Scarred Beauty (15 page)

“I know. This is for a few drinks downstairs.”

She took the money and left his hotel room.
Rubbing a hand over his mouth, he swore several times. If he didn’t get them
under control his feelings for Noelle would threaten everything. He refused to
feel anything and allow himself to be exposed to the kind of pain his mother
had gone through.

He took his mobile phone to the kitchen and
dialled her number.

“Hello,” she said as she answered several
moments later. She sounded distracted.

“Hi.”

“Isaac?”

“The very same.”

“It’s so good to hear your voice. I miss you.”

“I’m missing you, too.”
More than you could imagine.

“How is business?”

“Boring. I miss our nights together.”

She giggled, and when he closed his eyes, he
could see her smile.

“I’m going to back on Friday. Will you meet me
at the hotel?” he asked. Plans began working in his mind.

“Of course. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere
else.”

“Good.”

“I love you, Isaac.”

“I know. I’ll see you on Friday. I just needed
to hear your voice.” Rubbing his eyes, he felt his stomach turn at what he was
going to do to rid her from his mind.

“See you Friday. I’m sending kisses down the line.”
He chuckled despite himself.

“I’ll kiss you when I see you.”

“I can’t wait.”

They hung up, and Isaac made another quick call.
If he couldn’t have any other woman then Noelle was going to be his for the
keeping.

****

Noelle smiled as she put her mobile down. She
hoped he was okay. He sounded distracted. Glancing at the painting she was
making, she felt herself blush. The image was of Isaac as he lay against the
bedroom of the hotel. He was smiling. She hadn’t bought herself round to
painting the lower part of his body.

She heard Brad get up and went out to check on
her friend. Making sure the door to her studio was closed she saw him buttering
some toast.

“Hi,” she said.

“Hello.”

“We barely see each other at the moment. How
have you been, Brad?”

“I’m fine. I’m not falling off the wagon if
that’s what you mean.”

“Of course not. I just wanted to make sure you
were okay,” she said, switching the kettle on.

“How is the painting going?” he asked, and she
noticed he avoided her question.

“Slowly.”

“Let me know when you want me to set up a
meeting. Just so you know I came by one of those collectors who would be
interested in selling your work at a big exhibition. He’s loved your work so
far, and from what I’ve heard it is hard for artists to break into the world.”

“I’m not ready for that.”

“I know, but it gives you something to think
about.”

She smiled and poured him a cup of tea. He wore
a short sleeved t-shirt, and she saw some of his old track marks. The doctor
had said it would take time for the worst of the scars to heal. Seeing the
evidence of the drug abuse made her feel like a lousy friend.

“I know. I’m going to change my shirt in a
minute,” Brad said as he covered his arms. “Don’t worry about it. I’m just
taken back a little. You’ve fought so hard for where you are today. I hope Ben
sees the battle you’ve had. Maybe you could be open and honest with him about
your past.”

“He’s got too much to deal with. Ben doesn’t
need to hear my sappy story.” He sipped at his drink, and she knew it had to be
burning him.

“I love you, Brad. Don’t ever call your story
sappy. You survived, and not many people can say that.”

“I’m going to go to work.”

“You can’t,” she said.

“What do you mean?” Brad stood on the opposite
side of the kitchen counter.

“They phoned the other day and said they
couldn’t keep you on. Something about the way the markets were and everything.”

When the call had come in, she’d been shocked to
hear how quickly they could get rid of someone. She knew the lack of work
wasn’t what he needed right now. He needed to be able to fill his time with
something.

“So, it’s another handout from my dad again.”

“Or not. I found this in the paper yesterday. I
phoned and arranged an interview for you.” She handed him the paper where she’d
circled it.

“This is for a youth centre. What good would I
be in a youth centre?” he asked.

“More than you think. Some of the kids today are
dealing with a lot of crap. Go for the interview, and spend a couple of weeks
and see how you feel. If you don’t like it then go to your dad and ask for
money.”

She knew he would go to his dad if he had to,
but he would prefer to make his own money.

“You’re too good for me. You know that?”

“I know.”

Noelle watched him walk to his room. She felt
bad with how things have been between them. They’d met under extreme
circumstances, and she would like to think they could survive everything.

Stretching her neck, she made herself some toast
before going back into her studio. Having an exhibition would be a huge step.
Unfortunately, she couldn’t cope with all of that attention. So many people
would be staring at her work. When Brad had people come to view her work in the
apartment she stayed out of the way.

Letting people in was the hardest thing she’d
ever done. Glancing at the clock, she picked up her paint brush and allowed the
magic to work.

She heard Brad leave the apartment, and about
two hours later, she heard someone knocking on the door.

At first she ignored the banging, but as the
minutes passed whoever it was became more persistent.

Closing her eyes, she put her paint brush down
and went to answer the door. A man with dark hair was on the other side.

Her hands shaking, Noelle opened the door. The
right side of her face was covered, but she only peered round the side.

“Hi, Noelle. I’m looking for Bradley Welch,” he
said.

“He’s not in at the moment. Can I take a
message?” Noelle asked him.

“I can’t believe it. He’s not at his job either.
I should have known he wouldn’t stay on the straight and narrow.”

Noelle frowned. “Wait, what? Brad is fine. He’s
at an interview today. The last company let him go.” She opened the door fully.
“Are you Ben?”

