Safe in Noah's Arms

“I live to serve.” Despite the sarcasm, Joseph’s tone was also filled with amused affection. Monica had seen him give his wife a pat on her butt or place an arm around her waist when he thought no one was looking.

When Joseph handed Monica the wrapped meat, she blew him a kiss. He slammed his hands against his large chest, over his heart. “My day is complete.”

Maria laughed. “You two are shameless. Monica, stop flirting with my husband. Joseph, stop playing to the balcony.”

“Me and Monica, we’re running away together.”

Maria drew Monica toward the front of the store, stating loudly enough over her shoulder for her husband to hear, “You can have him, Monica. He’s more trouble than he’s worth.”

“Ha! I’m the guy who puts up with a wife with a sharp tongue.”

Monica giggled. “If anyone tried to come between you and Joseph, you would fight her tooth and nail.”

Maria grinned. “True, but don’t tell my Joseph that. It’s good to keep him on his toes.”

Monica became serious. “Maria, is there any way you would be able to hire a friend of mine?”

“To do what?”

“Anything. Working on cash, or filling produce bins, or stocking shelves.” She explained about Kayla Keil’s situation.

Maria tsked. “The poor woman. Every day I thank my lucky stars that I have a good life. Problem is, I can only hire part-time right now.”

“Maria, trust me, Kayla will take anything.”

“Okay, send her to me then.”

Monica paid for her items then walked down to her lawyer’s office. Maybe having two part-time jobs would work for Kayla.

Just inside the lawyer’s doorway, she stared at the empty receptionist’s desk. She glanced at her watch. Of course. It was after hours. But the office should have been closed and the front door locked. She called, “Hello?”

John Spade stepped out of his office, brows raised. A warm smile blossomed when he saw her. He took both of her hands in his and kissed her cheeks, cloaking her with a sophisticated aftershave he had applied with a light hand. Nice.

She liked the scent. Maybe she should try to develop men’s colognes.

A handsome man, polished and well-dressed, John had asked Monica out in the past. She had gone out with him on several dates, but there had never been enough chemistry between them. There was, however, plenty of respect and affection.

Many in town thought him cold. She hadn’t had that experience with him. She’d bet the man could be as cutthroat as he needed to be in business, though.

“Working so late in the evening, John?”

“Of course. The clock never stops.”

And didn’t that sum up John Spade in a nutshell?

She explained about Kayla needing part-time work, but having few skills. “Unless you can give her full-time hours?”

“No. My receptionist, Linda, is more than capable.” He tapped her empty desk. “Though she has been missing work lately because her grandmother is sick. She’s running behind on a few things. I’m sure she could use support with filing, answering the phone, or filling in when she has to take her grandmother for appointments. We can start Kayla on simple stuff, a few hours a week, and train her to do more.”

“John, thank you. I mean it. Kayla needs this badly.”

He delivered one caveat. “She will have to dress well. I have an image to maintain.”

“She will. Not to worry. May I bring her in tomorrow morning for an interview?” She crossed her fingers that Kayla would be available. She wanted to get her out and earning a paycheck as quickly as possible.

“Yes. I’ll be here.”

Before she left, Monica said, “John, she’ll be nervous in her interview, especially with you.”

“Me? Why?”

“You’re polished, attractive and rich. She’s a farm girl. She will be intimidated, guaranteed. Go easy on her.”

“I’ll be gentle,” he promised.

Satisfied, Monica stepped out of his office and took her groceries home. Once there, she got on the phone to a delivery company and arranged for them to not only pick up the bike and parts, but to also bring a box large enough for her to package it in.

By dinnertime, it was on its way to California. Monica crossed her fingers that the repairman would be able to fix it. It was the least she could do for Noah.

After dinner, she got Kayla’s number through directory assistance and phoned her.

During their conversation, she made the determination that Kayla would love two part-time jobs as long as she could work the hours out with both employers.

As far as clothing went, Kayla thought she might have something nice enough to work in a grocery store, but not a law office.

When the young woman started to fret, Monica assured her, “No problem, Kayla. Let me handle that part. I have to be at work by ten tomorrow. Can I come out to your place before eight?”

