The Unexpected Series (Unexpected #1-3) (32 page)

My knees give way underneath me, and he has to catch me before I hit the ground.

What the hell is wrong with my knees today? It’s got to be the hooker boots.

“Are you okay?”

“Yea, I just...I don’t know. Yea, I’m fine.” I compose myself and take a deep breath. “So, earn it? How exactly do I earn your number back and what if I don’t even want it? You’re kinda full of yourself.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Would you rather it be you that’s full of me, Noelle?” He asks getting just a millimeter closer. If he moves just a fraction more his lips will be on mine.

I’ve never encountered such an insistent man. Usually, I am the aggressive one. I don’t like releasing control to someone else.

His eyes dart to my mouth, and I make a show of slowly running my tongue along my bottom lip. I can see how affected he is.

“All you have to do is play me at pool. If you win I will give you my number, again. But if I win you get my number and I get to kiss you...anywhere I want.”

He winks and raises his eyebrow in a challenge.

Time to counteroffer.

“Uhm, I have a better idea. You win you get my number, you call me and you ask me out on a date. I’ll even allow you the honor of kissing me on the cheek. If I win you have to streak through the party.”

His face drops. “Are you serious?”

“You seem so confident. I guess you aren’t that good of a player.” I quirk my eyebrow in curiosity. “Or are you?”

“Oh, I’m good...at everything and you’re about to find out. Deal!” He extends his thick hands out to shake mine before I push away and saunter over to the table to get ready to break. “Do you want me to do that?”

“No, I got it,” I say insulted. I hit the cue ball hard towards the rest of the balls. It goes flying off the side hitting Erin in the ass while her tongue is down Walker’s throat.

They don’t get out much.

“HEY! Noe, you hooker,” she says.

“No, Erin. I don’t get paid for it, but I know for sure men would max out their credit cards for one night with me,” I jab back.

She turns back around to continue her assault on her fiancé unaffected by my statement.

Jace’s mouth is wide open, and I walk past him to retrieve the ball pushing his chin up.

I laugh picking the ball up off the ground and hand it to him. “I’ll let you start.”

~~

I
pocketed the eight ball on my second turn and Jace was gracious enough to give me a redo. Bending over the table and brushing up against him any chance I got, I used my body to try to distract him. It almost worked. At one point I “accidentally” rubbed my breasts across his back while he took a shot. He missed that one but ending up making the rest. The chemistry between the two of us is electric.

In the end, I lost. Terribly.

“Now for that kiss.” He looks down at me pulling my body to his by my hips. “Would you like to pay up now or at my place?”

“Hold that thought.” I place an index finger on his lips and reluctantly disconnect from his body.

Walking over to Trent’s kitchen island I grab a post it note and pen jotting down my phone number. Two can play at this game.

I turn giving him my bedroom eyes and stroll back over to him swaying my hips just a bit to get his attention as if I didn’t already have it.

Peering up I seductively place the piece of paper on his chest putting a little pressure on it and slowly lower it down over his abs. His breathing deepens, and I can feel his dick harden against me. The large bulge on my stomach has me tightening my thighs. I continue my journey south, with my number in hand, finding his hip and sliding the piece of paper into his side pocket.

Leaning up on my tiptoes, I lick the bottom of his ear repeating the same words he used this morning. “Here’s my number. Maybe you can use the picture you took this morning for your contact photo.”

Quickly pulling my hand back I turn and walk away spotting Trent watching our interaction. Taking a pull from his beer, he motions for me to come over.

“Wait!” Jace calls out before I reach Trent. ”You forgot the other part of our deal. I believe you owe me a kiss.”