“Yes. I’m sorry. We haven’t been properly
introduced. I’m Ben Turner.”

Noelle brushed her hair back. “I’m Noelle Evans,
his friend.” She noticed when Ben looked at the scars on her face. What
surprised her was how he brushed over them as if they weren’t there.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have jumped to
conclusions.”

“I think you should come in.” Noelle opened the
door and waited for Ben to walk in. “Do you want anything to drink?”

“Water would do fine.”

She went into the kitchen. Ben followed her and
stood at the counter.

“You can sit down. I don’t bite or anything.”
Noelle handed him a drink and stood watching him. Ben was incredibly sexy and
handsome, and she could see why Brad liked him.

“Why did you want to see Brad?” she asked.

“The last time we talked things didn’t end well.
They never seem to end well with him. I wanted to make sure he was okay.”

“He’s trying to fix the past, but unless you
talk to him, Brad will remain in the dark. He should be at an interview now.
You could stay until he comes back, but I imagine he’ll come looking for you.
He won’t give up easily.”

Ben nodded and smiled.

“He doesn’t talk about you much,” Ben said.

“I don’t imagine he would. He’s trying to deal
with whatever happened in your past.” Noelle sipped at her water.

“He won’t let it go.”

“Maybe you should wait for the right time to
tell him?”

Ben nodded his head. “You’re not going to ask about
it?”

“Brad’s and your business is not mine. You’ll
only work through your problems together. Besides, I’ve got my own problems to
deal with.”

They stood in silence. Ben looked deep in
thought.

“Do you love him?” Noelle asked.

“What?”

“Do you love him? Love Brad?”

“I can’t answer that. So much has changed since
I saw him. I’m not going to discuss my feelings with you. It’s nothing
personal. And I’ve got a lot of crap to deal with.” Noelle watched as Ben’s
eyes filled with tears.

“Everyone has problems. You’d be surprised at how
hard he had to fight to get where he is today. The only person he would mention
through the worst part of his rehabilitation was your name.”

“He hasn’t said I helped him through it.”

“Give him a chance, Ben. He’s changed now, and
he’ll be there for you. He wants a chance to make it right between you
two.””
 

“Yes. I had noticed he is persistent. I kind of
like seeing him around. Thanks for the water.” Ben placed the glass on the
counter. “It was nice to meet you, Noelle.”

“Likewise, Ben.” They shook hands before she saw
him out.

Closing the door, she leaned against the wood,
frowning. That had been the strangest meeting. Touching her face she wondered
if her scar was even there.

Shrugging her shoulder she went back to her
studio and started her painting, losing herself in the creative art. Friday
couldn’t come soon enough. Her thoughts kept straying to the man who’d captured
her heart.

Chapter Seventeen

 
He stood
in the hotel room on Friday night waiting for her arrive. Holding the keys
inside his pocket made him wonder if he was making the right decision. For a
week he’d been away from her, and in that week he’d organised to keep her as
part of his life.

Was he a selfish bastard for wanting to keep her
to himself? If it wasn’t for Brad he would have taken her somewhere and spent
all of his free time with her where no one could find them.

Glancing down at the time he knew it was only a
matter of minutes until she was at the door. His hands were sweaty. What if she
didn’t like it? What if she said no?

Shutting out the thoughts he stood as he heard
the key in the lock. Seconds later she opened the door and there she stood, the
woman who’d become a vital part of him.

If she’s
so important to you, why haven’t you told her he truth about who you are?

“Isaac.” She said his name with a smile which
lit up her whole face.

He went to her, wrapping his arms around her.
She felt so good under his touch. Her beautiful lemon scent comforted him. In
seconds his cock was rock-hard, and all he wanted to do was fuck her and absorb
her. If he could bottle her in a jar and keep her with him he would do it. The
obsession he was feeling towards her was startling him.

Isaac kissed her. He’d been away from her for a
week and felt like it had been longer since he last saw. She opened to him,
accepting his kiss and the love he was showing her. The love he couldn’t give
her with words. He knew without a shadow of a doubt that he was in love with
her, but he couldn’t say the words.

“I’ve missed you,” he said.

“I’ve missed you, too. I dreamt about you every
night.” She caressed his chest.

“That sounds promising.” He ran his hands down
her back to cup her ass.

“It wasn’t as good as you.”

He chuckled, taking her lips in another kiss.
She tasted of lemon, a highly addictive flavour.

“Do you trust me?” he asked as he pulled back
staring into her eyes.

“You know I do, Isaac. More than anyone in my
life.”

He took her hand and led her out to his car. She
got in without question. Her trust of him touched him far more than anything
else. Placing the seat belt around her, he shut the door before climbing into
his own side. Starting up the engine, he pulled away from the hotel. He’d spent
a great deal of time with estate agents to find the perfect loft space for her,
which could combine into a studio. Also, he no longer wanted to meet her in a
rundown hotel. She deserved the finer things in life, the finer things he could
offer her.

The drive was a short one. Neither spoke as the
tension between them rose. In no time, he parked in the secluded parking space.
Isaac got out of the car, went round to her side, unbuckled her seat belt and
helped her out of the car.

Taking her hand, he led the way to the elevator.
Wrapping an arm around her waist he tapped his thigh, impatient to get her to
his gift.

“Close your eyes,” he said as the elevator
stopped. Her eyes closed. He opened the door. With a hand on her arm, he led
her out into the main part of the loft.