Scarred Beauty by Sam Crescent Read Free Book Online Page A

and
listened to her, not pretending while he thought of something else. He really
listened.
    “I was nine when it happened.   My mum and dad got into a fight about his
drinking. Dad had always liked a drink. I used to make him a vodka summer juice
drink. Orange juice, summer fruit juice, and vodka. I loved the smell, and he
always seemed to like me making it.”
    Isaac felt so incredibly significant for her to
be telling him this.
    “Anyway, they argued, and dad stormed out. Said
he was going to the shops, and he took me with him. Only he didn’t go straight
to the shops but to the supermarket. I’d forgotten to put on my seat belt, and
dad had been driving. My mum was at home apparently frantic as she called the
police. Dad didn’t see the car coming towards him. He was so drunk he couldn’t
even drive in a straight line. No one was hurt, but I went through the
windscreen on the collision. The doctors considered it a miracle I survived
with the small amount of scarring I got. I don’t remember much, only seeing the
headlights of the other car followed by the crunch of metal. After that I heard
my mum screaming at my dad. Since then, they always seem to be screaming at
each other.”
    Tears had fallen down her face as she told him
the story. He didn’t think Brad knew the true extent of what had happened.
    “You survived.”
    “I survived.”
     
     

Chapter Seven
     
    They lay down on the bed, talking. Noelle left
her shirt off. They held hands, lifting their intertwined fingers to look at in
the light. For the first time in her life she felt close to someone.
    “How old are you?” she asked. Since meeting him
she’d wanted to know how old he was. Glancing over at the clock on the bedside
table, she saw it was gone ten. They’d been together for an hour and a half,
but it felt longer to her.
    “How old are you?”
    “Twenty.”
    “I don’t want to tell you my age,” he said.
    “Please tell me. I know you’re older than I. I
won’t judge.”
    “I’m forty. Old enough to be your dad.”
    “No, you’re not. My parents had me later in
life. He’s sixty years old. I was a late baby.” She ran her hand down his arm
feeling the strength in his muscles.
    “At least you’re not running out of here calling
me a pervert.”
    Noelle laughed. “If anyone ran out of here it
would be you.” She burst out laughing. Her hair was pulled back from her face
where she lay on the bed.
    “This hotel room is depressing. The decorators
really need to upgrade.”
    Their conversation made her giggle.
    The hours passed, and their conversation took on
light tones. They talked about their likes and dislikes, each getting to know
the other. Noelle had never felt so close to someone before. She enjoyed the
easy way in which she could talk to him.
    “Do you have a problem with me being older than
you?” he asked.
    She found his age sexy. He was more mature than
most people she’d come into contact with.
    “I don’t mind your age.”
    “Does that mean you’re going to want to continue
seeing me? We can talk or do something else,” he said.
    “I would like to see you more. If you don’t
mind?” She rolled over to face him.
    “I’d like that. Shall we say the same time every
week?”
    “I’d like that,” she said.
    “It’s getting late. Can I drive you back to your
place?” he asked.
    “Do you think you should? Is that what you
usually do?”
    Noelle watched as a flash of annoyance crossed
his face.
    “I like you, Elle. I’ll make an exception to see
that you get home safely.”
    They left the hotel room ten minutes later after
they got their shirts and coats back on. The moment she left the comfort of the
room she put her hair back over her face. She handed the key back over to the
manager. Isaac stood outside waiting her.
    “I don’t mind getting a taxi,” she said. She
didn’t like the thought of putting him out. Also, what would happen if he came
to her apartment while Brad was there? There were