The Apartment on Larkspur Lane (Autumn Lake #2)

12. Noel

12

Noel

A ddison had said yes to the phone call that evening, which had given him something to look forward to during the meeting. But that night, while on the phone, she’d also said yes to going out to dinner with him.

Noel was surprised at how much he was looking forward to seeing her again. Especially in light of what he'd come back to at the office.

Apparently, while Noel had been in Bald Knob, John Sheridan had been stirring the proverbial pot back at Carpe Diem. Upon his return to work, Noel had opened his email to find a message from John informing him that there was a meeting the following afternoon, and that he was expected to attend. According to the succinctly worded missive, there were some accounting discrepancies that pointed at Noel letting things slip through the cracks, but no one had seen fit to attach the ledgers in question. Which meant that Noel would be going blind into the session with the CEO and a few others on the Board of Directors.

He'd meant to ask John what the problem was, even though it ate him up inside to do so. Since John was the one who’d brought the issue to the attention of those they reported to, he would have that information. Noel also thought that John was quite likely intentionally not giving anything away, just to keep Noel on his toes.

But what better way to thwart the man than to go ahead and ask him anyway? Surely, he wouldn’t refuse to give him the information. Noel had gone over his files numerous times, but could find nothing out of order.

Unfortunately, when he arrived in the office the next day, he discovered that John had called in sick. Noel couldn’t decide which was better; that he got a day without John’s antagonistic rancor or that he had no idea why he was being called on the carpet.

The meeting, he soon found out, was not about any discrepancy in his accounting. It was, in fact, an emergency budget meeting because the resort’s Hospitality Manager had to go on a medical leave for a high-risk pregnancy.

When Noel went back through his emails later that evening, he realized that it was only one email from John that was worded in such a way as to make it sound like Noel was under scrutiny. None of the others had alluded to anything but there being an emergency situation that needed to be sorted out, but Noel had read them through the lens of John’s misleading missive.

Disheartened and discouraged by John’s continued acrimony, Noel was at a loss as to how to move forward. This kind of undermining couldn’t continue, but he didn’t know how to put an end to it without getting their superiors involved. And getting the superiors involved was always a risky thing, partly because John had seniority on his side, but also because it would make Noel look less than competent to handle difficult situations. He was still new enough in this position to feel the need to prove his worth, which meant he needed to find a way to resolve the discord between them. Thank goodness the financial side of things was in impeccable order and above reproach.

So relieved had Noel been that he wasn’t in any kind of trouble, that today, he’d brought the aloof department secretary one of the hazelnut lattes he'd noticed her drinking on several occasions. He also had a date with Addison Wedgewood tonight, and he refused to let anything John, who was still out with a flu bug, said or did get under his skin.

Although she’d agreed to a date, Addison had refused to let him pick her up from her place. He understood her caution, but he hoped she’d grow to trust him before too long. She’d told him the coffee shop was only a short distance from her apartment, but it didn’t sit easily with him when she said she’d be walking. He’d moved to Autumn Lake from Carpe Diem headquarters in Chicago where a woman walking alone, day or night, was a potential target. He would insist on escorting her home; It would be well after dark by then, and he wouldn’t be able to live with himself if he didn’t.

Juno’s Coffee Bar was lit up like a beacon on the otherwise nearly dark row of businesses along Camellia Court. The stringed outdoor lights on the patio shimmered in the cold air, the gentle breeze setting them to swaying just the tiniest bit. In spite of the cold, people sat outside at the little bistro tables, bundled up and sipping hot drinks and chatting amiably. A dog had its leash looped around a bicycle rack out on the sidewalk, presumably waiting for his human who must have gone inside. The pup sat on his haunches and accepted the affectionate greetings from patrons entering and exiting the shop.

Noel looked through the plate glass windows as he passed them, hoping for a glimpse of Addison. She’d told him she was friends with Juno, the proprietress, and that she’d most likely be sitting at the bar if she arrived before he did. But the place was surprisingly full for a Wednesday night, and he couldn’t get a good view of the folks sitting on stools along the counter. He’d have to go in blind, just like he’d done at the meeting yesterday afternoon. “This time, though, I’m looking forward to what I’ll find,” he murmured as he reached the door of the shop and pulled it open.

Addison wasn’t at the bar, but instead, she was sitting a table with three other women, engaged in an animated conversation. Their body language told him they were quite comfortable with each other, and when Addison tipped her head back and laughed, Noel’s pulse ratcheted up. In that moment, he thought that she was quite possibly the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.

Instead of interrupting her, he made his way to the counter, and to his surprise, he found an empty stool. He could hardly take his eyes off of the woman he’d come to spend the evening with, but he somehow managed to sit down without missing the seat. He could watch her all evening, he thought to himself.

“What can I get you tonight?” The woman behind the counter had long cornrows swept back from her face and tied in a knot between her shoulder blades. She had smooth mahogany skin and high cheekbones, and although her teeth weren’t straight, her smile was wide and friendly and full of confidence. She studied him with dark eyes as she waited for his response.

“Hi,” he finally said. “I’m Noel.” He glanced back at Addison again, hoping she wouldn’t think he was flirting with the arresting woman behind the counter. He wanted desperately to make a good impression.

"I'm Juno. Welcome to my coffee bar." So this was the proprietress of the place. Now he really wanted to make a good impression.

“Uh, this is my first time here,” he said, then realized as soon as the words left his mouth that she was already well aware that he wasn’t a regular customer. She probably knew all of her regulars by name.

“Noel,” she said, her eyes lighting up. “Noel Stewart, by chance?” She wiped her hands on the towel tucked into her apron waistband.

“I am,” he said. Obviously, the women had talked about him. Hopefully, in the best of lights, too. “I’m here to meet Addison.”

