Sweet Christmas Kisses (160 page)

Noelle dropped her head back and groaned. “Shoot me now.”

“A midnight tryst? Really?” Millie’s eyes glowed. “Noelle, I’m so proud of you, honey.”

“It wasn’t midnight, and it wasn’t a tryst… and why would you be proud of me?”

“Because it means you’re ready to move on. And let’s face it. You’ve never done anything… risky… with guys before. Never been even a little bit naughty.”

“And you chose to get naughty with Michael Campbell, of all people,” Holly said, folding her arms.

“Yeah, that’s still awkwardly strange,” Millie said. “I get it, of course. Michael is hot in a historical romance, rake kind of way.”

Noelle goggled at her in bemusement. “What does that even mean?”

“Doug was handsome, but safe. Michael is not safe. He’s smoldering and sexy.”

“If you keep saying that, I am going to tell Andrew,” Noelle said.

Millie ignored the threat. “So, is it serious?”

“No!” Noelle and Holly echoed again.

“Would you stop doing that?” Noelle said, aiming a vicious glare at her sister.

“Stop kissing Michael Campbell,” Holly shot back.

“I have,” Noelle said, forcing the words from her mouth. “We both agreed it wouldn’t happen again. It was the excitement of the moment and nothing more.”

“Are you sure?” Millie asked, concern replacing any teasing in her tone. “Strange awkwardness aside, he is a great guy, and he obviously cares about you, or he wouldn’t be going to so much trouble to help out.”

“I’m sure.”

“Of course she is,” Holly seconded.

“So you’d be willing to go out with Kirk?” Millie asked.

Everything in Noelle wanted to protest. She had no desire to go out with anyone, but maybe she should. Maybe she was lonely, and she couldn’t mourn a lost future with Doug forever.

“Yes, I’ll go,” she said.

Millie clapped her hands. “Tonight?”

“I have the festival.”

“I’ll manage things,” Holly said.

Of course,
now
her sister would take charge. “What about the girls?”

“That’s why God invented grandparents. Drew’s folks will love having the kids for the night.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure you need to go out with this guy,” Holly said. “He’s a cute doctor and not related to Doug Campbell.”

Couldn’t argue with such logic, especially if she wanted to prove her reaction to Michael’s kiss was a fluke.

At five, Noelle went home to get ready for her date. She tried to calm her nerves as she changed clothes. Tried to remember the last time she’d actually been on a date. Years came to mind. She didn’t know if going in blind made things better or worse.

She dressed with care in black jeans and a blue sweater, which she knew complimented her hair and eyes. Then she headed to Devon’s restaurant in town. Somehow, having a date come to her parents’ house seemed a little too much like high school when her father would give a don’t-touch-my-daughter look to the boy standing on the front porch.

A man stood on the street in front of the restaurant. Heart pounding, Noelle waited for him to turn around. When he did, a pleasant twang eased down her spine. Kirk Granger was drop-dead gorgeous. He looked like some kind of ski pro, with his dark blond hair and light blue eyes. Noelle might have to thank Millie.

“Hi,” he said. “You must be Noelle.”

“Yes, I am.”

Kirk’s shoulders were more impressive than her small talk. Not good.

“I have a confession,” Kirk said. “I wasn’t sure about a blind date, but now I might have to kiss Millie’s feet.”

Oh, he was smooth.

“I might have to return the favor,” Noelle said, even more grateful for the zing of attraction. “I have my own confession. It’s been a long day and I’m starving.”

“I like a woman who will eat more than salad,” Kirk responded. “And I’m starving, too.” He opened the door of the restaurant and swept an arm out. “After you.”

He placed a proprietary hand on her back as the hostess led them to their seats. Of course, the table had to be all the way in the back, requiring them to walk by every person in the establishment.

Including Michael’s parents.

Noelle tripped over her own feet when she saw Janine and Peter Campbell.

Kirk reached out a steadying hand. “You all right?”

“I’m still mastering the ability to walk,” she said. Mrs. Campbell was looking directly at them. Noelle realized Kirk was holding her hand, and, to the casual observer, it probably looked like they were more than friendly. She jerked away, earning another curious glance from her date.

She couldn’t ignore Michael’s parents, but as Noelle approached, all she could think about was his mother wishing she’d followed through with her plans to leave town.

