Safe in Noah's Arms Read online

  Kayla’s eyes were glazed with unshed tears. Monica’s vision blurred. Too much emotion. She stood abruptly.

  “Do you wear makeup?”

  “Never.”

  “I thought so. I brought some. I’ll show you how to apply it so you don’t look overdone. Where’s your bathroom?” Kayla led her down the hallway, where she turned on the lights over the mirror despite sunlight pouring in through the sole window.

  “You have good skin,” Monica observed. “Let’s skip foundation. It can look awful if it isn’t applied properly.”

  She took a small jar of cream out of the bag. “Even though your skin is good, you need to moisturize like crazy. Use this every night before bed, got it?”

  Kayla smiled softly and held the jar with the reverence a cream that expensive deserved. “You are amazing.”

  Monica welled up. No one ever said nice things about her. Noah thought the worst of her, Gabe Jordan had chosen another woman over her, and most people thought she wasn’t really that smart, but Kayla was looking at her as though she hung the moon and the stars. This helping-people business was amazing.

  “Okay, on to the makeup,” she said briskly, blinking a lot because of moisture in her eyes messing with her eyesight. “Light and natural will suit you best.”

  Ten minutes later, she’d taught Kayla everything she needed to know about applying makeup for both interviews and at work.

  She studied Kayla’s hair, understanding there was no money for either a haircut or coloring.

  “Okay, this is what we’re going to do.” She pulled out her natural bristle brush and brushed Kayla’s short hair until it shone.

  “It grew in all right,” Kayla said. “After the cancer, I thought it would never come back, but it eventually did.”

  “It looks healthy. See how it shines?”

  Kayla’s sad smile was also proud. “When you don’t have money for junk food, when you have to prepare all of your food naturally, it’s good for your skin and hair, I guess. Maybe that’s the only good thing that’s come out of the past few years.”

  Kayla’s bittersweet smile hit Monica in the solar plexus. On impulse, she threw her arms around the woman. Monica might not be demonstrative, might not hand out hugs easily, but Kayla deserved one so much.

  “The really good thing that happened was that you stayed alive.” When Monica pulled back, they were both teary. “Don’t ruin your makeup. Suck in a big breath.”

  They both did and when they exhaled at the same time, they laughed. Monica had made a new friend. All she had done was put herself out a little and she’d won the lottery.

  Was this how Noah felt when he did things for people? Was the result always so rewarding? She should ask him.

  “Let’s finish your hair.” Monica filled her palm with hair putty and rubbed it between her hands before applying it to Kayla’s hair. She scrunched clumps of it between her fingers and arranged it artfully to frame the woman’s face.

  Kayla stared at herself in the mirror, wide-eyed and happy. “I look beautiful. I don’t look like myself at all.”

  “Nonsense,” Monica said. “The benefit of makeup when it’s applied well is that you look more like yourself.”

  She packed the makeup back into the bag. “Hide this somewhere so your children don’t get into it. Kids love makeup.”

  “Kids love everything they shouldn’t.” Something had clicked and come alive in Kayla. She positively glowed.

  “Let’s go,” Monica said. “Can you drive yourself into town behind me? I won’t have time to drive you home afterward.”

  “Of course.”

  They walked downstairs just as Robert entered the house. When he saw his wife, his jaw dropped.

  “Robert,” Kayla said, voice full of laughter, “what do you think?”

  “You look...amazing. So pretty.”

  As Monica passed Robert on her way out, noting the patent desire and admiration for his wife, she said, “Don’t you two go making any more babies tonight. Three are enough!”

  Kayla kissed Robert’s cheek and stepped toward the front door. “Wish me luck on my job interviews...and on our old clunker actually getting me into town!”

  Robert nodded, his eyes never leaving his wife.

  In Accord, they went to Tonio’s first—it had already been open for an hour—where Monica introduced Kayla to Maria. They had a chat that seemed to consist more of talking about children than about job qualifications, then Maria stated, “We can definitely find things for you to do here. When can you start?”

  “Right away. Right now.”

  “First we have to see John Spade,” Monica interjected. “I’ve set up an interview with him. Kayla will need two part-time jobs. Can you work out her hours around whatever John can give her?”

  Maria patted Kayla’s arm. “We’ll make it work.”

  Walking along Main to the only legal office in town, Kayla said, “I’ve never been inside Tonio’s before. I used to grow most of our fresh produce and then shopped for everything else at the discount grocery store. I can’t afford Tonio’s, but what an amazing place. They have all kinds of products I’ve never seen before. And Maria is so nice!”

  As Monica opened John’s front door, she waggled her eyebrows at Kayla, knowing she looked comical, but she was totally okay with it. She needed to get Kayla loosened up. “Maybe you’ll get a discount as an employee.”

  Kayla laughed. Good. She was in great spirits. Maybe she wouldn’t be intimidated by John.

  Monica greeted his receptionist, who alerted her boss.

  As handsome as ever, even though he’d probably burned the midnight oil last night, John approached, hand outstretched toward Kayla.

  “John,” Monica asked, “have you met Kayla before?”

  He shook her hand. “I’ve seen you around town.”

