Perfect Match (12 page)

He put his arm around her and gently tugged
her towards him, “I have to call it a night. I have to get to the
arena early. It’s getting late.”

“Yeah, and it’s a traveling show tomorrow.
You don’t want to be late for that.” Noelle said hoping that she
didn’t sound too disappointed.

In the car, Jackson seemed nervous. Noelle
couldn’t help but wonder why. It wasn’t until he was almost at her
place did he say anything. “Noelle, can I ask you something?”

“Jackson, you can ask me anything,” she
replied as he pulled up in front of her townhouse and turned to
face her.

“Noelle, I know what you told me about Mr.
Evil, but really? That guy was bad news. He was smashed and really
was giving bad vibes about what he could have done to you.”

That thought scared her but she wanted to
reassure him. “I honestly didn’t know how much of a creep he was.
Believe me. I’m usually much more selective on who I go out with.
Which is the main reason why I do not have many dates.”

“Well, you could do so much better than him,
Noelle. Don’t sell yourself short.” He reached over and squeezed
her hand. “You deserve better than what you went out with tonight.
No more guys like Mr. Evil.”

She couldn’t focus on what he was actually
saying. All she could concentrate on was his hand on hers and his
thumb stroking the top of her hand. She just watched his hand for a
moment studying the slow but soft movements. “I won’t date anyone
again.” She blurted out. She realized what she said and looked up
at him quickly. He was giving her that look again. She cleared her
throat and said, “I mean I’ll never date him again.”

“Good.” Jackson nodded. “I’m just glad that I
was there tonight.”

“Me, too. Honestly, I’m really glad to have
you back…you know, in my life.” She noticed that his hand stopped
moving.

“I’m not going anywhere.” Noelle’s heartbeat
quickened as he leaned in closer. He leaned his forehead on hers
once again, a position she was growing to love. Her heart was
pounding so hard, that she was sure he could hear it. She was
silently willing him to kiss her. She didn’t have the nerve that
she once did with him. The whole game changed

but the feelings did not. “Jackson,” She
whispered not knowing really what she was going to say.

The moment was gone as soon as Jackson’s cell
phone rang. He laughed nervously and Noelle moved her hand and
nervously fixed her hair. He checked his phone. “It’s Chad.” He
mumbled and hit a button. “Chad, I’ll call you back.” He turned to
her and apologized.

“It’s okay. I really should go in. I don’t
want to keep you out too late. Thank you, Jackson. For
everything.”

“You are welcome. That’s what I am here for.
I’ve told you this before. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

She surprised herself because she was
beginning to believe him. He leaned in and hugged her. “I’ll call
you tomorrow.”

She smiled and reluctantly left the car.
Turns out her date from hell, was one of the best times she ever
had.

***

The loud knocking on the door woke Noelle.
She was groggy as she walked to the door. She opened it knowing who
it was on the other side. She wasn’t sure how she knew it, but she
knew that it was Jackson knocking on her door.

“Hi.” He said at the same time she did.

“I forgot something,” Jackson said reaching
for Noelle. He reached up to touch her face, caressing her cheeks.
He stepped into the townhouse and kicked the door shut behind him.
Instantly his lips were on hers. She didn’t have time to think
about her

reaction, what she was wearing and what he
was doing. They clawed at each other, like they were hungry and
only physical contact could satisfy them. She raked her fingers
through his soft hair, and he pressed his erection at her stomach.
All she could think about was how his kiss was making her feel and
how much she wanted this.

She wrapped her arms around his neck. She
opened her mouth so he could deepen the kiss. And deepen this kiss
he did! They got carried away fast. He picked her up and pressed
her against the wall beside her door. She wrapped her legs around
him. They were able to pry their lips apart long enough for Jackson
to start kissing her neck while he supported her as she ran her
hands up and down the back of his neck, giving him goose bumps.

“Noelle,” he murmured between kisses, “I
can’t go another moment without having you.” She was wearing only
an oversized T-shirt and his hand reached around to her behind.

She couldn’t think about anything else but
where his hands were at and what they were so close to doing.
“Jackson, are you sure about this?”

