Chapter One
Noelle thought the women looked like ornaments in their colorful gowns and glittering jewels, their hands tucked through the arms of men dressed in tuxedos. Even the children seemed to shine in their Sunday best. The museum had been transformed into a holiday scape with thick evergreen garlands draped above every doorway, large red and silver balls dangling among strings of white twinkling lights.
“Wow.”
“Do you like it?” she asked, a bit nervously. “Is it too much?”
“No, it’s beautiful,” Davis assured her, pulling her a bit closer to his side, his arm wrapped around her waist. He grinned and added, “Almost as beautiful as the little elf who sprinkled her magic dust everywhere.”
She smiled, looking up into the bluest eyes she’d ever seen. “Thank you. I was getting worried we’d not finish on time. Oh, you have to see the tree!” Not waiting for his response, she grabbed his hand and tugged him from the entry. “I set it up in the center of the great hall.”
They were soon standing a few feet from an enormous tree that soared above the milling crowd.
“Isn’t it great!” Noelle gushed, her excitement showing in the sparkling depths of emerald green eyes.
Davis tilted his head back and then looked down at her again. “It is. I think it’s the biggest tree I’ve ever seen. How on earth did they get it inside?”
“That was the easy part.” They turned to see a couple approaching, the man’s smile wide. “Hello, Davis, Noelle, Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas,” Davis said, as he shook hands with the museum director and gave the woman’s cheek a kiss. “Easy, huh?”
Charles Manforth chuckled. “Well, maybe not easy, but it was certainly less eventful than the decorating turned out to be.”
“Oh, the decorating was the fun part,” Noelle said. “Excuse me, but I need to go check on the caterers.”
“Hold on,” Davis said, returning his arm to wrap around her waist. “I’d like to hear more about this incredible tree.”
“What’s to hear?” Noelle said with a shrug. “Mr. Manforth’s crew set it up, and my crew decorated it. Now, the food, that’s what’s important. You know they say a party can be ruined without the right hors d’oeuvres and perfect drinks…”
“Don’t let her kid you,” Charles said, nodding his head toward the towering pine. “I’m just lucky to be here to attend the fundraiser.”
“Oh?” Davis said, his eyes narrowing a bit as he glanced at Noelle. “Why is that?”
The older man chuckled as he laid a hand on his chest. “Let’s just say I almost had a heart attack when I saw—”
“But you didn’t,” Noelle interrupted, again trying to slip free of Davis’ hold. “Let me get you some punch—”
“Saw what?” Davis asked, his tightening hold informing Noelle that she was going nowhere until he allowed it.
“It’s a good thing your girl is such a tiny thing,” Charles continued as if totally unaware of Noelle’s growing nervousness. “I’m not as young as I used to be, but thankfully I’m not so old and feeble that I couldn’t catch her.”
Noelle couldn’t suppress a soft moan as Davis looked from the director, to the tree, and then back down at her.
“Catch her?” His tone might have sounded the same to anyone else, but Noelle felt a shudder run through her as the question was asked with more than casual curiosity. Her eyes darted to take in the others who had gathered around the tree and were now listening to the distinguished man’s story.
“That’s right, and though having such a sweet little girl in my arms was a delight, I will admit my heart stopped beating for a few moments.”
“You’re a hero, honey,” the woman at his side said, pride beaming on her face. “I’m awfully proud of you.”
“Now, Bea, I’m no hero,” Charles said, accepting a quick peck on his cheek from his wife. The crowd of onlookers smiled at the genuine affection shared but it wasn’t the end of the discussion as Noelle had hoped.
“Noelle?”
Despite the look in Davis’ eyes, she attempted to make light of the situation. With a huge smile, she gave a soft giggle and reached out to pat the director’s arm. “He’s exaggerating. I wasn’t in any real danger…” The moment she felt a hand slip from her waist to splay against her bottom, she lost her train of thought, her own heart threatening to skip a beat or two.
“Are you telling me that you fell off the ladder? That you, young lady, were actually even on a ladder?”
