Falk Clan Tales - Chapter 24: Chapter 24
You are reading Falk Clan Tales, Chapter 24: Chapter 24. Read more chapters of Falk Clan Tales.
“Okay, my guys arrive in a half-hour to start stringing the lights out front, the tree is coming fifteen minutes after that, and my two sous chefs will be here at three to start prepping the food. It’s finger-foods, so nothing complicated. Then we have gifts for the kids. Oh, and I was wondering if you wanted that is, if you didn’t have plans, maybe you’d like to have Christmas dinner with me and my family, no pressure-”
Noelle’s mouth was moving a mile a minute, but she didn’t care. After he’d shown her his Dragon, Sander had dragged her back to bed and made love to her again. To say it was fantastic would be a gross understatement.
They’d been lucky her employees ran late at the market, otherwise they’d have been caught in several compromising situations. They’d only just picked up the clothes they’d left strewn about.
She was so happy. She could hardly contain herself. She hummed Christmas carols as she started decorating and making notes for her staff. She almost didn’t hear Sander call her name.
“Noelle? Noelle, look, I said you could throw the party here, but you should know. I’m leaving in the morning.”
She stopped her preparations and turned to face him. The kitchen was crowded with cookie sheets and ingredients for canapes and hors d’oeuvres. She had all her “to-do” lists ready for her employees.
After a few dozen more kisses, she nearly lost it when he told her the time. He even helped her set up some indoor decorations in the ballroom for the night’s festivities.
Christmas Eve was her favorite day during the holiday season. She loved the preparation and anticipation for the coming day. For years, she wished for something, someone, special to share it with and for the first time ever, she felt this was it. She didn’t have to wait any longer.
It was really here. Her favorite day, and she was not sitting home with her mom waiting for a Christmas miracle. She was living one.
Looking at her like she was about to break was the man who, in one day, had stolen her heart. And now, he said he was leaving. Her Christmas wish up in flames. She dried her hands on her apron and turned to face him.
“Okay,” she said.
“Noelle, I-”
“Let’s not worry about tomorrow. Look, I hear a truck pulling in, please tell the guys to come inside to get their lists?”
“Okay. Noelle?”
“Yes?”
“I’m sorry,” he sounded terribly sad, and it was all she could do not to tell him it was okay. She swallowed the tears that threatened to spill.
“If that’s Paul and Rick just send them in here, okay? Thank you,” Noelle kept working. What else could she do?
She closed her eyes as she listened to his receding footsteps. She knew she was foolish and naïve for building whatever this was, up in her head, but she could feel her heart breaking at the thought of him leaving. Not when she’d just found him.
Anger and confusion threatened to overpower her as she stepped into one of the several guest bathrooms. She took a look in the mirror and sighed as she bit back tears. She’d never been one to wallow or indulge in self-pity.
Her mother had been made a widow young in life, but she’d never been bitter. On the contrary, she’d shown Noelle nothing but love and contentment. One thing she’d always said to her daughter was that you had to go out and take you’re shot at happiness when it came your way. You only get one life, honey, so you better live it.
She wiped her tears and took a good long look at herself. It was Christmas Eve. A time for miracles. Noelle was nothing if not a believer. And she believed with all her heart that she was in love with Sander. Her heart squeezed, and she hiccupped at the admission.
So, what? You love him. You love that big, scaly, sexy IceDragon. And this is what you are going to do, Noelle, you are gonna pull yourself together and show him that Christmas is a time for love and magic.
He may not believe in the things she did, but she knew how he felt. Even if he didn’t. She wasn’t giving up yet.
Hope warmed her from the inside out. She straightened her shoulders and headed out to the ballroom. She had an event to host.
Noelle’s mouth was moving a mile a minute, but she didn’t care. After he’d shown her his Dragon, Sander had dragged her back to bed and made love to her again. To say it was fantastic would be a gross understatement.
They’d been lucky her employees ran late at the market, otherwise they’d have been caught in several compromising situations. They’d only just picked up the clothes they’d left strewn about.
She was so happy. She could hardly contain herself. She hummed Christmas carols as she started decorating and making notes for her staff. She almost didn’t hear Sander call her name.
“Noelle? Noelle, look, I said you could throw the party here, but you should know. I’m leaving in the morning.”
She stopped her preparations and turned to face him. The kitchen was crowded with cookie sheets and ingredients for canapes and hors d’oeuvres. She had all her “to-do” lists ready for her employees.
After a few dozen more kisses, she nearly lost it when he told her the time. He even helped her set up some indoor decorations in the ballroom for the night’s festivities.
Christmas Eve was her favorite day during the holiday season. She loved the preparation and anticipation for the coming day. For years, she wished for something, someone, special to share it with and for the first time ever, she felt this was it. She didn’t have to wait any longer.
It was really here. Her favorite day, and she was not sitting home with her mom waiting for a Christmas miracle. She was living one.
Looking at her like she was about to break was the man who, in one day, had stolen her heart. And now, he said he was leaving. Her Christmas wish up in flames. She dried her hands on her apron and turned to face him.
“Okay,” she said.
“Noelle, I-”
“Let’s not worry about tomorrow. Look, I hear a truck pulling in, please tell the guys to come inside to get their lists?”
“Okay. Noelle?”
“Yes?”
“I’m sorry,” he sounded terribly sad, and it was all she could do not to tell him it was okay. She swallowed the tears that threatened to spill.
“If that’s Paul and Rick just send them in here, okay? Thank you,” Noelle kept working. What else could she do?
She closed her eyes as she listened to his receding footsteps. She knew she was foolish and naïve for building whatever this was, up in her head, but she could feel her heart breaking at the thought of him leaving. Not when she’d just found him.
Anger and confusion threatened to overpower her as she stepped into one of the several guest bathrooms. She took a look in the mirror and sighed as she bit back tears. She’d never been one to wallow or indulge in self-pity.
Her mother had been made a widow young in life, but she’d never been bitter. On the contrary, she’d shown Noelle nothing but love and contentment. One thing she’d always said to her daughter was that you had to go out and take you’re shot at happiness when it came your way. You only get one life, honey, so you better live it.
She wiped her tears and took a good long look at herself. It was Christmas Eve. A time for miracles. Noelle was nothing if not a believer. And she believed with all her heart that she was in love with Sander. Her heart squeezed, and she hiccupped at the admission.
So, what? You love him. You love that big, scaly, sexy IceDragon. And this is what you are going to do, Noelle, you are gonna pull yourself together and show him that Christmas is a time for love and magic.
He may not believe in the things she did, but she knew how he felt. Even if he didn’t. She wasn’t giving up yet.
Hope warmed her from the inside out. She straightened her shoulders and headed out to the ballroom. She had an event to host.
End of Falk Clan Tales Chapter 24. Continue reading Chapter 25 or return to Falk Clan Tales book page.