“Hi!” Noelle said, forcing a carefree smile as she gazed down at them. “How wonderful to run into you.”

Peter Campbell, the almost in-law who still liked her, returned the greeting with a warm grin. “Well, if it isn’t Covington Falls’ Christmas savior. Nice to see you out enjoying yourself.”

“I have to sneak in fun whenever I can lately. Are you two having a date night?”

Peter took his wife’s hand. “We are.”

“It seems you’re having one as well,” Janine Campbell said, her gaze trained beyond Noelle’s shoulder.

She’d almost forgotten about her date in the anxiety over facing Michael’s parents. “Oh!” Noelle gestured for him to come closer. “Kirk, this is Peter and Janine Campbell, my… um… ex-fiancé’s parents. Kirk is an orthopedic surgeon. He works with Millie’s husband.”

“A doctor?” No disguising Janine’s pleased expression at hearing such news. “How interesting. I don’t believe we’ve met before. You must be new in town.”

“I moved here a few weeks ago,” Kirk said.

“And how do you like Covington Falls?”

Kirk glanced at Noelle. “It’s getting better all the time.”

Under any other circumstances Noelle might have appreciated his charm. Right now, she wanted to sink through the floor. Janine Campbell looked thrilled to see her precious son’s nearly-wife moving on with someone who wasn’t her
other
precious son.

“Well, I won’t keep you from dinner,” Noelle said. “You have a great night.”

“You too, dear,” Janine said.

Noelle steered her date toward their table.

Kirk quirked a brow as they finally took their seats. “Is it my imagination, or was that incredibly awkward?”

“Incredibly, amazingly, horrifyingly awkward,” she said with a shudder.

“They were almost your in-laws, right?”

“A couple hours short of it. I assume Millie told you about
that day
,” Noelle said, making air quotes for emphasis.

Kirk chuckled a little. “A brief version, yes,” he said, eyes appropriately sympathetic though not pitying. “I’m sorry about what happened to you, but I’m not sorry the guy was stupid enough to let you go. His loss is my gain.”

“You don’t know that yet.”

He held up his water glass. “Here’s to finding out then.”

“I’ll drink to that,” she said, clinking her glass against his. “Let’s start with what brought you to Covington Falls. It’s not exactly a buzzing metropolis.”

“That’s exactly why I chose it,” Kirk said. “I moved here because of my daughter.”

“You have a child?” Noelle asked. Her cousin had mentioned a divorce, but not kids.

He nodded, eyes lighting with a daddy’s love. “Her name is Ella. She’s ten going on forty.”

A child could be a complication, especially in a divorce situation. Not that Noelle wanted to invite complications to the table yet. They’d barely begun their date. Kirk could turn out to be a huge jerk.

“Ella needed a stable environment after everything with her mother.”

“She lives with you?” Noelle asked. It wasn’t unheard of for fathers to win custody in a divorce, but it wasn’t common either. “Or do you split time with your ex-wife?”

“My ex isn’t Ella’s mother,” he said.

His tight jaw and clipped tone indicated Noelle had stepped into something sticky and dirty. A ten year old who wasn’t a product of his marriage? Moving to a strange town with his daughter, but sans wife?

“What…” She didn’t even know how to ask without seeming to pry into the life of a total stranger.

Kirk took pity on her, or perhaps he wanted to get the truth out in the open. “I was young and stupid, which led to some bad choices, the consequences of which I only found out about six months ago when Ella showed up at my door.”

And within six months he’d left everything behind, including his wife. Or had the wife left because of his long-lost daughter?

“Now I feel like my drama is nothing,” Noelle said.

“I’d say being abandoned on your wedding day is pretty dramatic. You really had no clue about your fiancé?”

“I thought everything was fine until I got the note,” Noelle said. “My maid of honor did a good job of hiding the truth, too.”

Kirk winced. “Millie told me he ran off with your best friend. Talk about a double betrayal.”

“To be fair, Doug and Alicia had a history. They were high school sweethearts.”

“Doesn’t make it right—” Kirk’s cell went off, and he glanced down. “It’s my daughter. I’d better answer.”

“Of course.”

