Part 2 (1/2)
She takes a sip of her drink. ”Did you wake up naked?”
”No, I had my s.h.i.+rt on.” I'm still feeling confused about the whole situation and the more I think about it the more my brain hurts.
”Panties?”
”Yes, very much intact.”
”Well, then nothing happened.”
I'd already thought about this. Maybe he did just escort me home and put me to bed. But every now and then my over-reactive mind can't help but question. ”What if he put them back on?”
”What?”
”What if we f.u.c.ked, he cleaned me up and put them back on like nothing had happened.”
She looks at me like I'm some crazy person. ”That is the dumbest s.h.i.+t I've heard in like forever. Do you really think he'd stick around for the rest of the night and make you coffee the next morning if he'd done that?”
”Guess not.” I finish my hot chocolate and place my mug to the side, feeling the effects of last night finally wear off with the full English Evie bought me for lunch. ”I can't get him out my head. My house felt too big when he left.”
”Wow, he must have been one s.e.xy Santa?”
”He was.” I sigh. ”But he comes with a possible added complication.”
”Oh?”
”He's Harold Thompson's son.” I give her a knowing look as I let the words settle. Once her eyes spring wide I know she understands me loud and clear.
”Oh wow.”
I just get out from having a long soak in the bath when I hear a confident knock on my front door. Knowing it isn't Evie, as she's out with friends, one can only a.s.sume it's the local group from the community hall doing their yearly Carol singing to raise money for the Hall roof that seems to have the same leak it did five years ago. Sighing in frustration, I wrap my short silky robe tighter around my waist and stroll to the door. My hair freshly washed, face makeup free and toes all snug and warm in my long winter socks that's pulled up to the knee. Once I open the door, I want to die with embarra.s.sment.
”Noel... You're back?” He holds up the item in his hand. ”With wine.”
”I thought after leaving you a little fragile this morning, I'd come and spend the evening with you?” He smiles. Oh G.o.d, that smile.
”Because?”
”Because you're probably not doing anything other than sitting on your own and cursing Christmas.”
He was absolutely right but I frown anyway. ”I don't hate Christmas.”
”And you're also a rubbish liar.” His eyes fall over my body and I feel them everywhere. Tingles run down my spine but I put this down to the cold that's currently sweeping its way up under my robe. But even that doesn't cool the hotness I feel for him between my thighs. There is something about this man that makes my body react even when I fight it not to.
His grin widens as he focuses on my legs. ”Excellent choice of socks, Miss King.”
I look down at the long red and grey patterned wool and wiggle my toes. ”Thank you. I like my legs to be warm.” His brown eyes are looking right at me once I bring my head back up. He's delicious. The smell of his citrus fragrance hits my senses as he leans in close, resting a shoulder on the door frame, still wearing that smile.
”It's a little cold out here, Tamzin.” His voice is low and dreamy. ”This is where you invite me in so we can share a drink and get to know each other better.”
My heart instantly speeds up. ”And why would I want to do that?” I murmur.
”Because you can't seem to keep your eyes off me.” Jesus, he's full of himself. I roll my eyes and open the door a little wider for him to enter but not far enough that he can pa.s.s with ease. He brushes against me, never taking his eyes off mine. My breath catches when his hand placed the bareness of my thigh as he whispers. ”Thank you, Tami.”
No one calls me Tami; it irritates the s.h.i.+t out of me, yet it rolls off his tongue like perfection. I like it.
He makes his way into my kitchen and places the bottle of red on the counter, opening the white unit doors to find the gla.s.ses. It's like he never left.
”Is this some kind of fetish you have, looking through drawers and cupboards?”
”Excuse me?”
”Do you always raid other people's cupboards like you've done mine the two times you've been here?”
He stops and turns, placing the gla.s.ses he's found on the countertop and smiles as he pours. ”You said to make myself at home.”
”And when was that exactly?”
”Last night. Does it bother you?” Strangely enough, no. I shrug my shoulders in response as he hands me my wine. I always adored a man in smart clothes. His sharp black coat makes him look sophisticated, yet his dark jeans and grey jumper makes him look pleasantly appealing on the eye. For the twenty-eight-year-old that he is, Noel Thompson looks just as s.e.xy in clothes as he does half naked.
I know a little more of him now. Purely because I couldn't stop thinking of him so I checked out his profile on the work web page. He's a family man. Photos of him and his brothers are on the information section of the website. Mr Thompson my boss is also pictured with him too as they provided a friendly FAQ video for viewers. Noel seems to be a guy that doesn't shy away from getting what he wants and his magnetism is working spectacular with me.
”You're doing it again.” He says, breaking me from my trance.
”Doing what?”
”Checking me out.”
”Jesus your ego must be on fire,” I say sarcastically, leaving him standing in the kitchen as I head to the living room. The soft glow of the lamp and open fire provides a dreamy feel and I wonder if that was such a good idea. He's removed his coat when he enters. Sitting beside me on the other end of the cream sofa as questions flood my mind. ”So why are you really here?”
”Like I said, I want to get to know you better than I already have and I-”
”Did we f.u.c.k?” I could have slapped myself. Hard. The question blurts out my mouth before I have any chance of stopping it, his facial expression is priceless. ”I mean. I don't-”
”Remember?” His tone is stern as he holds my stare but I can't work out if he is p.i.s.sed with me or playing me. ”Tamzin, you were very drunk. You were sick. I helped you home, put you to bed and made sure you were safe. Nothing happened. I'm not some f.u.c.king predator that goes around hitting on unconscious women just to get a lay.” Ok, so he is p.i.s.sed.
”I'm sorry,” I murmur. His brown eyes almost look hurt as I look away, feeling like a naughty school girl that's just been reprimanded by her teacher. ”I never thought... I just.” I lift my head with a confident gaze, wanting to see his expression and distinguish if he was talking truth, even though he already had my trust. ”I have every right to ask, Noel. I was drunk and you were here. I'm not going to freak out if we had it's just-”
”What?” his voice is sincerer now.
I bite the inside of my cheek to hold back my smile. ”I would have like to have remembered.”
I swear to G.o.d he has the s.e.xiest grin on earth. ”Oh, Tami, believe me, you would've remembered.”
My brows rise. ”Confident about that?”
”Absolutely. No woman is left unsatisfied when I'm around.”
”Steady, that ego is growing again.”
He chuckles. His eyes are always on me. Like I am literally the only thing in the room. ”So you've been thinking about it?”