Page 6 of Under the Mistletoe

Noelle: Wise advice if he ever noticed me. Although he has been chasing men away from me all night. Maybe I should have stayed at the party.

Kelsey: You are so bad. Now, what do you mean by chasing them away?

Noelle: It’s like he is doing some huge favour to my father, keeping his little girl safe, you know what I mean.

Kelsey: …or he is wanting you all to himself ;)

Noelle: Here you go telling me to be careful and you fill my head with all sorts of things, besides I doubt that…

Kelsey: What is he doing right now?

I glanced up and noticed he was watching me again and only this time he quickly averted his eyes when he caught mine.

Noelle: Watching me, making drinks and looking away like a teenage boy when I catch him.

Kelsey: Perhaps he’s noticing you more than you think he is. Just be careful. I have to go. You sure you will get home, okay? Do you want us to swing by and get you when we are on our way?

Noelle: No, I’ll be fine. Bentley won’t let me leave without a ride in either his car or a cab.

Kelsey: Or a ride on something else ?? Okay, message me when you get home or if you need a ride before.

Noelle: You too. Like I said, I’ll be fine. Night. Oh, and your comment didn’t go unignored.

I shoved my phone back into my bag and went to take the last mouthful of my drink when Bentley appeared with the bottle in hand.

“Want a little more?”

I looked at my glass, already feeling the effects of the whiskey hitting me.

“Only if you have one,” I said, running my finger around the edge of the glass before bringing it to my mouth.

Bentley chuckled, then grabbed a clean glass from the bar and added ice into both glasses before pouring us a drink. I looked around at the people who were in the bar. There was no one I recognized, so I knew the chances of them knowing my father was probably low. They were all focused on what they were doing, so I figured I’d test the waters.

Once he went about cleaning up some of the dirty glasses, I stood up and reached over the bar, grabbing the bottle of whiskey he’d left within my reach. Just as I grabbed the bottle, his hand landed on mine. I looked up, meeting his eyes. It had gone exactly how I’d planned. He’d come over, and I was going to place a kiss on those lips of his but stopped.

I could feel his breath against my cheek as his eyes met mine, before they travelled down to my lips and then to my breastsand back up to my eyes. I could smell his cologne along with a mixture of whiskey and inhaled deeply and then closed my eyes. It was then I heard a low groan escape his throat, and when I opened my eyes, they met his, a definite look of want in them.

He stared at me for what felt like minutes and then cleared his throat. “Noelle, you’ve had enough to drink.” He reached for my glass. “I think it’s best if I call your father to come and get you.”

I sat down on the stool and grabbed my glass before locking eyes with him. I’d been wrong on what I thought I’d seen, but I’d been right on the other part. He was only chasing men away as a favour to my father.

“You don’t need to call my father. I’m fine,” I said, doing my best to give him my usual smile, knowing full well anyone who knew me would see right through it. “Besides, they are away this weekend.”

He watched me as he took the bottle and placed it back with the others, his eyes not leaving mine. Then he turned and went back to clearing the dirty glasses, while I sat there ready to cry. Maybe I should just text Macy and Kelsey, I thought to myself as I played with the zipper on my purse.

Bentley had ripped my heart out when he denied me. He didn’t want me in the same way I wanted him. I was stupid for even thinking he could, and I wanted nothing more than to go home and curl up in my bed. I just needed to figure out how I was getting there.

Four

Bentley

I couldn’t believe I’d almost fucking kissed her. The whiskey I’d had tonight made me weak. I’d been so close to her I could smell her sweet skin. When she bent just enough for me to see her ample cleavage, I wanted nothing more than to bury my face in her chest, to take her right here in the bar, let her know I wanted her to be mine. To make matters worse, when I met her eyes, she was so close I could feel her breath and I was even able to taste the subtle hint of the whiskey she’d been drinking on my lips. Those gorgeous, pouty, full lips.

I had to stop thinking of her. I was thankful for the distraction when one of the last remaining customers came up to pay their bill. We made small talk; I listened while he suggested where I could put the new pool table once it arrived. I didn’t care. I’d put it where I damn well wanted, but I needed the distraction, so he could go on and on all he wanted. Yet even as I listened, I’d look at her out of the corner of my eye. I was drawn to her, like a moth to a flame, and I knew that once the last couple left, it would be just her and me.

As they left, I turned to see her sitting there. She leaned against the back of the barstool, her legs crossed, her glass nestled snuggly in her lap as she stared at me.

“So, Noelle, who’s coming to pick you up?” I questioned, wanting to figure out how to put an end to my torment.

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