After she hung up, she searched her closet for something that didn’t look too expensive. She chose one simple gray dress, sleeveless with classic lines, which she’d always worn with a pair of stunning Stuart Weitzmans shoes, but the shoes would look too dressy for a job interview.

She spotted a navy blue wrap dress that would look good with Kayla’s dark hair. Both dresses would be about an inch too long for Kayla, but that was no big deal.

A plain white blouse and black pencil skirt rounded out the wardrobe. She tucked them all into a suit bag then loaded a cosmetic bag with shades of makeup she thought might suit Kayla, along with other items she suspected the woman would need. In her jewelry box, she found a simple gold chain and a bangle bracelet.

She had one pair of black ballet flats that Kayla could wear with all three outfits. They would have to do for now. Once Kayla made some money, she could fill out her wardrobe herself.

CHAPTER FOUR

THE FOLLOWING MORNING, Monica showered, put everything into the car and drove out to the Keil farm. She carried her goodies to the door.

When Kayla answered her knock, her flat expression quickly turned into a smile. “I didn’t think you would really come.”

“Of course I came,” Monica replied. “I said I would, didn’t I?”

“This is so kind of you.”

Monica waved away that comment. “You need a little help. I can give it.” She stepped into the house while Kayla eyed her packages.

“Can we go to your bedroom so you can try this stuff on?”

“Yes! Follow me.”

Once upstairs in Kayla’s very tidy bedroom, Monica took the clothes out of their plastic sleeve. Kayla gasped.

“Oh, this is beautiful. It’s all so classy.” She touched the linen of one dress reverently. “Too classy for me. This will never work.”

“Strip,” Monica ordered. “Let’s see how it looks on you before we decide whether it works.”

The dress pulled a bit tightly at Kayla’s middle—she’d had three children, after all—but other than that, it fit.

Noah was right. With the cancer, she’d lost the plumpness that had made her so pretty. But all was not lost. Monica knew her way around hair and makeup. She could bring out Kayla’s beauty.

Monica slipped the simple gold chain over Kayla’s neck and then added the bangle to her wrist. “If you have a dressy little watch, wear it. Otherwise, if what you have looks too old, keep it in your purse. Personally, I don’t like watches, but we have to be on time for work, don’t we?”

Shell-shocked, Kayla nodded.

“Try on the shoes. I hope they fit.”

Kayla slipped them on. They were slightly too long. Monica stuffed the toes with tissues. “This will have to do until you can afford to buy a pair.”

Kayla stared at herself in the cheap full-length mirror on the back of the bedroom door.

“Oh,” Kayla breathed. “I look so good. I’ll have to buy pantyhose.”

“No,” Monica ordered after a horrified gasp. “Never, ever, wear pantyhose in the summertime.”

“But my legs are so pale.”

“That’s okay. Use baking soda to exfoliate then moisturize. Cheap skin cream will do for your legs. Just make sure they shine. Got it?”

Kayla smiled. “Got it, boss.”

A small grin tugged at Monica’s mouth. She liked Kayla’s pluckiness.

“How long may I borrow all of this?” Kayla smoothed the dress over her hips. “It will take me a few weeks to be able to purchase an outfit. We have heavy debts.”

“Oh, I’m not lending it to you. It’s yours to keep.” Monica picked up the bag of makeup she’d packed and stepped toward the hallway to find the washroom. When Kayla didn’t follow, she stopped.

“You can’t,” Kayla said.

“I can’t what?”

“You can’t just give all of this to me. It’s too expensive.”

Monica set down the stuff she’d been fiddling with. “Okay, listen, Kayla. Every day I’m aware of how fortunate I am. The worst thing that ever happened to me was Billy’s death.”

She sat down on the bed, because she couldn’t talk about him without getting sad. Kayla sat beside her and tentatively put her arm around Monica’s shoulders. Monica leaned into her for a moment and then rallied. “But I have a roof over my head and enough food to eat. I have nice clothes because my dad used to spoil me. I don’t let him anymore. These days, I’m making my own way in the world.”

She touched Kayla’s knee. “But you...you are dealing with hardships I hope I never have to face. You should be given a helping hand. What Noah is doing for you is wonderful, but it isn’t enough. You need big changes to see you through to a better future and I’m trying to see that you get them.”

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 assumed 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.”