Before he could answer, she heard her cell
phone ringing. All she thought of was what is up with all the cell
phones tonight? The cell phone ringing got louder, and Jackson
started fading. She felt him letting her go and startled herself.
She realized she was dreaming and woke up, but her cell phone was
still ringing. She reached for it and hit the talk button. She
realized it was light in her room. “Hello?” She didn’t get to the
phone in time. She checked her missed calls hoping it was Jackson.
She saw that it was Chelsey. About thirty seconds later a text came
in from Chelsey.

Hey! I hope you have no plans today. I need a
pedi and you are coming with me.

CHAPTER SEVEN

She loved the smell of the nail salon. She
loved the mix of the polish, the acrylic for the artificial nails,
and the lotions and oils used at the pedicure stations. She was
happy to be there receiving a long overdue pedicure. She deserved a
little pampering, and the best part was she was spending her
afternoon with Chelsey Johnson. They haven’t had much time
together, just the two of them, since that night at Monroe’s. She
knew that Chelsey’s third degree was coming.

Noelle looked through the endless bottles of
colors and couldn’t decide if she wanted a bright, bold color, or
her usual subtle mauve. She decided on a shimmery pink. She looked
at the color Chelsey chose and giggled when she saw it was shamrock
green. “Ready?” The salon worker asked as she led the ladies to the
pedicure chairs.

“If you’d ever pick a soft color, I think I’d
die of shock.”

“That’s me,” Chelsey agreed, “The crazy girl.
I was going to pick black but I don’t think Darin would like to
look at my toes with black polish on them.” Chelsey set her purse
down, kicked off her flip flops and dipped her feet in. Noelle did
the same. She reached in her pocket and pulled out her cell phone
and held it in her hand. She leaned her head back on the chair and
looked at her friend. “You look really great, Chels. I love the
chunky highlights in your hair! Just when I didn’t think you’d get
any crazier.”

“Thanks. Darin loves it. My dad does as well.
Mom not so much.”

Noelle laughed, “Nothing new there. Your
mother never approves of anything you do. You know, it has been way
too long since we’ve gotten pedis.”

“I know, right! I’ve missed you. I think
Darin was excited that I was actually getting out of the house for
a little while. I’ve been so busy with work lately, I haven’t had
much time for anything else.” Chelsey said. She works at Robin Hood
Rehab Center, a facility for children who were hurt in an accident.
She was also a physical therapist.

“How is everything between you guys now that
you are living together?” Noelle asked as she adjusted the massager
on her chair.

“Great! I don’t want to get too excited, but
I’ve got the feeling that he is going to propose soon!” Chelsey
gushed.

“I know, I better be the first person you
call,” Noelle said as she checked to see if a message came in even
though she didn’t feel it go off.

“Yeah, well it would be much easier to keep
you in the loop if you would have taken the job at Robin Hood with
me instead of taking the job at your dad’s company. I do
understand, though. I’d rather work with gorgeous men too!”

“Chelsey! That is not why I took the job at
BRAWL.”

“I know it. I’m just giving you a hard time.
I would have been surprised if you wouldn’t have taken that job. I
know how much you are looking forward to working with your
dad.”

“Let’s hope I never have to work on him,”
Noelle said looking at her phone again. She knew it was silly, but
she hadn’t heard from Jackson yet that day. She wanted to be sure
she didn’t miss him. She couldn’t stop thinking of him, and knew
that crazy dream had a lot to do with why her thoughts had been
focused on him.

“Whose call are you waiting for?” Chelsey
asked.

“No one.”

“Really? Then why do you keep checking your
phone?”

Noelle smiled but didn’t say anything. There
was really nothing to say, but her friend knew better.

“You are waiting for Jackson to call you,
aren’t you?” Chelsey asked as Noelle’s phone buzzed indicating she
had a text message.

Noelle read the message.

Jackson: What are you doing today?

Noelle: Getting a pedi with Chelsey.

Jackson: A pedi? Where strangers are playing
with ur feet?

Noelle: Don’t knock it til you tried it. They
are amazing. You’d love it. Besides pretty feet = happy feet.

“Okay, sorry.” Noelle said as she put the
phone aside.

“Who are you texting?” Chelsey asked with an
amused smile on her face.

Noelle swung her hair back behind her
shoulder. She looked over at her friend and smiled. “Okay, so it’s
Jackson. So what?”

She could tell that Chelsey was trying not
say something sarcastic, but she also knew how hard that was for
her. “Why are you so worried about hearing from him? Are you ready
to admit to me that you have real feelings for him?”

