Page 61 of Saved By Noel
My laugh settles into a smile. “Well, at least you come by it honestly.”
“Now, if you’re done teasing me about familial traditions beyond my control, I need your help with something,” Clara says.
“Not until you tell me the names of your grandparents,” I counter, unable to help myself.
Clara mimes zipping her lips. “You’ll never crack the safe.”
“Give me five minutes on Google, and I’ll prove you wrong.”
She reaches across the table and softly punches my bicep. “Stop it! What’s gotten into stoic Clark today, huh?”
I’m definitely not answering that.
Thankfully, she continues before I have to respond. “But speaking of grandparents, my request relates toyourgrandfather-figure.” That quiets me down.
“Pops? What about him?” I ask.
“I want to convince him to make some wood carvings to sell in the gift shop,” she replies. “You mentioned he used to whittle animals.”
I lean back, clasping my arms behind my head. “I don’t know if we could talk him into it. He’s stubbornly refused every attempt Davis and I have made to get him back into his workshop.”
“I have a plan,” Clara says, eyes gleaming. “I just need you to take me to see him.”
Pops attended part of the Christmas in July festivities, but I think the energy of the crowd drained his. Davis drove him home early for an afternoon nap when he was worn out.
I drive Clara to Pops’ house, Chase practically sitting in her lap the whole way. She laughs and gushes in the sweet voice she reserves for him. I’m quiet, mentally sorting through a pro/con list of acknowledging feelings for Clara.
Con: Trusting people enough to let them in close is not my strong suit.
Pro: Clara has proven herself pretty trustworthy.
Con: I don’t like disrupting my social circle comfort level.
Pro: Clara already fits like a missing puzzle piece into my small social circle. A funny, spunky, gorgeous puzzle piece.
Con: I’ll never leave Noel, and Clara’s real life is in Kansas City. Noel is a getaway destination to her.
I don’t have a pro to offset that one.
When we arrive at Pops' house, I knock loudly on the front door. “Pops? It’s Clark. You awake in there?”
A muffled but cranky voice calls back. “Go away!”
I pound the door again, earning a, “What do you want? Can’t an old man have some peace after a long day?”
“Not today, you can’t.”
Clara steps up next to me. “Hi, Pops. It’s Clara Sullivan. I made Clark bring me over here so I could ask for your help with something.”
A few seconds later, the door opens. “Why didn’t you tell me you’d brought Clara along, Clark? I would’ve opened up sooner.”
Clara beams back at him, her smile the hot fudge melting his frosty disposition. “Could we sit out here on your porch?” Clara asks sweetly. “Did Clark tell you he brought me one of your rocking chairs? It’s my favorite place to sit.”
Pops gives a proud smile before responding. “Sure can—let me grab the pitcher of sweet tea.”
“I’ll get it, Pops, you come on out and have a seat,” I say. Then I add lowly in Clara’s ear, “Mentally fortify yourself to drink the sweetest liquid ever created.” She giggles softly, face so close to mine that her breath tickles my neck. I turn away into the house before I do something stupid. Like brush my nose along her jawline, or kiss the skin behind her ear. Like pull her body flush against mine, or any of the other fifty tempting ideas clamoring in my mind.
I listen to Pops and Clara talk about the day’s events as I grab glasses and the pitcher of sweet tea. Joining them on the porch, I pour drinks for everyone before taking a seat. Pops rubs Chase’shead, and I can’t miss the pronounced curl of Pops’ fingers.I don’t know if he’ll even be capable of doing any whittling.The thought makes my heart hurt.