I unhurriedly turn back around and tilt my cheek up to him waiting for his lips to find it, but they don’t. He grabs both sides of my face forcing me to look straight at him. I see lust and need evident in his eyes as he looks down at my mouth. I lick my lips as he rubs his thumbs along my jawline. My nipples tighten, and I’m sure he can see them through my shirt. Tilting my head up, I coax him to give me what I want. His lips collide with mine, and an involuntary moan slips out opening them up just a bit. Using it to his advantage, he slips his tongue in. Everything disappears around us. I’m lost. His kiss is like a drug, and I want to be so fucking high. I’m instantly hooked, and I want more. So much more. Both of my hands come up and grab his shirt tightly bringing his body closer to mine.

I forget where we are. Hell, I forget my name.

I almost allow him to lay me across the pool table when I hear a commotion and yelling.

“Trent. NO!” Erin screams.

Breaking our kiss I turn to see what’s going on.

It all happens in a flash. One minute I’m kissing what is probably the man who can bring me to my knees, and the next Trent’s fist is connecting with his jaw. He falls to the ground taking me with him. Our bodies turn so that I land on top of him, and his head hits the ground hard.

“Oh shit, Noelle! Are you okay?” Trent’s panicked face is the first thing I see when I open my eyes as he’s trying to help me up off of Jace.
Did he just hit him?

“What the fuck, Trent! What the hell is wrong with you? Get off me,” I say smacking his hands away. Pulling myself up I glare at him. “Are you drunk? Jesus Christ! Why did you hit him?”

“Noe, oh my God,” Erin says rubbing my arm as Walker pushes Trent back.

“You fucking asshole! You almost hit Noelle!” Jace growls from next to me.
Man, he got up quickly
.

He pulls me around behind him and shoves Trent’s chest. “I don’t care who the hell you are, how the hell long you have known her, or if this is your fucking house. If you ever hit me again or come close to hitting her you better be prepared because I will fucking hurt you!”

Trent struggles against Walker’s hold and brings his chest to Jace’s. “I warned you, Jace! I told you to stay away from her.”

“Trent!” Erin yells.

What? Stay away from me? Who the hell does he think he is?

“That’s it,” I scream stepping in between the two Neanderthals. Next they’ll be dragging me by my hair to their cave. “I’ve had enough of this juvenile bullshit. What has gotten into you, Trent? I’m not someone’s property and I don’t need you to protect me! I don’t need this drama.”

The party has come to a screeching halt as everyone circles around us. Spotting my purse, phone and Walker’s keys on the end table I turn away from all of them. I collect my shit and head out the door.

“Noelle! Wait!” Erin calls out. She’s running towards me attempting not to fall on her ass. She’s had a few drinks tonight and her tolerance is low. I stop to make sure a trip to the ER is not in our future. “You can’t leave it like this.”

“Well, I’m not staying here, Erin. I don’t know why he did that but all we were doing was having a little fun and he
hits
Jace? He could have hurt me in the process. He almost did if it wasn’t for Jace.” I take a deep breath looking around. “Everyone has just had a bit too much to drink. I just want to go home now. Please.”

Angry tears start to blur my vision. I never cry. What a shitty night.

“Sure, Noe. We can go,” she says in a small voice leaving me to go inside and hopefully get Walker.

I didn’t realize how hard I was holding onto his keys until I saw the indention from his key chain. Walking over to the truck with my head down, I am shocked by what just happened. I don’t understand Trent. He is such a hot head.

“Noelle, hold up a second,” Jace calls from behind me. “Can I talk to you?”

“I don’t want to talk about this right now, Jace. I need to go home. I’m tired. I just want to go to bed.” I can’t look at him. I don’t want him to see me crying, but my shaky voice gives me away.

“Noelle, don’t cry. Hey, why don’t you come over to my house?” Both of his hands are rubbing my arms like he is trying to keep me warm despite the heated temperature. I shake my head no.

“Then take my number.” He grabs the phone from me types his number in and hands it back over. “You have my number again. Please use it. I don’t know what is going on here, but I do know that I want to see you again. I have to see you again.” His hands grab my chin gently forcing me to look into his eyes.

