“What are you doing?” he laughed.
“Vocal warm-ups.”
“You sound like an angry turtle.”
She flipped him off.
Nick chuckled as he got his stuff set up. When he finally stood up, guitar in hand, Noel glanced his way. “You ready?”
“Sure. What’s the set list?”
“The same one my parents performed every year,” Noel said softly.
Nick watched her expression, searching for any sheen of tears, but she looked away from him, down at the mic.
Holly handed him sheet music for “Holly Jolly Christmas”。
“I’ll get you a copy of the set list and a flash drive of the music so you can practice.”
“Thanks, sis.”
Merry counted them off and launched into a steady drumbeat. When Noel missed her cue, they stopped playing.
“Noel?” Merry called. “You ready, sweets?”
Noel’s knuckles were white, she gripped the mic so hard. Nick took a step toward her, but she shook her head. “I’m ready. Really. Let’s go again.”
Merry flashed him a concerned look but counted off once more.
Noel’s smooth soprano sang “Have a holly, jolly Christmas,” all while tapping the side of her leg. Nick almost missed a chord, surprised at how amazing she sounded. He’d heard her sing during caroling when they were younger and the occasional humming after her parents passed, but now she sang with confidence. Slowly a bright smile spread across her face. Her cheeks deepened to a rosy hue and he couldn’t take his eyes off her.
When she got to the bridge, Nick added his vocals with hers and she turned his way, her eyes sparkling. They finished directly facing each other, both breathing hard, and Holly whooped.
“That was great!”
Noel laughed breathlessly. “Yeah it was.”
“You two sound awesome together,” Merry piped in, a sheepish grin on her face.
Nick ignored her, his attention on Noel. “What’s next?”
“‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside.’”
It was his mother’s favorite song and Nick knew the chords without sheet music. “Let’s do it.”
Merry led them in again and to Nick’s surprise, Noel took the mic off the stand and sashayed over to him. Only a few inches separated them as they sang the duet, eyes locked. When Nick sang about her lips, he took a step toward her.
Noel leaned into him, swaying close enough he could feel her body heat. Their voices trailed off on the last line and a heavy silence fell around them, their breathing the only sound in the room. Nick’s body hummed with adrenaline and tingles spread across his skin as Noel’s hand pressed against his arm.
“You two look like you’re about to jump each other,” Holly said, breaking the spell.
Noel fled back to her podium like she had wings on her feet. By the expression on her face, he could tell she was just as caught up as he was.
“Should we move onto the next song or do that one again?” Merry asked.
Nick shot her a glare, wondering if his mother would actually miss her middle child. “I think we got it.”
Chapter 12
NOEL
A sudden weight dropped down on Noel’s bed, startling her out of sound sleep. She sat up with a gasp, blinking against the bright light surrounding her.
“Wake up, woman, we have a date!” Gabby crowed.
Noel groaned, rolling away from her bestie. “Ten more minutes. I spent all night calming pregnant women and helping deliver beautiful babies.”
Gabby shook her shoulder. “Which is commendable, but still doesn’t change the fact that we made plans for Tuesday, December First. I even let you sleep in an extra hour!”
Noel glanced at the clock. “One p.m. Thanks for that.”
“You’re welcome.” Gabby gave her a smack on her rear. “Now stow the sarcasm and get up! It’s time to shit, shower, and shove off.”
Noel laughed hoarsely, despite every nerve ending in her body dying to go back to bed. They’d made plans to do some Christmas and wedding shopping, but six hours of sleep didn’t feel like enough. This overnight schedule was kicking her rear. Thank God it would only be a few weeks, until her coworker, Laura, returned from vacation.
“That sounds like something your dad would say,” Noel remarked.
“Daddy taught me how to curse and change a tire and Mama taught me everything else. Now scoot!”
Slowly Noel crawled out of her bed and did as Gabby commanded. As she absently washed her hair, she hummed softly to herself. Before she realized it, she was singing “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.” Noel knew it was Victoria’s favorite song, but Noel had never really cared for it until recently. Hearing Nick’s voice in her head, crooning to her. His baritone washing over her body like the warm water sliding down her frame.