The Cherished Wife

Chapter 14

“Ms. Shaw, don’t fight it. If you can’t avoid something, then just try to enjoy it. Makes sense, right?” Charles’s gaze held a hint of mystery as he spoke. Noe bit her lip, her fight fading. away.

When Charles felt Noelle’s resistance ease up, he let go of her hand. “Hop in, Ms. Shaw.”

Noelle shot Charles a reluctant look but followed him into the car anyway. Charles flashed a grin. “Buckle up!”

Noelle had barely settled into the car seat when she rattled off her address to Charles, then. clammed up, only piping up to correct his driving once or twice. Charles was not clueless and picked up on Noelle’s cold shoulder. Pulling up to her place, he shot her a look. “Remember what I said before? The offer is still valid, Ms. Shaw. Call me if you’re thinking about it again.”

Noelle bit her lip, “Look at you, Mr. Hoffman. You’re successful, loaded, and the town’s most eligible bachelor. You could snap your fingers and have the ladies of Brookville lining up from here to kingdom come. Why bother with plain old me?”

steering wheel, then clicked the doors open. “We’ve arrived, so I’ll get out of your hair, Ms.

push and when to back off, as patient as a cat with a mouse, calculating the perfect moment to pounce or let

but it’s a hard no from me. I just clawed my way out of a mess, and I’m

even given it a shot?” Charles’s

and watched Charles’s sleek Cayenne fade into the distance. She held her breath, her face

too far off: Xavier, looking sharp in his suit and like a perfect gentleman. A sharp pang squeezed Noelle’s chest, her face draining of color. The act she

hands balled into fists, nails biting into her palms, though she hardly noticed. She stared straight ahead, her lower lip caught between

black Cayenne, and

all sorts of awkwardness between them after what had happened and even thought she might resent him. He had not