 of Under the Mistletoe

I frowned. It was at least an hour’s walk. Then I remembered her car was out back from the other night and that I’d driven her back to her parents’ yesterday morning.

I shut the door and brought her over to the bar, grabbing a clean glass and the bottle of whiskey and poured her a shot. “Drink this.”

She took the glass from me, looked into my eyes, and drank the liquid, closing her eyes as it heated her body. “Thank you,” she whispered.

“Now, what are you doing here?” I questioned, pulling her against me to help warm her. “Your father is going to be pissed.” I chuckled.

“I don’t care what my father thinks,” she murmured, her body shivering against mine. “Where were you going?” she asked, looking at me. I was still wearing my jacket and still held my keys in my hand.

“Nevermind, and yes, you do care.”

“I don’t. If he doesn’t want to accept us, then he doesn’t accept me. I love you, and my father’s opinion has no weight on that. If you still want me, I’m yours.”

I couldn’t believe the words I was hearing from her mouth. If I still wanted her? She was crazy to even think I wouldn’t want her, but still my heart sunk at the thought of what she was giving up.

“Noelle, you don’t want to lose your relationship with your parents,” I said, trying to keep my voice as calm as I could.

It didn’t matter how badly I wanted her. I refused to allow her to do something that stupid.

“He will not tell me who I get to be in a relationship with and who I can love,” she said, crossing her arms in front of her. Shelooked down at the bar, staring at it for what felt like minutes before she looked at me. “Do you not want me either?” she questioned; her voice barely audible.

I pulled her against me once again, pressing a kiss on her forehead. “Don’t you ever allow those words to leave those perfect lips again, you hear me?” I said, my voice low. “We will work through all this mess with your parents together, and I’ll do my best to make sure you are taken care of and happy, the same way you’ve made me happy,” I said, bringing her lips to mine.

“I don’t want to talk to my parents about it anymore. You know as well as I do my father doesn’t change his mind when he has it already set.”

She was right. I’d never known Bruce to change his mind when he was adamant about something. He was as stubborn as they came.

“Noelle, I want you to think about what it is you are saying,” I said, getting up and grabbing another glass from behind the bar. I poured us both a shot of whiskey before sitting back down beside her. “What about all the important events—family events, birthdays, thanksgiving, holidays, your wedding, babies?”

She looked at me, thinking about what I was saying.

“I walked away from my family when I was young and stupid. I just want to make sure you really think this through. There will come a time you need them.”

“They don’t seem to care where I am right now. As for the rest, well, I’d hope it’s you I’m walking down the aisle toward, that it’s your babies I’m having, because you are all I need.”

“It will be me, I can assure you of that,” I said, picking up my glass and drinking down my whiskey.

When I placed my glass back down on the bar and glanced over at Noelle, I saw tears in her eyes. She leaned over and placed a kiss on my lips.

“I’m so sorry that my parents hurt you the way they have, and I’m sorry I didn’t come to you last night. I just hope I won’t have to wait too long for you to make me yours,” she whispered.

I stood up from the stool and picked her up, kissing her as she wrapped her arms around my neck.

“If I could marry you right now, I would,” I whispered, wrapping my arms around her. As I held her against me, I heard the sweet sound of her laugh. “What is it?” I questioned.

She looked up at me, her cheeks flushed. “If we can’t get married today, I have an idea what we could do.”

“What’s that?” I asked.

“I think maybe we should practice the wedding night,” she purred.

She let out a giggle as I flipped her in my arms so I was carrying her bridal style.

“Don’t have to ask me twice.” I chuckled and carried her upstairs to my small apartment.

Fifteen

Noelle

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