Noah’s Journey(38)

After taking a pull, I tilted my head in her direction. “She’s staying over at the church for a few days until she finds another place to stay.”

Concern washed over her face instantly. “She doesn’t have any family?”

I nodded and motioned for another round for me and Ryan. He sat at my right, Amber’s arms curled around his neck in a soothing manner.

“Is she gonna stay in town?” Alena asked, and I shifted my gaze back to meet hers. “Because I was just thinking I could use some help around the store, and I have a spare room.”

I stared at her in awe. She was so unbelievably selfless. We were talking about a complete stranger—one who was down on her luck, yes, but a stranger still—yet here Alena was looking out for her. Without saying a word, I placed my hand around the back of her neck and pulled her close. She let out a little yelp as her body fell into mine, and I stood immediately, turned her, and pinned her back against the bar. With my chest pressing firmly against her, I covered her lips with my own.

The clink of the beer glass as Wayne, the bartender, placed it on the counter pulled me out of the heated kiss. Staring into one another’s eyes, we both took a moment to regain control.

“You’re so kind,” I whispered, still holding her close. “There aren’t that many people out there that would be willing to offer what you just have.”

“I know what it’s like to feel alone,” she said with sadness, and that’s when I realized there were still things I didn’t know about Alena. “Sometimes you just need to be shown there are kind people in the world. One little gesture of hope could lead to a lifetime of success and love.”

“I promise to never let you feel alone again,” I assured her, and her eyes filled with unshed tears.

I meant it. Never again would I be foolish enough to not appreciate how truly exceptional Alena was. She was beautiful both inside and out.





Chapter Twenty-Three





Alena



“If you keep poking me with those damn needles, I swear to you, woman, I am gonna kick you.”

I looked up from kneeling before Bailey and laughed. I was pinning the unfinished wedding dress at her waist, and on more than one occasion I had poked her hip with a straight pin.

“I thought you loved being poked,” I replied with a smirk, and she narrowed her eyes.

“Smartass,” she huffed.

Just then Trinity, my new friend, roommate, and employee, exited the back room carrying a pile of silk nighties. The things were so hard to keep on the shelf. Apparently the women of Livingston loved lingerie; who would have thought?

“I thought I’d restock the lingerie section,” she said. She was still standoffish with anyone but me. It took over a week of sharing the same apartment before she felt comfortable being in the same room with me for more than ten minutes. She was still warming up to Bailey and Amber, but I knew she would come around.

“Yeah, thanks. That would be great.” I offered her a smile as she walked past me and got to work.

“I don’t think I ever told you how great it is that you gave her a fresh start,” Bailey said in a hushed tone. “It’s truly heartwarming, Len. It’s one of the reason I love you so much. You truly have the biggest heart.”

I shrugged, refusing to accept I had done anything special. “It was nothing. She’s a good person who deserves happiness. She just had to learn that for herself.”

“Well, whether you want to admit it or not, I think you’re pretty damn awesome,” Bailey stated as though it was a matter of fact.

Breaking the heart-to-heart moment, because the last thing I wanted to do was cry, I smirked up at her. “So, speaking of getting poked, have you and Jackson got it on it the barn lately?” Her eyes widened in surprise, and I laughed.

“You heard about that?” she said, lowering her voice.

“I don’t think there are too many people that don’t know about it,” I replied, and she closed her eyes, pressing her lips together tightly. She did her best to hide her laughter, but in a matter of seconds we were both giggling.



***



“What time do you think you girls will be done?” Noah asked as he pulled up to the front of Jackson and Bailey’s place.

Bailey recruited Amber, Tammy, Olivia, Trinity, and me to help prepare the wedding invitations for mailing. So when I walked into my apartment carrying two bottles of wine and found Noah lounging on my couch, I regretted committing to spending the evening with the girls. I would have much rather gotten my drink on and attacked my man instead.

When I’d informed him of our plans, he pouted and then insisted that since we would be drinking, he would be driving us there and picking us up after.