“Okay, Jace. Let me think about it. I need to get home now though. Thank you for not letting me get hurt. I’m so sorry,” I say in barely a whisper looking back down to the ground.

This is not me. I’m a strong woman and I don’t let men get to me, but this feels different. Like a huge shift in my life has occurred.

He grabs my chin lifting my head to look into his eyes. “You are not the one that should be apologizing. Trent should and I’ll make sure he does. And Noelle, please call me.”

Pulling myself away I slide into the back seat without responding.

Walker and Erin get in and I pass Walker the keys.

“Noe?” Erin’s voice is hesitant. I turn my head away from the window and notice a torn look on her face.

“Yea?”

“Nevermind.”

Walker puts the car in reverse without a word and pulls out of the driveway. Looking out the back window as we leave I can see Trent and almost feel his sad eyes watching. I couldn’t care less right now. Taking the turn to head home Erin turns up the volume on the radio, and I stare off into the distance.

I
walk up the sidewalk to the house I love after a quiet goodbye from Erin and Walker. This place has become my sanctuary. It’s clean, organized and everything is the way I like it. After Erin moved out this past December, I was free to do what I wanted with it, and I wanted it to be perfect. Not that she was messy, but it’s nice to live on my own after almost ten years of having a roommate.

As you walk in you’re welcomed with a large open spaced living room, dining room and kitchen area. The living room is filled with lavender, black and white accents with the most comfortable sofa you will ever lay on next to my very own La-Z girl recliner. I replaced our love seat because I had to have that chair. Every girl wants to grab a glass of wine and sit in one of those bad girls and read about hot ass book men on her kindle...when she isn’t banging a real life one.

The kitchen isn’t that big, but the island makes a great bar to sit at when you want to be casual. Erin and I have had plenty of late night chats at that bar. Heart to hearts, laughs and a lot of tears...and bottles upon bottles of tequila. We have been through some crazy shit.

Now she is engaged and has a beautiful daughter. I’m lucky enough to not only be her best friend but also her wedding planner. I’m not sure she knew what she was asking when she did. I’m a perfectionist and sometimes it drives Erin insane. She loves me though.

Smiling to myself, I head into my room, which is the best part of the whole house. It’s massive and has a bathroom bigger than my room growing up at my parents. The walk-in closet next to it is just as big. Half of it is taken up by my shoes alone.

I slip into my pajamas and walk into the bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth. My thoughts wander back to what happened...what got into Trent. I’m too exhausted to think about it anymore. Dragging my tired body over to my queen bed, I crawl under the comforter letting its warmth suck me in. I never thought I would spend one hundred fifty dollars on a blanket, but with its large black flowers on a white down comforter of heaven it’s totally worth it. I love this fucking bed.

The slamming of my front door jolts me just as I’m about to fall into a blissful sleep.

Erin knocks quietly on the door and walks in sitting on the side of my bed. “Are you okay, Noe? I’ve never seen you that quiet before.”

She still has a key and uses it when she deems necessary. Apparently, this is one of those times.

Sighing I sit up pulling the blanket straight up around me. “I’m fine. Just frustrated. Jace seems like a nice guy but I’m trying to figure out why Trent would do something like that. He is always so hot and cold that I don’t know which way is up and which way is down with him. I just want to know what the hell he was thinking. Does he think Jace is a bad guy? He must be for Trent to do something so drastic, right?”

“I don’t think that’s it, Noelle,” she says looking away trying to avoid my eyes. A true sign that she is hiding something.

“Erin, do you know why?” I give her my “don’t mess with me” face. “If you do you better tell me.”

“Don’t look at me like that, Noe. It’s not my place to speak for Trent.” She shakes her head looking down and starts to twiddle her fingers.

“Tell me, Erin! I’m going crazy here. Trent used to be such a good friend and it just seems that we have drifted apart.” Tears start forming again, and I get up to grab a tissue from the bathroom. I hate crying like a bitch.