Struggling not to squirm and forcing herself not to step away from the pressure that seemed to grow stronger against the back of her gown, she took a breath and turned her face up to his. “I had to fix an ornament. It was nothing, really.”
“Don’t let her kid you,” Charles said, his gray head shaking. “See the T-Rex?”
The entire gathering shifted their gazes to sweep over the tree in an effort to find the dinosaur. “Look up,” Charles instructed, pointing to an enormous plastic carnivore about halfway up the tree before continuing. “I guess he didn’t like being tucked back so far within the branches or else thought those big balls were food because he started walking forward. Your girl scampered up the ladder quick as a monkey when ornaments starting falling off the tree. You should have heard her.” He chuckled and gave another shake of his head.
“She had him moved back into place and secured him more tightly. Your little elf can be quite stern when she wants to be, but when she was lecturing and shaking her finger at the T-Rex, evidently she forgot she wasn’t standing in front of a class but rather was on a ladder. She took a step back and… well, that’s when I almost had a heart attack but managed to catch her before she hit the floor.”
“Oh, my,” Beatrice said, her own gray curls bobbing as she gave a little shudder. “Thank goodness you were there.”
Oohs and ahhs sounded as the guests heard of the near accident, and yet Noelle was barely aware of them. All she heard was a low growl given by Davis as he looked from the dinosaur ornament to her, then back to the tree. “That’s what, nine feet?”
“More like ten,” Charles corrected. “The tree is a little under twenty feet and the traveling T-Rex is a little more than halfway up.”
“Ten feet,” Davis repeated and nodded before extending his hand again. “I want to thank you for keeping Noelle from serious injury, Charles.”
“It was my pleasure,” Charles said, shaking hands again. “Like I said, we are thrilled with Miss Atwell’s work. She is an absolute pleasure to have around. Just needs to be a bit more careful so she’ll be around for many years to come. Right, my dear?”
Noelle could only nod and softly say, “Right. Thank you again, Mr. Manforth.”
“Anytime at all. Now where are those delightful snacks you spoke of? I’m feeling a bit famished.”
“I’d love to show—”
“Here they come,” Davis said, cutting her off as he lifted his free hand to beckon to one of the servers to bring a tray of goodies to the director. As Charles selected a delicious looking crab puff and offered it to his wife, Davis continued, “If you’ll excuse us for a moment?”
“Of course,” Charles said, giving the couple a small bow. “Your generous donations through the years, and this beautiful young woman’s creativity, helped make this a special evening,” he added, selecting another hors d’oeuvres and popping it into his mouth. “Ah, these are just delightful. Enjoy your evening.”
“We shall,” Davis said, giving him another smile as he began moving away. In a much softer voice, one only she could hear, he added, “At least I shall, though I’m not so sure about you, my dear.”
Noelle could do nothing but quicken her steps as he led her through the throngs and another doorway draped with garlands.
“Um, I should stay within hearing distance in case someone needs me,” she said, glancing back over her shoulder as their steps took them deeper into the museum.
“You sure about that?” he asked, looking down at her even as he kept walking. The hall they were now passing through wasn’t as bright as the rooms where the party was being held, but was light enough that she could see his right eyebrow lifting. “I’d think you’d want to be as far out of hearing range as possible.”
“Why?” she asked, and his next words had the skin of her buttocks actually crawling beneath her dress as his hand slipped from her waist to cup and squeeze a bottom cheek.
“Because, my naughty little elf, by the time I’m through lighting up your ass, I promise it will be absolutely glowing and as red as any of those ornaments you hung all afternoon.”
“But—”
“Exactly,” Davis said, reaching to open a door at the end of yet another hall. He stepped aside to allow her to enter first. “Your butt is about to pay the price for your naughtiness.”
Noelle gave a quick glance behind her, wondering how far she’d get before he caught her… then sighed, knowing for sure that he would catch her. She looked at him again and saw the determination on his face. With a sigh of resignation, she stepped into the room and swallowed hard at the loud click of the lock on the door being engaged.