One Silent Night (Romeo Family Romance #9) - Jennifer Youngblood Page 0,44

line. Holden turned to Noelle. “Okay. Spill it,” he ordered.

“Those women were repeating nasty gossip about Knox and Dylan. They were saying that the fires were caused by faulty wiring. That Dylan hired a fly-by-night crew to do the work so he could pay them less and pocket the rest of the money. The women said Dylan was using the money to gamble.” Fresh indignation spiked through Noelle’s veins. “Can you believe that? The nerve of some people! Where did they even come up with that nonsense?” Seeing the expression on Holden’s face, her blood chilled. “What?”

“Teachers at school were saying similar things.”

Noelle frowned. “Why would people spread vicious rumors? The fires were started by an arsonist.”

Holden looked surprised. “Really?”

“Yeah! Birdie told me so today.”

He rubbed his jaw. “That’s odd. Who’s circulating the rumors about the faulty wiring and Dylan gambling?”

“That’s what I’d like to know,” Noelle harrumphed. “Somebody’s telling a crock of lies.”

“So, the fires were started by an arsonist,” Holden mused.

“Yes,” she said emphatically.

“That’s actually good news.”

“It is?”

He nodded. “Yeah, because it means that Knox and Dylan aren’t at fault. I’ve been worried about them all week, ever since Tuesday night. I was going to ask Birdie about it while I was waiting for you to get ready, but I never got the chance.”

Because you and Birdie were too busy talking about me, her mind inserted. She wrinkled her nose. “Where did someone get the bright idea that Dylan gambles?”

Holden’s mouth tightened.

“Does he?”

“Yeah … or at least, he used to. He belongs to Gamblers Anonymous. From what I’ve heard, he’s doing good now.”

“I had no idea,” Noelle said quietly, a little miffed that Birdie hadn’t mentioned it. “I guess I’ve been away longer than I realized.” It occurred to her that she was cold. Even though she was wearing a coat underneath her apron and gloves, her body was starting to ache, and her muscles were stiff. She clenched her hands to loosen them, as Jeanine had done earlier.

“Hey, you,” a syrupy voice cooed. They turned as Meredith stepped up, looking terrific in a white coat that molded to her thin figure. Her long dark hair was a gleaming sheet of liquid. Noelle felt frumpy in comparison, wearing the ridiculous apron and Santa hat. Meredith looked at Holden, a silky smile spreading over her lips. “Are we still on for tonight? After you’re done here?”

A flame of fury zigzagged through Noelle. Had Holden seriously planned something with Meredith? Her mind did a quick rerun through all of the things that Holden had told Birdie … how he was a changed man and wanted to win Noelle back. What about their conversation by Birdie’s front door? Was Holden playing her?

Meredith hugged her arms. “It’s so cold. I thought we could go back to my place and watch a movie.” Her eyes flashed with triumph as they moved to Noelle.

Noelle raised an eyebrow as she turned to Holden, waiting for his response. He rubbed his neck, looking intensely uncomfortable. “Yeah, that’s not gonna work. I’ve gotta take Noelle home after our shift.”

The words flew out of Noelle’s mouth like sprinters going for the finish line. “Don’t let me keep you from your date. I’m perfectly capable of getting my own ride home.” She shot Holden a scathing look.

“It’s not what it looks like,” he began.

“Of course it’s what it looks like,” Meredith countered. “You and I are together.”

Noelle caught a glimpse of Jeanine whose eyes were the size of golf balls.

Holden glanced at Noelle before turning his attention to Meredith. “I’m sorry to do this now, but the two of us aren’t gonna work out. When you sent me the text this afternoon, asking me to watch a movie at your place, I should’ve responded, but I was too busy watching snowflakes.”

Noelle wheezed out a startled snigger. Meredith gave her a look that could kill. She cleared her throat, drawing herself up to her full height. Her eyes pinged to Holden. “May I speak to you for a minute, alone?”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Holden countered. “Let’s just end this on an amicable note.”

Tears glittered in Meredith’s eyes as her lower lip trembled. “Please, all I’m asking is for a few minutes of your time. Is that too much?” Her voice broke.

Was Meredith for real? Noelle wanted to gag. Talk about an award-winning performance. The woman would stop at nothing to get her way.

“Sure,” Noelle heard Holden say. He touched Noelle’s arm. “I’ll be right back.” She nodded