I take it from him. “What’s this?”
“Your contract.”
My brow furrows as I read through the very legal document that bares my signature and Noel’s on the bottom. “I don’t understand.”
Mike shrugs. “It basically says if you don’t follow through with seeing this charity project through Black Falcon can sue you.”
“Me?” I nearly shriek. “He wouldn’t…”
“I think you underestimate how far Noel will go to get his way.”
That selfish son-of-a-bitch. Sue me? Is he seriously stooping to this level? I’m going to kill him. I rub my face as my pulse races under my skin. “Where is he? The bus?”
Mike nods and grabs my suitcase. “Come on, I have the Escalade parked out front.”
After we get settled into the SUV and get on the road, I notice Mike glances at me every couple of seconds. His concern is sweet and I appreciate it, but right now I’m too pissed to even speak without yelling. I map out in my mind exactly what I’m going to say to Noel. Every vulgar curse word I know pops into my head at least once. I can’t believe he has the nerve to pull this shit.
Mike parks near Big Bertha and shuts the engine off. “Take it easy on the guy, Lanie. He’s desperate to keep you around.”
I pick at my nail to keep from looking at Mike’s face. He works for Black Falcon, so of course he’s going to take Noel’s side. “Thanks for the ride, Mike. I hope this won’t take too long. There’s a flight back to New York tonight with my name on it.”
He chuckles. “I won’t hold my breath. Noel usually gets what he wants.”
I roll my eyes as I open the door. “So I’ve heard.”
Mike beats me to the back of the SUV and hands over my luggage. “See you around.”
More than anything, I want to laugh and bet him he’ll be surprised with just how little Noel will get his way with me, but I don’t. I don’t want to sound bitter and childish. Instead, I wave to him and pop the handle on my suitcase.
Trip and Tyke open the door to the bus and step out onto the pavement. Trip notices me and elbows Tyke. They both stand there waiting for me to approach. This could be bad. It looks like they want to guard the door and not let me on.
I tilt up my chin when I’m within a couple feet from them. I’m getting on that bus to give Noel Falcon a piece of my mind and those two aren’t going to stop me. “Hey, guys. Noel in there?”
Trip grins. “Nice! You’re still coming with us. This should be interesting.”
I shake my head. “I just have some…business with Noel.”
Tyke looks concerned while Trip appears absolutely delighted.
I run my fingers through my hair and start towards the door. Tyke places a hand tentatively on my forearm. “Are you sure you want to do that, Lanie?”
I stop and tilt my chin up. “I appreciate your concern, Tyke, but I can handle Noel.”
He removes his hand and nods before patting his brother on the back. “Come on, bro. Riff’s not in there, so I think it’s safe to let her in.”
They part and Trip motions me by with a grand sweep of his arm.
I fling open the door and my suitcase bangs against each step as I make my way up. Noel’s sitting on the edge of one of the captain’s seats strumming his guitar. He doesn’t even bother to help me with my bag as I lug it inside.
Jerk.
I fold my arms and stand there, ready for a fight, but he just keeps playing that stupid guitar like I’m not even there. He closes his eyes and hums to the melody like he’s trying to figure out the lyrics. I remember him doing this very same thing when we dated before. Noel licks his lips and then slides the bottom one between his teeth. It’s a simple move, but it’s unbelievably sexy. The need to feel his skin on mine causes my pulse to kick up a notch.
Damn him. He’s doing this to me on purpose.
I reach over and wrap my fingers around the neck of his guitar, cutting off its sound. Noel opens his blue eyes and grins in that sexy way that makes me weak in the knees. “Oh, hey, Lane, I didn’t see you there. You can go ahead and take your stuff on back to the bedroom.”
Is he serious right now? “Do you think this is some kind of game, Noel?”
He rests his arms causally on the guitar—tattoos directly in my line of site—fully on display. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m simply directing a guest, slash employee, where to store her personal belongings. Don’t see much of a game in that.”
I throw my arms up. “You’re unbelievable! You know that? If you think for one minute that you can force me to stay here, you’ve—”
In one swift move, Noel leans the guitar against the wall and stands directly in front of me. Damn these tight—spaced buses. He reaches down and grabs my bag. I try to swat away his hands, but he’s too quick.
I stay hot on his heels as he starts down the hallway. “Give me back my stuff.”
“No,” he says before he unzips the suitcase, takes two more steps, and then dumps all the contents on the bed.
The clothes, make-up, and other personal items land in a messy heap on the bed. “You asshole! Why did you do that?”
His eyes meet mine. “Because the sooner you see you aren’t going anywhere the better.”
I snatch the clothing into my arms. Noel smirks at me as he shoves my bag behind his back. I scowl at him. "What's your problem? Give it to me."