A Mom For Christmas. Lorraine Beatty
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returned her feelings. Her warm recollections drained away into a dark pool of humiliation. Suddenly self-conscious, she swallowed and brushed an errant strand of hair off her cheek, attempting to collect herself. “I was thinking about you the other day.”
A muscle in his jaw flexed rapidly. “Just the other day?”
What was he saying? “Yes. I mean, I’ve thought about you several times over the years.” His eyes were hard and cold, and there was no warmth in his tone. Noah had changed in more than looks.
A sardonic grin shifted his mouth. “That often in twelve years.”
Her conscience burned. She had thought about him, but she’d never bothered to do anything about it. Gathering her composure, she lifted her chin. “You look good.” Good didn’t come close. The scrawny young man she remembered had grown into a dangerously attractive man.
The bony shoulders had broadened into an impressive width above a muscular chest and biceps strained at the fabric of his shirt. His clear blue eyes were more vibrant above the high cheekbones. His thick, dark chocolate hair still persisted in falling over his forehead. But it was his air of confidence that was the most striking difference. The once shy, hesitant boy now carried himself with a confident masculinity that radiated from every pore.
“You’ve changed.”
“I grew up.” He held her gaze a long moment. “I heard you were back in town.”
The disinterested tone in his voice hurt. They’d been best friends. Why was he so distant and angry? True, she hadn’t stayed in touch. Her career had taken all her time and attention. Surely he understood that. She refocused on his comment. “I am. For the time being.”
Noah set his jaw. “Don’t you think you’ve chased this foolish dancing dream of yours long enough?”
She clamped her teeth together and fisted her hands to keep a lid on her anger. She didn’t know what his problem was, but she’d had enough. “Foolish? I’m a professional dancer with a world-renowned ballet company. I’d hardly call that a dream.”
“Are you dancing now?”
The truth pierced like a scalding poker to her heart. “No. But I will be. As soon as I heal and regain my strength.” Maybe if she said it often enough, it would be true.
He shook his head. “You haven’t changed a bit. Still obsessed with only one thing. Being a big-time ballerina. You don’t care about anything else.”
“That’s not true. I care about a lot of things.”
Noah arched his dark eyebrows, and one corner of his mouth hiked up. “I know what you don’t care about. Your family and your friends. How could they compete with your dreams of fame? Good seeing you again, Bethany. Have a nice life.”
He pivoted and strode out onto the sidewalk, disappearing before she could form a response. Noah had always been her biggest supporter, her cheerleader. What had she done that had turned him against her? If anyone had a right to feel angry, she did. He was the one who had rejected her affections with a shrug, leaving her burning with humiliation and pain, then put as much distance as possible between them.
Up in her cozy apartment, Beth munched on a tasteless sandwich, searching her memory for some explanation for Noah’s behavior. What was he doing back in Dover anyway, and why hadn’t her mother told her he was here and renting space from her?
A vague memory formed of her mother mentioning something about an old friend coming back to town, but she’d tuned it out like she did most things concerning Dover.
The ugly truth forced itself into her mind. Because keeping in touch wasn’t high on your list. Dancing had been her passion her whole life. She’d been aware that her drive had pushed most of her relationships to the side. Even her family. But to succeed, she’d had to pour all her effort and concentration into her work. And it had paid off. For the last six years, she’d been at the top of her game. Ambiance, the new ballet the troupe had performed in London, which she’d helped choreograph, had been the highlight of her career and put her name in the forefront of the dance world. Until one misstep had caused an injury that put her future in jeopardy. But she’d come back. She would. Somehow.
Was losing touch with Noah a big enough reason for his attitude? It didn’t make sense. All she knew was that she didn’t like him being angry with her. It had been a long torturous year, starting with her injury in London last winter, two surgeries and months of painful rehab in New York before coming home. She was worn down and desperately needed a friend. Noah had always been her confidant, and he’d known exactly what to say to lift her spirits.
Until today.
* * *
Noah strode away from his office and along the sidewalk, working his jaw and trying without much success to quell the anger and hurt raging in his gut. Bethany was back. He’d known that for a while. And he’d known he’d run into her sooner or later. Sooner, actually, since her mother was his landlord.
Checking Main Street for traffic, Noah jogged across to the courthouse park, making his way to Union Street and Latimer Office Supply. The chilly November wind stung, but he welcomed it. It took his mind off seeing Beth again. He had a new business to get up and running. Carlisle Structural Solutions was all he should be thinking about.
After paying for his supplies and picking up a sandwich at the DoOver Deli on the corner, Noah returned to his office and settled in the back room. The first bite of his sandwich triggered a memory—one he didn’t welcome. He’d ordered the deli’s special club sandwich—Beth’s favorite. He’d forgotten that. He shoved the meal aside.
He’d forgotten a lot of things about Beth. Like how lovely she was. When she’d turned and faced him, his mouth had gone dry. His palms had grown sweaty, and his heart rate tripled. He was eighteen again and in love with his best friend. The years had faded away, along with the pain of her desertion and her callous indifference toward those who cared about her. All he saw was her hazel eyes that always sparkled, her kissable mouth and the way she stirred his protective instincts when she was close. The pink sweater with the wide collar added a rosy tinge to her cheeks and made her look very touchable. Her dark hair was cut in a way that made it float around her face, and when a strand had landed on her cheek, he’d had to stop himself from brushing it aside.
Then she’d hugged him, and he’d slammed into a wall of searing emotions, unable to move. She’d been soft and warm against him. He hadn’t been prepared for that kind of response. He’d fought against the tender emotions, which had only brought out his long buried resentment. He’d spoken harshly, aware of the hurt he’d caused her from the look in her eyes, but unable to stop the stinging words.
Beth had severed their friendship with one quick cut and never looked back. That’s when Noah realized that as far as she was concerned, nothing and no one was as important to her as her life in the dance world.
Until today, he had believed he’d recovered from his broken heart and her disregard for their friendship. But like a punctured water line, all his emotions were spewing forth. In the meantime he’d have to shut off the emotional flood and keep his distance from Bethany until she left again. Easier said than done. He was always keenly attuned to her nearness, and he’d never been able to keep her from flitting through his brain like a butterfly, touching down lightly here and there, bringing memories to life again.
He glanced around the back room of his new office. He still had a lot to do to get his engineering business up and running. In the meantime he was working full-time for the city of Dover as a building inspector. Not his first choice of jobs, but it paid the bills. Thankfully, he’d be spending most of his time conducting on-site work, and there’d be no need to interact with Beth. Besides, she’d be gone soon enough, back to the only thing that ever mattered to her. Dancing. Then life would go on as usual. And he could forget Beth. Again.
Tossing his trash in the bin in the small kitchen area, Noah locked up and headed out. He had four inspections to do this afternoon. He fought the urge to glance into the real