  John was older than both Kayla and Monica. They hadn’t been in high school at the same time.

  “Step into my office and we’ll chat. Monica, can I offer you coffee while you wait?”

  “I’m good, thanks, John.” She sat on a small leather love seat. John ushered Kayla ahead of himself. Just before he entered his office, he glanced back at Monica. She mouthed be kind.

  He winked.

  Ten minutes later, Kayla came out with a wide grin. “I got the job,” she whispered.

  Of course she did. Once John had promised Monica he’d give Kayla a job, he would follow through, unless Kayla was thoroughly unsuitable, which she wasn’t. She was eager, willing and intelligent. She could learn whatever needed to be learned.

  And apparently, for the next two days she would be learning the ropes at John Spade’s office.

  They went back to the market.

  “Okay,” Maria said. “We can operate around John’s hours, but if he can let us have you on Saturdays, it would help us a lot.”

  “I’ll ask him,” Kayla said, her fingers threaded nervously.

  “No, you won’t,” Monica said. “I’ll stop in and ask him on my way to work. Speaking of which, we’d better go.”

  They stepped out of the store and nearly collided with Noah.

  When he saw her, his expression darkened. Completely ignoring Kayla’s presence—or not even seeing her there—he addressed Monica. “Where were you this morning?” His harsh tone cut through Monica with the heat of an acetylene torch. “Do you think farming is like shopping? You do it only when you feel like it?”

  “No, I—”

  “It’s a day-in, day-out necessity. Plants need to be watered whether you feel like getting out of bed early or not. The work needs to be done even if you aren’t in the mood.”

  Foul man. Monica wanted to bite off his head. “The courts made no mention that I had to be at the farm every day. I guess they ass
umed you would tell me when you needed me. You told me nothing.”

  “I assumed you would be smart enough to know that farming is done every day, rain or shine, whether or not you feel like showing up. I assumed you would be responsible enough to act on it.”

  “If you assume, you make an ass out of you and me. Next time, tell me what you want. This was your mistake, Noah, not mine, but from now on I’ll be there every single dam— Every morning, okay?”

  Noah seemed taken aback by Monica and her acid tone. Good. He should be afraid. She wouldn’t let him walk all over her, especially not after she’d spent her morning helping someone.

  “Listen, I—”

  Monica ignored whatever Noah was about to say, hugged Kayla goodbye and walked away. Noah Cameron could rot in hell for all she cared.

  The courts had told her to report in on the farm when Noah needed her. He hadn’t shared his schedule with her. Was he hoping she would fail? What did he want? For her to go to jail?

  Just inside the gallery door, she drew up short, letting the door nudge her back. Her pulse pounded and her hands shook. The man made her so mad she could spit.

  Olivia peeked her head out of her office to see who had entered the gallery.

  “You’re five minutes late.” The hard edge in her voice undid Monica.

  “Not today, Olivia.” She’d never spoken to her boss harshly. In fact, she had always been unfailingly polite.

  Olivia’s mouth fell open.

  “I will work my butt off while I’m here today, boss, just as I’ve always done. But how many times over the past year have I been late? Twice! Both times this week. I’m sick to death of you and your son coming down on me. I made a mistake. I apologized. I’m paying my dues.”

  She approached the office. Wide-eyed, Olivia stepped out of the way to let her pass inside.

  “I thank you heartily, Olivia, for giving me this job, but if you can’t appreciate me as I am then I will leave. Is that clear?”

  Olivia nodded.

  Monica tossed her purse into the bottom drawer of Olivia’s desk, where they kept their personal belongings. “Good. I’m glad we have that settled.”

  She stepped into the back room to finish baling boxes in which artwork had been delivered yesterday, not too careful today about whether she might snag her dress or tear a nail, ripping them apart with her hands rather than using box cutters, happily imagining tearing Noah limb from limb.

  * * *

  “NOAH?” THROUGH THE red haze of his fury, Noah heard a woman’s voice and tried to focus on her.

  For the first time since bumping into Monica, he noticed Kayla standing in the doorway of Tonio’s, smiling hesitantly. She wore a tasteful dress and makeup. She’d done something funky and fun with her hair. “You’re—you’re lovely. You look amazing.”

  How long had she been standing there? Had she heard him give Monica hell? He didn’t haul people across the carpet in public, but then, Monica hadn’t shown up this morning when he’d needed her and he’d gone nuclear.

  He tried speaking normally, but his hot blood was slow to switch gears. “I’ve never seen you wear makeup before.”

  “I know. Monica showed me how to apply it.”

  “Monica?” The woman’s name came out on a faint gust of air. Kayla had been with Monica. She’d been standing there all along. Monica had hugged someone before storming off, but Noah had been too intent on her and his own indignation that he hadn’t noticed who the other woman was.

  “Uh-huh. She’s amazing, Noah. She got me two jobs.”

  “Monica? Two jobs? Where?”

  “I’m working for John Spade. Just real basic work, but he said if I’m willing to take a computer course then he’ll give me more hours and responsibility, and pay me more.”

  “I’m kind of speechless. I didn’t think Spade had that much heart.”

