Whatever He Wants (6 page)

 
     
Noelle remained rooted to the spot minutes
after James walked away. Men like James Rothschild didn’t ask out awkward,
dumpy women like her. That only happened in movies and the romance novels she
used to read as a teenager. What could he possibly want from her when he was by
far one of the most attractive men she’d ever seen?

 
     
The artist in her noted every line and
intricate detail of his face, from the square jaw to the dark sinister brows
slashing over intense, slate-gray colored eyes. His nose was prominent and
slightly askew as it had had been broken at some point and not set properly,
but it suited him. The slight imperfection humanized him, adding character to
arrestingly handsome features.

 
     
James looked to be around six foot two or
three because he had towered over her five foot five frame. His body was
muscular but tone—a boxer’s build. She glanced in the direction he’d headed and
saw him by the weights lifting way more than she could dream of attempting. The
sheer power of his movements sent a shiver through her body. A woman would
never be the same after being with a man like James. He frightened and
fascinated her and Noelle wasn’t sure which emotion was winning.

 
     
“He’s something else isn’t he?” Simone’s
voice brought her out of her silent perusal.

 
     
Noelle jumped. “I thought you’d left.”

 
     
“Not yet. I just wanted to stick around
long enough to make sure you follow through on this date.”

 
     
Her cousin meant well, of that Noelle was
sure, but it was no less embarrassing to be offered up like some prized pig at
a county fair. “I could have done without your intervention.”

 
     
“Oh, I beg to differ little
cuz
. If I hadn’t walked over when I did, you would have
allowed that Grade-A prime hunk to walk away. Someone that fine doesn’t come
along often. Did you check out his body? If he didn’t have eyes only for you I
would have given
my
number.”

 
     
“How do you know he isn’t some kind of
serial killer? You said you recognized his name, maybe you saw it on the news
because he killed a bunch of random women.”

 
     
“Girl, if the police were looking for him,
I doubt he’d be here. No, I heard his name somewhere else. I could have read it
online or in a magazine. I’m not sure but I’ll do a web search when I get home.
Why, do you think there’s something wrong with him?”

 
     
Noelle was uncomfortable having this
conversation in a gym full of people. “Can we go outside? I need air.”

 
     
“Are you okay?” Simone eyed her with
concern.

 
     
“Yeah, but I’d rather not talk here,
okay?”

 
     
“Sure. Let’s go.” When they were outside,
Simone didn’t wait for Noelle to gather her thoughts. “Okay, spill it.”

 
     
Noelle leaned against the brick building
for support. “I just don’t get it. What does that guy want with me?”

 
     
“Uh, he obviously wants to have dinner
with you. I’ve been telling you to get out more and here’s your opportunity.”

 
     
“That’s not what I meant and you know it.”
Noelle balled her fists at her sides in frustration. All the old taunts from
her Aunt and cousins came back to her, bringing Noelle’s insecurities front and
center. She had limited dating experience and even less confidence in dealing
with the opposite sex.

 
     
Not a day went by when Noelle wasn’t told
she was ugly, her hair was too nappy, her lips were too big, she was too dark
and she was stupid, all by either her Aunt or her twin cousins, Derrick and
Damon. Uncle Ebenezer simply ignored her most times except when they were at
Church where he was Pastor.

 
     
Simone defended her as best she could but
when Noelle realized her cousin suffered for standing up for her, she learned
not to let anyone see her cry. She wouldn’t talk or complain about it. Noelle
absorbed it like a sponge until she began to believe it. By the time Simone
left home, Noelle had no one and the psychological beat down continued to the
point where she couldn’t stand looking in the mirror.

 
     
It had been three years since she’d moved
out of that house but the scars were still fresh. She’d shied away from any
type of relationship since Walter, despite Simone’s attempts to set her up. The
few times she’d been persuaded to go out on a blind date they ended in
disaster. Nothing was worse than seeing the disappointment in a man’s eyes when
they first laid eyes on her. And now this really together guy who looked like a
Greek God was asking her out? Something had to be up.

 
     
“Then tell me what you mean, hon.” Simone
gently prompted.

 
     
“I used to have a crush on the captain of
the basketball team. His name was Antoine, really good looking and very popular
with the all the girls and female teachers alike. I knew I never had much of a
chance with him but when he started paying attention to me and I lapped it up
of course. He asked me to the fall harvest dance. Aunt Frieda said I could go
because she was having company that night and didn’t want me around.  We agreed
to meet at the dance. Even Derrick and Damon were being nice to me. They
offered to drive me there with them since they were going to the dance anyway.
I guess I should have known something was up then because those two were never
nice to me. I was just so excited a boy liked me I didn’t stop to analyze the
situation. Anyway, when I got to the dance, I saw Antoine dancing with Ramona
Fields, one of the popular girls.”

 
     
“Up until that point, Ramona and I never
said a word to each other but when they’d finished dancing, I walked over to
Antoine to let him know I was there. I barely said hello when Ramona ripped me
a new one. She made fun of my outfit, called me just about everything but a
child of God. I was so humiliated. Antoine stood laughing and he told me it was
just a joke and he didn’t think I’d show up.”

