Page 6 of Naughty Noelle
“He asked me to take you.”
“Well, I don’t want to go. Besides, I’m not packed for a trip, and I’m certainly not dressed for anything other than a Christmas party.”
“I wouldn’t say you’re dressed at all,” he mutters.
I glance down at my pleated red cheerleader skirt, white blouse, and my white, red and green striped over-the-knee socks. I even took a green scarf and wrapped it around my waist as a belt. I look like a cute Christmas elf. Hiro probably only dates women who wear beige silk blouses and suits. I push aside the thought. I don’t care what Hiro does anymore.
My knee twinges and I lift it to see the tear in my socks and the angry, red welt underneath. In my shock, I didn’t even register the pain, but I’m definitely feeling the burn now. I sniffle back the tears that are threatening.
Hiro stops scanning the street behind us and focuses on me. I brace myself for whatever sarcastic comment I’m certain is on the tip of my tongue.
Warm hands cover mine, brushing them out of the way. “How bad does it hurt?” He leans over my lap, gently rolling my stocking down, lifting the torn fabric away so it doesn’t pull at my raw knee.
My mouth goes dry as his fingers skim my leg and my heart thuds in my ears. For years I would have given my left arm to have this kind of gentle attention from Hiro, instead of his usual scowl, sarcasm, or worse, complete obliviousness to the fact that I’m in the room.
I shift in my seat as he delicately presses around my abrased knee, my skirt riding up my thighs. I tense, desperately wishing he’d slide his hand higher to where my panties are suddenly soaking wet. He stills, lifting his head and meets my eyes.
The car is silent and my heart pounds, the ambient neighborhood light casting his face into beautiful relief. His caress is clinical, checking me for injuries and almost as light as a brush of air over my knee, but it lights up my nerve endings like the Fourth of July and for a minute I panic that I moaned out loud.
A muscle jumps in his jaw when I wince. “I’m sorry it hurts.”
“It’s not your fault,” I whisper, squeezing my legs together to stem the ache.
Hiro sits back, thumping his head against the leather head rest. “You shouldn’t have so much as broken a nail with me.”
“Is that what my brother said?”
He closes his eyes for a second and doesn’t acknowledge my question. There’s a low buzzing and he pulls out his phone.
“Hey, how come you can use your phone and I can’t touch mine?” I ask.
Holding up a hand he shoots me a dark look of annoyance. Now we’re back on familiar ground at least.
“Abbott, here.”
I can’t hear the person on the other end, but Hiro curses. “How is that even possible?” he asks, his tone frosty.
He issues a few directions that make no sense to me and then slides the phone into a slot built into the dash. He puts his arm up on the seat, twisting to look out the back and reverses out the driveway. My muscles are tense, responding to his body cues as he scans the road in front of him, steadily gaining speed as we approach the highway.
Wait. The highway?
“Hiro, I can’t go to your cabin, I don’t have any clothes, or any of my stuff. Let me call Henry.”
“Keep your phone off, Noelle.” He spares me a glance as he smoothly maneuvers around traffic.
“But it’s almost Christmas. Is your whole family going to be there for the holiday?” Considering the amount of time Henry and Hiro spend together, it’s odd I don’t actually know much about Hiro’s family. I know his mom is Japanese because I asked about his name once, but I don’t know if he has any brothers or sisters or if he had a goldfish growing up. I don’t even know his relationship status.
“My family is going to Whistler for the holiday.”
“Oh. Is your girlfriend staying with you for Christmas?” I wish I could bite my tongue and take the question back.
A muscle jumps in his jaw. “I’m currently single, Noelle.” He sighs. “I go to my cabin to decompress and be alone for a bit. That’s it. Your brother asked me to take care of you until he could get home so that’s what I’m doing.”
I hold up my hand, ticking off my fingers one by one. “I have no clothes, no essentials, no winter jacket or boots, I can’t use my phone and there’s just over a week left before Christmas.” I fold my arms. “This feels like a kidnapping.”
“Still so dramatic, Noelle?”
What is it about Hiro that always makes me feel like a stupid little girl? “I’m just highlighting the realities.”