  “I’m not sure he does, but judging by the way he looks at Monica, I think he would do whatever she asks.” He didn’t like the spurt of jealousy at the thought of Monica and Spade together, not that it made any sense.

  “Where’s the other job?”

  “In here.” She gestured over her shoulder. “At Tonio’s. I’ll be working a lot on weekends, but that doesn’t bother me. I’m so excited, Noah. We’ll actually have money coming in.”

  “I hope they’re both paying you an honest wage.”

  “I forgot to ask. These are good people, Noah. I’m sure everything will be fine. Besides, I can make a dollar stretch for miles. I’ve been doing it all of my married life.”

  Kayla touched Noah’s arm, tentatively. “What’s going on between you and Monica? Why did you yell at her?”

  He scrubbed his scalp, working like a demon to bring himself under control. “Monica really got you two jobs?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Since yesterday?”

  “Yes. Can you imagine? Plus, she gave me a couple of gorgeous dresses and a blouse and skirt to wear until I can buy more for myself. She gave them to me, Noah. I need to dress professionally in Mr. Spade’s office.”

  She leaned close. “Now that he’s my boss, I have to remember to not think of him as just John.”

  “Wait. Go back. I’m still processing that Monica Accord got you work and gave you clothes.”

  She stuck out her foot and pointed down. “These gorgeous shoes, too.”

  “Shoes,” Noah said weakly. “But isn’t all of that out of character?”

  “How so?” Clearly puzzled, Kayla asked, “Why would you say that?”

  “You know. Self-involved ice queen.” Like the girl who’d made fun of him with her friends, who’d turned her back on him and walked down the hall like a princess with her entourage. She had never given him the time of day in high school, and had ignored him for all of her adult life until she’d gotten drunk and hit him with her car.

  “Noah, sometimes you can be so blind and so full of your own worldview.” Kayla put her hands on her hips, obviously ready to defend the woman who had just gotten her two jobs. “That has not been my experience with Monica at all.”

  Intrigued, he asked, “What was your experience?”

  “In high school, I never thought she would give someone like me attention. You know how beautiful she was. The popular kids liked her. When I tried out for the cheerleading squad and didn’t make it, I was devastated. Of all of the older girls on the squad, Monica was the only one who came over after tryouts and was so nice.” She transferred her big purse from one shoulder to the other. “Here was this gorgeous older girl not only giving me the time of day, but trying to make me feel better. I wasn’t a cool kid, but Monica consoled me and then told me everything she’d liked about my routine. She was kind, classy. That’s when I realized there was more to her than she let on. Also, it’s strange, but I got the strong impression maybe she was more shy than she showed.”

  Monica? Shy? Impossible.

  “Why were you angry with her just now? I mean really angry, Noah. I’ve never see you like that before.”

  No, he didn’t usually eviscerate people. “She’s supposed to be doing community service at the farm. You know she did this?” He raised his left arm in its cast.

  “Yeah. Word travels.”

  “Her sentence was two hundred hours helping me out.”

  “That’s why she came with you yesterday?”

  He nodded. “I needed her to fill and carry the food crates. I was angry with her this morning because she didn’t show up. I thought she’d just slept in.”

  “Nope. She was helping me. I don’t know how I can ever repay her.”

  Noah rubbed his beard, ’cause that’s what he did when life threw him for a loop.

  “If you’ll excuse me,” Kayla said, “I have to get back to John’s, I mean Mr. Spa
de’s, office to work out my hours. Monica was going to stop in for me, but I think she forgot. I guess she was too upset.”

  Just before she left, she said, “Don’t be too hard on her, Noah. She did a good thing today.”

  No fooling. Monica had done more than he ever had to further the Keils’ long-term welfare.

  He had a lot to think about. Had his own prejudices, his own insecurities, clouded his judgment and closed his mind to who Monica might really be?

  He wasn’t stupid or narrow-minded. Everyone in town knew him as a fair-minded guy. So what was it with Monica?

  There were undercurrents here that he didn’t understand, and something else going on besides him being close-minded where Monica was concerned.

  Common sense told him he should open his store, but he didn’t like not understanding what was going on inside of himself, or who the real Monica was. He could afford a few minutes to get to the bottom of this.

  Besides, it’s not like there would be a mob of people waiting outside the army surplus to pick up waterproof matches and bug spray.

  He walked down Main, stopping to peer in through John Spade’s window. Kayla gave him a thumbs-up—Kayla, who had a new hero. Heroine.

  That bugged him.

  He was being unfair, but so what?

  He busted his butt to grow food, but all Monica had had to do was to ask favors of a couple of friends and suddenly she was this bright, shining star.

  It shouldn’t bother him.

  It did.

  He stopped at the gallery and found his mom dusting paintings. When he entered, she looked at him curiously.

  “What?” he asked.

  “How are you doing?” She gestured toward his broken arm. “Getting by?”

  “Yeah. Listen, is Monica here?”

  His mother’s expression changed. Mom could be a hard-ass and was afraid of no one, but she looked uneasy. “Maybe you should come back later.”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t know what you did to Monica, but she’s furious. I’ve never seen her like this.”