 
     
It happened years ago but the memory
haunted her like it was yesterday. She tilted her head back to keep the tears
from spilling. “Apparently most of the people at the dance were in on the joke
except me. Derrick and Damon of course knew about it which is why they were so
eager to take me to the dance. I was so mortified I left the dance and walked
home. After that I knew better. Even that worm Walter had an ulterior motive
for wanting to be with me. So why is James interested in me?” The memory of
that humiliation still burned to this day. She wiped a stray tear that slipped
from the corner of her eye.

 
     
“Oh, sweetie, those kids were a bunch of
assholes. You’ve got to know that. As for my brothers…well you know they’re not
worth the effort it took to bring them into the world.” Simone closed the space
between the two of them and captured Noelle’s face between her hands. “I know
you had it hard living with my mother, Ebenezer and the twin terrors but they
can’t hurt you anymore. And those jackass kids who pranked you can all go to
hell. If you buy into the bullshit they tried to sell you, then they won. Don’t
give them that victory, babe.” She leaned forward and placed a kiss on Noelle’s
forehead.

 
     
Simone’s heart was in the right place but
some things were easier said than done. “Thanks, Simone.”

 
     
“You’re welcome. Now stop thinking about a
bunch of rotten kids from high school. I’m sure James is nothing like them. He
doesn’t strike me as the kind of man to play those types of games. Obviously he
sees in you what I’ve been saying all along but you’ll never know for sure
unless you give him a chance. Why not just go out with him for that meal and if
it doesn’t work out then at least you won’t have to wonder what if.”

 
     
“But he’s so good looking—”

 
     
“And so are you.”

 
     
Noelle could see her cousin wasn’t going
to give up until she acquiesced. She took a deep breath and nodded. “Okay. I’ll
give it a shot.”

 
     
James half-expected Noelle to be gone by
the time he’d finished in the gym but there she was in the lobby with her hands
folded in her lap. When she spotted him walking towards her, her full lips
curved into a shy smile. The more he looked at her he could see she was more
than passably pretty. She was actually quite lovely. Noelle’s was a subtle
beauty that didn’t hit you all at once, but snuck up on you and slowly stole
your breath away.

 
     
She stood up and smoothed her clothing
down. “I didn’t bring a change of clothing. But I didn’t really do much working
out after my tumble so I hope what I’m wearing is okay.”

 
     
He took in the baggy sweats and smirked.
His women usually dressed to the nines in the latest brand name designs. Megan
wouldn’t have been caught dead in an outfit like Noelle’s but he liked how she
wasn’t trying to impress him. “You look just fine. We’re just going to a deli
unless you had something else in mind.”

 
     
“Oh no, the deli is fine.”

 
     
“Good.” He held the front door open for
her. “Shall we?”

 
     
He noticed her plump backside as she
walked by him. What he found most intriguing about her outfit was imagining
what was underneath it. Noelle didn’t strike him as the type to reveal her
secrets so easily but he’d learned from an early age, everything had a price.
As did everyone.

 
     
“The deli is a few blocks away. We can
take a walk or I can drive us. You decide.”

 
     
“It’s a nice night. I think I’d like to
walk,” she answered without making eye contact.

 
     
“Walking it is. Mind waiting here a sec
while I put my gym bag in my car?”

 
     
“No. Go ahead.” This time she did look up
at him but just as quickly, she turned away. He’d definitely address that when
he returned. James took his time walking to his car as he still tried to sort
out his attraction for Noelle. A little voice told him she wasn’t the type to
accept the kind of relationship he was willing to offer but then again he
hadn’t gotten to where he was by taking no for an answer.

 
     
Noelle was propped against the building
humming a soft tune to
herself
when he returned. “All
ready?” he asked.

 
     
“Yes.” As they started toward their
destination she whispered, “thank you.”

 
     
“What are you thanking me for exactly?”

 
     
“Thank you for asking me out. Simone says
I should get out more but I’m not really good at this dating thing.”

 
     
“An attractive woman
like yourself?
I find that hard to believe.”

 
     
She smoothed the flyaway hairs that
escaped her short ponytail in a
self conscious
gesture. “You’re teasing me.”

 
     
“I don’t tease…outside of the bedroom.”

 
     
Her step faltered.
“The
bedroom?”
  Either she had little experience with men or she was a
hell of an actress. Everything pointed to the former which told him he should
tread lightly with her.

 
     
“What I meant,” he hurried to cover his
faux pas, “is I don’t lie about things like that. Flattery has its uses of
course but it’s often mired in deceit. I promise I will never be anything but
honest with you.”

 
     
She stopped walking for a moment to give
him a searching look. A long awkward silence fell between them before that
sweet smile touched her lips again. “You’re a nice guy.”’ They started walking
again.

 
     
He chuckled with a shake of his head. “I
don’t think anyone has ever called me that before.”

 
     
“You didn’t yell at me for bumping into
you. Speaking as someone who’s taken many spills in her lifetime, sometimes
into other people, your reaction was on the tamer side.”