Page 9 of Naughty Noelle
Something shifts in my chest. As much as I feel this is a duty I owe to my best friend, the shadow of truth in my heart is that I would walk into a burning building to get to Noelle.
And that truth has nothing to do with the fact she’s my best friend’s little sister.
I sigh, giving into the inevitable. Unless I lock myself in a closet while we’re at the cabin, I won’t be able to avoid her. Noelle doesn’t deserve to be trapped with me while I try to ignore her, pretending I don’t feel things I shouldn’t. “The problem isn’t that I don’t like you, Noelle.”
She picks up a little owl, a merry red scarf around its neck, and hugs it to her chest. “Well, that’s news to me. You always act like you hate me. I know you think I’m annoying.”
“I don’t think you’re annoying.”
“You’re just saying that to get me to come with you.”
“I do want to get out of here, but you need some things.” I can’t bring myself to pluck the owl out of her arms. I already feel like I’ve kicked a fairy, knocking the sparkle off her wings. If she wants the damn owl, I’ll buy it.
“I bet you have a running list in your head about what I need. Everyone always knows better than me about what I need.”
I tilt my head, studying her. “We don’t have a lot of time, and you do need a snowsuit, but I’m not trying to torture you either.” Nope, it’s just me out here on the side of the mountain, in agony, only instead of my liver being plucked from my body, it’s an assault of Christmas music and guilt.
I check my watch. Madeleine called with the disturbing news that ‘Tom’ was gone by the time campus security and the police got their heads out of their asses, but no one has been able to track him. I’m confident he wasn’t able to follow us, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t get a good look at the vehicle I’m driving.
I thought this would be a simple enough favor: pick-up Noelle, keep her occupied for a few days until Henry is back in town, and then have a come-to-Jesus conversation with my best friend for keeping me in the dark about whatever the hell is going on.
Henry Black might have one of the best security agencies at his beck and call but only if they’re aware of all the threats that are out there. And someone should have flagged any issues directly with me before now.
The sooner I get to my cabin, the sooner I can take stock of the situation and figure out what is needed. Tom’s disappearance solidifies my hunch that he wasn’t just some random thug and that makes my blood freeze in my veins.
“Okay, you can get whatever you want, but you have exactly one hour before we’re going to be back in that car, driving. And you stay with me, got it?”
Her lips flatten into a tight line, but she nods. “You can push the cart.”
I grab a cart and Noelle immediately deposits a dancing penguin. “Hey, we just need the essentials.” Plus we’re already getting that owl she’s hugging.
She stops me from taking it out. “You said I can get whatever I want.”
“I meant…”
“If you want me to go along with this kidnapping…” I raise my eyebrows as an elderly woman in a bright pink ski jacket turns and gives me a sharp once over.
Noelle flips open my jacket and gestures to her outfit. “We’re into role-play, right Daddy?” She smiles and winks at the woman who quickly pushes her cart out of the aisle.
Heat creeps up my neck. The easiest way to get out of here, without calling attention to us, is just to let her have her way. But I don’t want her to know she has the upper hand.
I step in front of her, pulling my jacket closed and tug her towards me. She tips her head up, a startled expression on her face. “If I’m your ‘Daddy’, then I’m pretty sure you have to do what I say, right, baby?”
A blush stains her cheeks, but she doesn’t pull away from me. “Maybe I’m more of a brat,” she replies.
I’ve no doubt if this were real, she’d be brattiest little princess out there, but I’m not about to let her win this round. I slide my arms around her and tangle my fingers in the ends of her silky hair, gently forcing her chin higher. “A brat who disobeys risks getting spanked.” Her beautiful lips fall open in disbelief. “Don’t push me, Noelle.”
“I’ve been trying to push you my whole life,” she whispers.
Heat floods me. “You’re too young to even know what that means.” I release her, reluctantly. She reaches for a silver tinsel garland, throwing it in the cart and adds a pillow with a pictureof one of those bearded garden elves that says ‘Gnome for the Holidays’. I shudder, thinking of my clean, streamlined cabin.
Noelle tosses her hair over her shoulder and makes her way through the Christmas stuff, finally picking out some clothing and necessities. At the checkout, I shake my head as the cashier scans our alarmingly large cart.
Imagine if I’d given Noelle even more time.
There’s a pink and black snowsuit, flannel pajamas, little scraps of lace and satin that I shouldn’t be interested in and a few books. There are red and green colored cookies, marshmallows, more Christmas chocolate than anyone could possibly eat and those red and white swirled peppermints. Hot chocolate, chocolate-covered pretzels, popcorn, and red licorice sticks. My stomach is turning just looking at all that sugar.
“I have food at the cabin,” I mutter.