“No. I do not. Chelsey we are friends. We
hung out last night and had a really great time. Also, I want to
make sure that I am not needed at work.”

“Oh yeah. Because Jackson is who calls you
when you have an emergency that needs to be taken care of. That
makes sense.”

Noelle just shrugged at the sarcasm she heard
in Chelsey’s voice. The problem was Chelsey knew Noelle all too
well. “I ended up going out with that guy from the gym last night.
Jackson was there and chased Tim away when that date went
downhill.”

“Why did you go out with that guy? Noelle,
what were you thinking?”

“Kayla told me how Jackson was still trying
to see her, so I guess I got mad and on impulse I told Tim I’d go
out with him.”

“Interesting,” Chelsey said raising an
eyebrow.

“What’s interesting about that?” Noelle asked
as her phone went off again.

Jackson: Does that mean you’re gonna take me
for a pedi? I don’t want some bright ass color on my toes.

Noelle: No, you can get a French pedi.

Jackson: French pedi? Is that like French
kissing?

Noelle: Um..no. LOL Pick a color for me?

Noelle giggled as she brought her attention
back to Chelsey. “Noelle, normally I would be offended that you are
on your phone, but I am actually enjoying this.”

“Enjoying what?”

“You and how you are acting with his text
messages. I haven’t seen you like this…ever. I am liking this side
of you, Noelle.”

Another message came in.

Jackson: Pink = Cute. Yellow = Happy. Red =
Sexy. Blue = Funky. What’s ur mood?

Noelle: That’s for me to know, and for you to
find out. ;-)

Jackson: LOL

“Don’t read anything into this, Chelsey.
Jackson told me that he wants nothing to do with Kayla, but she
showed me a text from Jackson about him going to see her. I don’t
know who to believe. “

“Believe him.”

“It’s not that easy. He hurt me before.”

“He was fourteen, Noelle, and that is what
teenage boys do. Hurt girls. He is really great, in my opinion. I
think he’s trustworthy. That scary creature of an ex-girlfriend is
bitter and was probably trying to freak you out.”

“Maybe. I decided to move on and believe him.
I enjoy spending time with him. Everyone else seems to avoid me in
order to escape the wrath of my Pop. I don’t know. It’s easy being
friends with him.”

“What about that other side? He was your
first crush, and you guys had a pretty amazing night a few weeks
back. You liked him then. You can’t possibly just stop liking him
just like that. You still have feelings for him, right? I mean he
practically beat up a guy for you one night, and the next time he
runs off a bad date of yours. If that isn‘t romantic, then I don’t
know what is.”

“He’s a bully, is what it is.”

“He is not. Besides he is so cute. And he
sure doesn’t look like a wrestler. They can be too…I don’t know.
Bulky. He’s perfect.”

Noelle smiled in spite of herself. Jackson
was definitely cute. “Yeah, he is cute. Okay, extremely good
looking.” The woman working on Noelle’s feet interrupted to ask for
the nail polish Noelle was holding. She looked at the soft color in
her hand and set it down. She reached for a bottle of bright red
polish that was on the table next to her. She smiled mischievously
at her own private joke and hands the bottle to the salon worker.
She looked over at Chelsey, who noticed the smile. “What are you
smiling about?”

She shrugged and said, “You wouldn’t
understand. The thing with him is that he broke my heart back then.
He liked my sister. I don’t want to risk getting hurt like that
again. Besides, my Pop would freak out if anything happened between
us. Wrestlers are off limits for us Reid girls.” A new text message
came in. “Last one, Chels. I promise.”

Jackson: Promo with Kayla tonight. Help!

It was a picture of him pouting. Noelle
handed Chelsey her phone so she could see the picture. “Wow!”

“Yes.”

“He’s such a cutie!” Chelsey gushed, “If you
don’t fall in love with him, I will!” Chelsey handed her back her
phone. “It’s a shame that you aren’t allowed to be with him,
because you sure light up when you get a text from him. You’ve got
to remember that you are an adult, Noelle. You are almost
twenty-five and can make your own choices. I’ve never seen you act
this way with any guy, so if he has got you feeling something for
him, you are old enough to make your own life choices. Don’t forget
that. I also know you had a bad relationship before, but that
doesn’t mean all of your relationships are going to be bad.”