Part 3 (2/2)

She'd already dressed and was smoothing down her skirt, covering herself from his gaze. When she came close enough to touch, Noelle lifted herself to her toes, and this time, Cash took advantage of her eagerness by taking her mouth in a slow kiss.

He flicked the tip of his tongue over her lips then as slowly as he could possibly go, Cash traced the curve of her neck to the soft pink sh.e.l.l of her ear. When she s.h.i.+vered, he smiled.

She was so d.a.m.ned soft and so responsive that her moans alone would keep him hard for hours. Cash tore his mouth away from hers, intent on inviting her to stay for the night. So many things had changed in such a short time. There was so much they needed to talk about.

”Yummm.” Noelle licked her kiss-swelled lips. Her gaze, when she looked up at him was searching, even hesitant.

”I need to change and then I've got to go.”

Cash should have known angry s.e.x wouldn't make her forget. Not his Noelle, she'd keep at it until one of them died of exhaustion. And he loved her for it.

My Noelle? Love?

The thought struck Cash funny. After all the time he'd spent trying to run her off, now he had her right where he wanted her, knew he'd love her until he took his dying breath and now she planned to leave. Although still uncomfortable with the fact that Noelle was the same age as his sister Casey as well as her best friend, Cash would no longer let that come between them. She was his now. Forever. That's just the type of man he was.

”No.”

The minute he said it, he knew he'd chosen the wrong way to go about getting his way. He should be getting used to her narrowed eyes staring up at him, open and hostile.

”You're offering me a job, then?”

Cash shook his head. Trying to keep his patience tightly reined in, Cash paced across the room and back. ”I told you I don't want you working here. It's no place for a young woman without protection.”

He could have sworn her eyes swam with unshed tears before she snapped her spine board-straight, grabbed her bag and headed for the door.

Cash caught up to her just as she wrenched the door open. ”I said you're not going back to work at Dooner's.” He all but yelled the words at her.

Noelle gave an unladylike snort. ”You said a lot of things, Cash. You said you didn' t want me to work for you and you also pretty much said that I couldn't work here because none of you big, bad McCain men give a s.h.i.+t enough to protect li'l ole me. Now. Please move. I'm going to be late for work.”

Her voice cracked, making Cash's chest ache with regret even as his anger boiled over. ”That's not what I meant, dammit, and you know it.”

”This conversation is over, Cash. You were right, you know. For whatever reasons, this never would have worked.”

She turned from him then, intent on leaving his apartment, intent on leaving him- only Cash was having none of it. He'd bide his time, give her the s.p.a.ce she thought she needed, but by no means were things over between them.

There was no way he'd let it be over. h.e.l.l, they'd just started.

Chapter Five.

Leaving was the hardest thing Noelle had ever done. She never should have a.s.sumed that just because they were having s.e.x all would be well and all of a sudden her life would come up looking rosy.

Instead, she felt like everything was going to s.h.i.+t. She was unequivocally in love with her best friend's brother, a man who obviously didn't feel the same way. h.e.l.l, from the looks of it, Cash didn't care about anything except the fact that her p.u.s.s.y was warm, tight and wet.

Noelle sniffed, trying to hold her tears at bay. She refused to cry over Cash. If he didn't have feelings for her, then she'd just have to deal with it. No more pus.h.i.+ng, no more teasing, no more Cash.

The thought tore at her heart as she stalked her way up the street toward Dooner's. Once inside, Noelle made her way to the restroom where she quickly changed her clothes before clocking-in to begin her s.h.i.+ft. It was hard to keep a smile plastered across her face but she managed it. At least she managed it until Cash strolled casually through the door.

Noelle stopped dead in her tracks then wildly searched the room for Mona. Her boss had yet to ask any questions but it was only obvious she knew something was wrong with Noelle.

”I've got him, missy. You go on about your business as if he ain't here.”

It wasn't hard to like Mona. Noelle squeezed her hand in thanks as Mona walked by on her way to Cash's table. She served drinks, listened to the fun banter between the patrons, all while stealing quick glances toward where Cash and Mona sat speaking.

It wasn't long before Mona shook Cash's hand then left his table. And yet, Cash stayed put. Noelle couldn't help but wonder why he wasn't leaving. He was making her nervous the way he followed her with his eyes.

”Why isn't he leaving?” Noelle blurted the question as soon as she had Mona to herself.

”The boy's got it bad, missy. Best if you put him out of his misery right now.”

Noelle couldn't believe what she was hearing. ”The only thing that a.s.s has bad is a temper. He's probably just p.i.s.sed because I didn't follow his orders. Well, you know what? He can go to h.e.l.l for all I care!”

Noelle knew she was being childish but it didn't stop her from stomping away like a teenager in the throes of a hissy fit. It took her several minutes of deep breathing before she felt in control enough to work again without growling at any of the customers.

Coming out from behind the bar, a tray in hand, Noelle noticed Cash still sitting at an out-of-the-way table in the corner. He had a smug look on his face. It was as if knowing he'd hurt her and continuing to do so while p.i.s.sing her off for good measure, made him happy.

Noelle wasn't sure if she'd ever understand men, Cash in particular. He wanted to make her cry, scream in anger and throw herself at his feet begging for even a little bit of his love all at the same time.

Just knowing he could so easily turn her life upside down p.i.s.sed Noelle off and everyone knew working with the public while mad was not a good idea. If Cash got her fired, there was going to be h.e.l.l to pay. Knowing she'd never make it through her s.h.i.+ft with him watching, Noelle decided to bite the bullet and see what he wanted.

The way she kept stomping around was sort of funny. It made Cash want to paddle her a.s.s again. To feel her warm skin beneath his palm, hearing the sound of flesh upon flesh while she writhed against him, first at the stinging pain and then at the arousal coursing through her body.

What Cash didn't like was the hurt look in her green eyes. She was trying to hide the hurt behind a veil of anger, but it wasn't working. Cash could clearly see how deep his words had sliced. He regretted every one of them. When Noelle disappeared into the storeroom, Cash feared he might never get the chance to tell her how much.

He didn't realize how tense he was, waiting and watching for Noelle until she appeared back in the main room of the bar. Cash wanted nothing more than to gather her close and insist she listen.

When she turned to him-her eyes pinned on his-Cash knew trouble was brewing. Noelle was looking at him as if she wouldn't mind seeing him roast in h.e.l.l. Cash knew in that instant life with Noelle would never be boring.

She must have gotten tired of being stared at because before Cash could think of something irritating to say, she was across the room and in his face.

”What do you want, Cash?”

Boy was that ever a loaded question. Cash, however, knew when to keep his mouth shut so decided not to answer. Besides, from the look of her face, all red with anger, he wasn't going to get a word in edgewise.

”I mean, you spend half your time pus.h.i.+ng me away... ” Noelle looked around then moved closer. Lowering her voice, she added, ”Except for when you're f.u.c.king me, then it's okay.”

Whoa, that was a bit too much. ”Don't say another word.”

”Why? What in the h.e.l.l does it matter? I mean, you're here watching me like a hawk. You think these people don't already have a clue?”

Cash watched Noelle's shoulders sag, her anger knocked completely out of her and wanted to fix it. ”It matters, Noelle. It matters to me.”

Her blonde hair swayed around her face as Noelle shook her head. ”I don't understand you, Cash.” Her voice was a mere whisper as if she didn't want to open up for fear of letting her emotions loose.

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