Juno cocked her head toward the table where the four women still chatted.

“I know,” Noel said, watching them. “I don’t want to interrupt. I’m in no hurry.”

“Well, I have no such reservations,” Juno said, then let out a loud whistle. The whole café fell silent for one heart-stopping moment. All eyes turned toward Juno, who pointed with both hands at Noel. Not knowing what else to do, he stood, took a bow in acknowledgement, and then turned to smile at Addison.

She rose to her feet, her hand over her mouth, her cheeks turning pink. Was it embarrassment or pleasure that had her eyes sparkling like that, he wondered. Maybe a combination of both? He quickly crossed the room to her, and all around, the conversations started up again.

“I’m sorry,” Noel said with a grin, reaching out both hands to take hers. “I was trying very hard to not be noticed, but your friend—”

“She is no longer my friend,” Addison declared, shaking her head.

“We’re your friends, though,” interjected one of the women at the table. “Introduce us, girlfriend.”

Candy, the one who’d spoken, and Liz Needham were sisters, he learned, and Penny Anderson was the third member of the group. Penny, Addison explained, lived in the big white house he could see from his apartment on the fifth floor of the resort. “It’s one of the oldest buildings in Autumn Lake,” Penny told him. “Still owned by the original Poleman family.”

Juno made her way over to the table and slipped an arm around Addison’s waist. “Don’t hate me, sister. He was just sitting there mooning over you from afar, and I didn’t want him scaring away any of my customers.”

“Juno!” Addison gasped, pulling her hands free from Noel’s.

Penny and Liz echoed her, but Candy held up a hand for Juno to high-five her.

Addison pointed at Candy. “ Et tu , Brute?” Then to Noel, she said, “We should go. Get away from this riffraff.”

“We’re open until ten if you want to swing back by here for an after-dinner nightcap,” Juno suggested. She leaned close and murmured something in Addison’s ear that made her blush even more, if that were possible, then started back to the bar. “We have the best chocolate eclairs you’ll ever eat," she called over her shoulder.

“She does,” Penny confirmed with a nod. “You can’t go wrong with pretty much anything Juno has in her pastry counter.”

“Where are you two off to tonight?” Candy asked, her gaze darting back and forth between him and Addison. Of the two sisters, she was clearly the more talkative. Liz took a long sip of what appeared to be hot chocolate, if the mini marshmallows were any clue, but he wasn’t fooled; she was sizing him up just as attentively as the rest of Addison’s friends.

“Don’t tell them,” Addison said before he could respond. “They’ll just ambush us there, too.”

So, she hadn’t expected them to all be here, he realized. That actually made him feel a little better; he’d begun to wonder if she’d gathered her friends for moral support. Surely, he wasn’t that scary, was he?

“We won’t follow you, we promise,” Liz assured them. “I have to be up at the crack of dawn tomorrow.”

“Liz is with the county water department,” Candy explained. “She and her crew are working on your side of the lake right now, aren’t you, sis?”

“In the North Shore development,” Liz clarified.

“So? Tell us,” Candy pressed. “Come on, Noel. We want to make sure you’re doing right by our girl, here.”

Noel looked at Addison and shrugged. These women were her friends. Maybe if he impressed them…. “We’re going to Bella Tavola.” To Addison, he said, “I hope you like Italian.”

“We love Italian,” Candy exclaimed, then amended her response with, “Addison in particular, I mean.”

“I do like Italian,” Addison assured him. The look on her face told him she was pleased with his choice.

“It’s just north of Evansville, so it’s not far down the road.”

“That place is amazing,” Liz said, and the three women turned and all but gaped at her. “What?” she asked. “I go to fancy places, too. I even own something other than jeans and t-shirts.” She tugged on the lapels of her quilted flannel overshirt.

Candy squeezed Liz’s hand affectionately. “Of course, you do, sissy.”

“Well, if Liz says it’s good, then you can count on it being good.” Penny made a shooing motion with her hand. “You two go. Have a good time. It was really nice to meet you, Noel.”

The other two women echoed the sentiment.

As they passed by the counter, Juno held a hand up to her ear. “I expect a phone call or at least a text telling me you’re home safe,” she said. “You take care of her, Mr. Stewart. She’s precious to us.”

“I will,” he promised with a nod, oddly moved rather than offended by how protective Addison’s friends were toward her.

Noel held the door for her, then followed her out into the chilly night air. It was cold, but not so much that they couldn’t walk a little if she wanted to show him some of the night life in downtown Autumn Lake. He’d suggested it primarily because Barb had encouraged him to get to know the town through Addison’s eyes. But honestly, tonight he was more interested in getting to know the lovely woman with him than the town.

“I’ve never been to Bella Tavola before,” Addison said softly, glancing over at him. She seemed suddenly ill at ease now that she was alone with him.

“I haven’t either,” he admitted. “But it comes highly recommended. Are you hungry?” It probably wasn’t the most gentlemanly question to ask, but that’s what came out.

Addison let out her breath like she’d been holding it. “Yes,” she exclaimed, practically on a sigh of relief. “I didn’t take much of a lunch break today, and I was secretly hoping you weren’t expecting me to pay for my supper with a town tour.” Then she covered her mouth with her hand as if she’d said something offensive. "I mean, I'm happy to pay for my—"

Noel held out an arm for her to take. Sometimes walking beside someone new made it easier to converse comfortably. “I wouldn’t dream of it. But I’m starving, too, so I say we head to the car. I’m parked just down the road there.” He pointed at a sleek gray coupe spotlighted under a streetlamp. “That said, I’d love a town tour from you, if you’d like to give me one. Maybe we can plan that for our next date.”