“Ella, what…” Whatever he was going to ask was cut off. “No, you can’t watch
Wrestle To Death
… I don’t care if your entire class is allowed to watch… I have to go. I’m having dinner.” He hung up and sent her an apologetic smile. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

“It’s the first time I’ve left Ella with a babysitter since we moved here and…”

His phone went off again.

“Ella, are you hurt?” Kirk asked when he answered the second time. “Have you been injured?”

Noelle heard a muffled, high-pitch reply.

“Your feelings don’t count as an emergency,” Kirk said. This time he turned the ringer off when the call finished.

“She sounds… challenging,” Noelle said.

Kirk’s sigh held an edge of despondency. “Ella’s whole life has been challenging. Her mother … well… she wasn’t qualified to be
anyone’s
mother. Ella practically raised herself, and she’s still not sure if she can trust me. She’s not sure she can trust any adult. My wife certainly didn’t help.”

Yes, the mysterious wife who didn’t make the move with them. “What happened?”

“As it turns out, Beverly wasn’t cut out to be a mother either,” Kirk’s fist clenched around his fork.

Noelle took the utensil away before he bent it half. “I’m sorry. I guess maybe I’m lucky Doug left before we got married.”

Kirk laced his fingers through hers. “Have I mentioned your ex-fiancé was an idiot?”

She laughed. “Why don’t we make a deal? We won’t talk about exes of any kind the rest of the night?”

A rather dazzling smile lit up his face. “I can handle that.”

Kirk’s phone started vibrating.

Noelle pointed at it. “Maybe you should—”

“No,” he said, without even glancing down. “Tell me what’s good here?”

Since he was ignoring the interruption Noelle tried to tune out the phone as well, even though her conscience killed her. “Everything is delicious. Chef Devon is our local treasure.”

Finally the ringing stopped, and Noelle sighed in relief. Maybe Ella would get the hint and lay off, although Noelle doubted it. Clearly the little girl didn’t like knowing her father was out on a date.

“Then maybe I’ll let you order—”

Once more the phone vibrated, bouncing around on the table like a jumping bean.

Noelle bit her lip. “Just answer it.”

His eyes darkened with temper as Kirk picked up the phone. A moment later his cheeks went white. “What do you mean, she’s gone? I spoke to her thirty seconds ago.”

Another voice, this one sounding older and more panicked, floated across the table.

“Yes, yes…I know…It’s not your fault.” Kirk said, springing to his feet. “I’m on my way.”

He hung up and then looked over at her. “Ella’s run off.”

“Are you sure? Maybe she’s hiding.”

“There was a note saying she’s trying to come here.” He started for the door.

“I’ll come with you,” Noelle said, rising as well. “I can help you look.”

“That’s probably not a good idea. Ella is already upset, and you showing up would set her off even more.”

Dumped before the appetizers could even arrive. “Okay, if you’re sure?”

Kirk’s lips thinned. “I’m sorry to run out on you.”

“Don’t worry about me.”

He framed her face and planted a quick kiss on her lips. “I’ll make it up to you. I promise.”

She gave him a little push. “Just go find your little girl.”

Noelle sighed as she watched her date race out of the restaurant. If she were comparing people based on the complications in their life, Kirk would beat her by a mile. Make that a thousand miles. A troubled child, a floundering new father, an open wound left by a very recent divorce.

“Everything all right, Noelle?”

She turned to find Chef Devon standing a couple feet away.

“He had an emergency at home,” Noelle said.

“I hope it’s nothing serious?”

“No, and I doubt it’s going to get serious,” she said, massaging her temple to relieve the sudden headache.

Devon touched her shoulder. “I’m sorry. Is there any way I can help?”

“Do you think I could get dinner to go tonight?”

Christmas week dawned with a deluge of freezing rain. On top of the wickedly cold wind, the roads soon became a sloshy mess. Not the kind of day anyone wanted to spend outside — or anywhere that involved leaving the house. Michael spent the morning doing inventory and placing orders at Good Sport. Since the weather had kept people at home, the store remained empty for the most part. Only a few brave souls ventured out to mark off items on their holiday list.

June’s oldest son was home on a break from law school, so she’d taken the day off to spend time with her family. Without his store manager and without customers to serve as distraction, Michael found himself wandering to the window overlooking the street again and again. Several times he caught a glimpse of Noelle working inside St. Nick’s Closet. 

Not that he kept looking.