The chaos around me blurs. Voices muffle as if I’m underwater. The next thing I know, strong arms lift me off my feet and I’m hauled onto Noel’s broad shoulders.
He whisks me away from the shore just as the reptile clambers out of the water. “You okay, angel?”
I’m still in shock and just manage to hum out one syllable, but I’m more in shock at how Noel swooped to my rescue and is carrying me to safety. Not to mention calling me angel.
Strong hands grip my thighs while my head bobs behind his back, getting a perfect view of his ass in his cream shorts. I lift my head to see the gator trampling over the set without a care in the world, basking in the sun. Crazy fools stand around taking photos while Maddox shouts from his boat, telling people to step away.
Noel sits me down in a director’s chair, placing both hands on my paled face. “Are you all right?” He sweeps the hair from my sticky face, coated in a cold sweat. “Talk to me.”
I swallow the prickling tinsel in the back of my throat that’s more like a cactus. “I’m fine now. Thank you. It just caught me by surprise. I know sometimes they come into town or on the beach, but they usually stay in the everglades. I’m sorry I froze.”
“You don’t need to be sorry. It’s the freshwater pools around here that attract them. As long as you’re okay.” He caresses my cheek with soft, soothing strokes of his thumb. His lips are close to mine, the sun creating a halo, just like before, when I fell off my bike. And once again, he’s come to my rescue.
“My guardian angel. My hero.”
“What was that?”
Did I just mutter those words out loud? I’m still dazed and disoriented as chaos ensues around us, but here, under the gazebo, we’re in our own little bubble, where not even a gator could tear my eyes away from Noel.
I clear my throat. “I said, you’re my hero.”
He smiles and waves my flattery off. “It was nothing.”
“Are you kidding? You swooped in like Crocodile Dundee. And how on earth did you manage to lift me over your shoulder?”
He shrugs. “Adrenaline, I guess.” His face pales. “I mean, it was nothing. I can bench press heavy weights. Not that I'm saying you’re heavy.” He gulps, then presses his lips together before he says anymore. His face is adorable and I want to kiss him, so he knows I’m not offended.
I’m not exactly small, but knowing he can lift me with ease has me picturing him throwing me all over the bedroom. “All right, hotshot. Whatever you say.”
Ivy walks by, letting the crew know Maddox is at the dock with the boat. Noel interlaces his fingers with mine and pulls me from the chair. Walking with our hands entwined makes my heart race more than when the alligator ambled towards me. His firm hand holding mine is every bit protective and loving.
Thoughts of moving to California with him flood back to me after the recent drama. I imagine him showing me around Beverly Hills like this, with our fingers entwined, my eyes lit up like a Christmas tree, my stomach tangled with tinsel, while rendered speechless with a glittery bauble lodged in my throat. That’s the effect he has on me, and I’m loving every second.
NOEL
After the gator incident, filming was delayed, giving us some free time to enjoy the Christmas in July Festival. Market stalls line the town square and the smell of cotton candy filters through the air.
Glory hooks her arm through mine, and I almost love the gesture. The only gripe I have is the town’s gossips and anything getting back to Gray. But I’ll risk it, because any man would be proud to have Glory hanging off their arm.
She points to a coconut knock-down stall. “I love coconuts.” As she picks up the pace, dragging me along, her tits jiggle under her vest top and I’m reminded that I also love coconuts.
As we get close, I see that Wanelda, the town’s news broadcaster and my mom’s friend, is running the stall. My body tenses. She’s the last person I wanted to run into while Glory is hanging from my arm. Damnit. She’ll be at church with my mother tomorrow, then before I know it, we’ll be married off.
Which reminds me of another reason I can’t get involved with Glory. If we didn’t work out, things would just be awkward between our families. Our parents are good friends. I’m just not the settling down kind of guy and sooner or later, when Glory wants more than I can give, things will end in tears. They always do.
“Well, don’t you two look cute together?” Wanelda tilts her glasses, getting a good look at how Glory clings to my forearm.
These last few weeks of working together has brought us closer than ever. I won’t tell her she can’t loop her arm through mine, even if it looks like we’re a couple.
“Hey Wanelda, how much is the coconut game?”
“Five dollars. If you knock off one coconut, you win a coconut, knock off two, you get a prize off the bottom shelf, and knock off all three, you can choose a prize from the top shelf.”
I slip my hand into my pocket for my wallet, then hand over a five-dollar bill. Wanelda hands me three soft balls. I roll my shoulders back, gearing up for the throw. I used to be half decent at baseball in high school.
Just as I throw the ball, Cam’s voice startles me and I miss the coconut completely. Damn, I’m so tense and on edge. I haven’t even done anything wrong. I’m out here with a colleague and friend, that’s all.Gray’s little sister.Fuck off.
“Glory, are you not filming today?” Cam gives Glory a hug as though they haven’t seen each other in ages. I guess they haven’t, as she’s been spending all her time with me at work.
