Noelle's Golden Christmas by Tamie Dearen

Author:Tamie Dearen [Dearen, Tamie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781519417954
Google: jy0QjwEACAAJ
Amazon: 1519417950
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Published: 2015-11-25T16:00:00+00:00

*****

“What are you doing here?” James was out of the car in an instant, standing nose to nose with his brother.

“This is a restaurant. It’s noon. I came here to eat lunch.” David’s innocuous smile served only to infuriate his brother.

“You expect me to believe you accidentally chose to eat here, at the same restaurant where you knew I was taking Noelle for lunch?”

“Nah, I don’t expect you to believe that, but it’s going to be my official story anyway. Shall we go inside?” David bent in a magnanimous bow, sweeping his arm toward the restaurant entrance.

“I’ve lost my appetite,” James said, his jaw muscles flexing as he spoke between his clamped teeth.

“There! You’re doing it!” Noelle pointed at his mouth with a cry of victory. “I was so right and you were so wrong. I told ya you were gritting your teeth.”

Pressing his lips together, James’ lone dimple blinked in and out of sight as he made a valiant attempt to hold on to his anger. Until Noelle continued her dance of triumph, nodding and pointing her finger in the air as she proclaimed, “Who’s yo momma? Huh? That’s right! I know my stuff!”

Then he lost control, a cackle of laughter bursting from his lips. “Fine, I admit you were right, but this proves I don’t need a bite guard. All I need is a new brother.”

“What do I have to do with your teeth?” David asked.

“You’re causing James undue stress,” Noelle explained, with a wink. “If you keep it up, you may be required to compensate him for lost enamel.”

Hooking his arm around her, James dragged her toward the entrance. “Come on. Maybe we can find a table for two.”

David followed on their heels. “I don’t see why it’s such a big deal if I join your lunch date, especially since you’re here as friends.”

James flinched at the last word, shooting his brother a dark look that made Noelle suspect the two had engaged in an earlier discussion about the meaning of friends.

The lunch conversation was a bit stilted at first. But Noelle was excited about eating at The Soupery and determined not to allow the brothers’ bickering to spoil her meal.

“The chili is perfect!” Noelle closed her eyes, basking in the delicious vegetarian chili, topped with cheese. “I wish I could’ve added onions, but my afternoon patients wouldn’t appreciate it, I’m sure.”

“I’m not having onions either,” James remarked. “I thought you’d want to know I’ll still be kissable.”

“You’re supposed to be friends,” growled David, setting his drink down with such vigor it rattled the table.

“Who said friends can’t kiss?” Curling one corner of his mouth in a teasing smirk, James looked to Noelle for confirmation. “Friends are allowed to kiss, aren’t they?”

“Evidently so,” Noelle responded, catching David’s eyes and daring him to disagree. “I, for one, have been kissed by more than one guy who claimed to be only a friend.”

James seemed quite pleased with her statement. David didn’t.

She kept a straight face. Barely. “To me, kissing means more than just being casual friends.

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