Page 21 of Conquered
Noelle suspected there was a reason behind it. And it became apparent the minute Powell got her alone on the dance floor.
“I never realized Hunter had a beautiful secret. Where has he been hiding you all these time?”
It was a compliment but a probing one. He was curious about her.
“Thank you, Mr. Powell. But I’m not really a secret. I’ve known Hunter for some time now.”
“Have you? I still maintain that it’s a remarkable secret.”
“There's really nothing remarkable about me. I am an ordinary girl from this city who runs an ordinary café in Queens. I have a four-year-old son whom I adore and hope to raise well. It's the same story multiplied a thousand times over in the Big Apple"
“You turn your life into a work of art in order to redeem the ordinariness – a condition you are stuck with.” Powell quoted.
“Yes,” Noelle replied, “Robert Dessaix I believe. An Australian author. I’ve read his memoirs.”
Powell’s bushy eyebrows raised a notch. “Beautiful and intelligent too. I like that in a woman.”
Before she could make a comeback, Hunter showed up and cut into their dance.
“You’re monopolizing my girl,” Hunter accused, sarcasm dripping in his voice. .
Powell grinned and replied, "Keep her close before she decides to slip away."
Then he turned to Noelle and gallantly kissed her hand. “Miss Mancini, it was a pleasure making your acquaintance.”
Noelle nodded slightly, accepting the compliment. Oddly, she liked him too.
Hunter took her hand and placed it on his shoulder. The other arm snaked around her waist and pulled her close to him.
“Have I already told you that you look ravishing tonight?”
“You have to thank Thomas Gaye for that. He is a miracle worker.”
“He had the best ingredients to work with.”
“You don’t look so bad yourself. I’ve never really seen you in a suit before,” she retorted.
“Welcome to my world, Noelle Mancini.”
Noelle looked at the faces around her and replied, “It’s a little scary, this world of yours.”
“You? Scared?”
“Uh-huh.” Then, “I almost didn’t come you know. When you called this morning I was about to tell you. But you didn’t give me a chance to.”
Hunter’s eyes widened. He grinned and said, “I can imagine tomorrow’s tabloids if you did. HUNTER BLACKWELL STOOD UP BY DATE! That wouldn’t be very good for my ego.”
“I’m glad you sent Thomas then, because I would have lost out on the opportunity to see you looking so dashing,” she flattered his ego.
“Thank you for coming. You’ve made this night a lot more tolerable than it should.”
It was the kind of banter that was understandable on the surface, but really created a heightened awareness of each other because their faces were mere inches apart. His breath fanned her cheeks as he spoke. The cologne he wore merely added to the olfactory sensation.
Noelle made a brazen move and placed her cheek against his. The arm around her waist instinctively tightened. Her hand pressed softly on his shoulder while his palm caressed the small of her back. She tried to ignore the curious looks from the guests as she lost herself in the vertical display of a horizontal longing.
“You know, of course, that I’m totally turned on to you right now?” Hunter whispered. .
"Yes, it's really hard to ignore the thing that is pushing between my legs." Noelle giggled.
The atmosphere between them suddenly changed. It became animated, sizzling, like the shock that comes from an exposed electric wiring.
Hunter pulled back perceptibly and gazed into her eyes. Noelle gazed back, not wishing to lose the connection. An unspoken exchange ensued. There was no need for words. Their eyes did the talking… and both understood.
"Let's get out of here then," Hunter said in a voice that had gone an octave lower.