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Noah's heart ached with the bitter-sweet emotions flooding through him. He'd never really thought that he would fall in love again, not after the disconnect Michelle had put him through. However, the feelings of protectiveness, admiration, and desire that flooded him completely eclipsed anything he'd felt before. Noah knew that no matter what happened in her past, he wanted to be involved in her future. He just had to get Allee to give him a second chance.
He would prove to Allee that she could rely on him, and he’d do everything in his power to make sure she would never hurt like that again.
Chapter Fifteen
Allee had been pleasantly surprised at Noah's response to her little spiel on Monday morning. He had been friendly, and at times Allee even forgot that they'd ever had a falling out. Everyone at work had watched them speculatively to see if there was any hint of bitterness. But when nothing dramatic happened, they focused on working on the launch of Tiki Terror V.
Once she was home, Allee spent the rest of the day getting herself ready for that night – she shaved, buffed, and polished her skin, she gave herself a manicure and pedicure, then did her hair so that it looked effortlessly tousled. Her makeup was dramatic, and she put long, dangling earrings. Allee hoped that her new beaded halter-neck dress would suffice for the party and that the new stiletto-heeled sandals would be easy to walk in.
Before she stepped into her dress, Allee fed Piddle, giving the purring feline some much-wanted cuddles, and then lightly spritzed her body with a perfumed spray. Once that was done, Allee finished getting dressed, picked up her small clutch and went outside to wait for the taxi. It had been several years since she had been out to a nightclub with no curfew, and Allee was looking forward to it.
The world was spinning, and Allee felt free. She couldn’t contain her giggles at everything, didn’t care how she looked as she danced, and the buzz running through her was exhilarating. They arrived at the club early enough to not have to queue, then spent the night chatting with each other, with other young men, and dancing. Allee had felt empowered and invigorated and didn’t want the night to end. Unfortunately, their night was marred when Laura became ill, and they weren’t sure if it was food poisoning or she’d just had too much to drink.
As she waited for her cab, with Beth, Mark, and Laura waiting in their own car until it arrived, the devil himself seemed to give Allee an idea. She pulled out her mobile phone and then dialled a number. A wicked smile tugged at her mouth as she heard a sleepy voice answer on the other end.
“Um, ‘ello? Whassup?” Noah was barely awake, wondering who would be calling so late. The voice from the phone sounded confident and forthright.
“You know, you said we needed to talk, but you never did. You just put your tail between your legs and slunk off like a cowardly dog. I'd never thought of you as a coward.”
That had Noah awake in an instant.
“Allee? What the hell? Why are you calling me?”
“I've had a wonderful night,” Allee gushed, “I've been dancing with hot studs, and I look fabulous! But you wouldn't know about that because you've decided that we can't be together.”
“Allee, where are you? Are you okay?” Noah was up, pulling a pair of jeans over his boxers and a jumper over his bare chest. He slipped his feet into a pair of shoes, not bothering with socks, grabbed his wallet and keys, and raced down to his car. He could hear Allee rambling on in a rather pompous tone and responding without needing to converse. Allee seemed intent on unloading how she felt, and Noah was all right with that, so long as she stayed on the line. He deftly switched his phone to hands-free as he put his car in gear and drove into the quiet streets.
“Oh, I'm wonderful,” Allee continued, “I'm just waiting here for my ride home. Then I'm gonna open a bottle or two and have me some fun! I'm gonna party all night long!”
Noah gritted his teeth at Allee's gleefully drunken ramblings, wondering just who she was intending on partying with. Noah put his foot down as his car merged onto the Gateway Extension, hoping that no cops were patrolling that night, and raced towards Allee's. He could hear her babbling over his Bluetooth, and was torn between being absolutely furious or worried sick.
Allee's ramblings ceased as she proclaimed, “Hang on a sec', my cab's just arrived!” Noah heaved a sigh of relief as he heard Allee call out her farewell to Beth and Mark and then gave her directions to the cab driver, the door slamming shut. Minutes later, he pulled off the motorway and saw a taxi pull up in front of Allee's complex. He watched Allee get out, staggering slightly. He shook his head as Allee keyed in her code for the main gate rather than fumble with her keys, but it would make it easier for him to get his car into the complex. Just as Allee arrived, he joined her at her front door. Allee looked up in stunned surprise to see Noah as he took her keys, unlocked the doors and propelled her through, following close behind.
“Hey, what are you doing here?” Allee kept talking into her phone. Noah gently took it from her, ended the call.
“You drunk-dialled me at half one in the morning, I was worried.”
Allee closed her eyes and leaned into Noah's chest.
“Mmm, you smell good. You're so sweet. I didn't think you cared,” Allee began to nuzzle into Noah's chest, a smile on her face.
Noah swallowed, trying to keep control. “Allee, you're drunk. You need to go upstairs, shower, and then go to bed and sleep this off. You're going to feel like an idiot in the morning.”
“No, I won't,” she pouted up at him,” I know what I'm doing.”
“I'm not about to take advantage of you while you're drunk. Just go upstairs and have a shower. I'll wait down here and make you something to eat and drink.”
Allee huffed and frowned irritably, unhappy to have her attempts thwarted.
“Oh, fine then. Poop my party!” She turned and stalked upstairs, and Noah couldn't help but notice how long her legs looked in the dress and heels and how her hips swayed with each step she took. He shook his head to clear it and then got to work making Allee some scrambled eggs on toast, along with a glass of orange juice. By the time he was done, Allee was back downstairs, her hair damp and curling, her face free of make-up, and wearing a pair of soft, long pyjama pants and a matching camisole top. Noah gestured to the table, where Allee took a seat, then put the plate down in front of her.
“I take it from your call that you aren't happy with the status quo right now?” Noah asked Allee with a smile in his voice. Allee looked up at him, a rueful expression on her face.
“No. I'm not. I really liked what we had, and I thought it was going somewhere. Now, I'm not so sure. Everything has gone wrong. It's making my life hell,” Allee sighed, then yawned so hard that her jaw cracked.
Noah could see that she was falling asleep, so he helped her upstairs, settling her in her bed. As he turned to leave, Allee grabbed his hand, holding it tightly.
“Noah? Please...stay? Don't leave?”
