Noah watched the expression on Lucy’s face move from fear to sadness. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“You didn’t.” The words sounded choked, which told him tears were next.
“Hey,” he touched her arm. “I’m sorry, I’m just worried about you. Plus, there’s that chemistry between us that’s pretty strong.”
“No, it’s not,” she said slowly, as if she was convincing herself as well as him. “No chemistry, we just scratched an itch.”
“Oh, there definitely is chemistry.”
“I have to go to work. Mrs. C has an appointment.”
“Running only works for so long.”
Her eyes widened, the fear back, and it made the hair on the back of his neck stand. She was definitely running from something.
“I’m not running.”
Noah fought the need to pull her into his arms. His eyes nearly crossed with the effort. He wanted to comfort her, and yes, feel her body pressed to his. Instead he watched her walk away from him and battled with the urge to follow.
He couldn’t get that night out of his head, nor could he stay away from her when she was close. She was like some kind of human magnet to him.
“She’s at least going to stay above the shop for a few days.” Mrs. C joined him.
“I thought you just passed us.”
“I doubled back to talk to you because I knew you were worried about Lucy.”
Noah didn’t like the look in the woman’s eyes.
“I’m just concerned, as I would be for anyone sleeping in their car, Mrs. C.”
“Of course.” She patted his cheek, which did nothing to soothe him. “I worry about her too. Lucy is a sweet girl, but closed up tight. There’s a healthy dose of fear inside her, but she hides it well.”
Noah didn’t like to think of Lucy scared, but knew she was; he’d seen it himself.
“What do you think her deal is, Mrs. C?”
“In my opinion she’s been hurt badly, but not only that, I think she’s running from something. My Hank agrees. He said that someone has put the fear of God into that girl, and it hurts to see it. He’s insightful, my Hank.”
“Always said it,” Noah said with his eyes still on Lucy. She’d nearly reached the Howlery. “I’m sure she’s running too.” It all added up, especially now he’d seen in the back of her Bronco. It was fitted out with everything she needed to survive.
“I think we need to keep her here, Noah. I’m just not sure how yet.”
“It won’t be easy.” His heart leapt at the thought of Lucy living in Lake Howling, and he convinced himself that was simply because she’d be safe here. It was nothing to do with the fact he wanted her, badly.
“I know that too, but I’m sure you’ll think of something.”
“I have absolutely no idea what that means.”
“Yes, you do.” She patted his cheek again before marching away. Noah had a really uncomfortable feeling that he’d let Mrs. C know how much Lucy disturbed him. He just wasn’t sure when or how he’d done it. Further to that, did anyone else think that way?
Moving his feet, he walked to where his friends all stood talking.
“Want a game?” Buster said.
“Yes,” he replied instantly. “When?”
“Park, in fifteen.”
“Cubby?”
“I’m in.”
“Texans?”
“Yup,” they both said.
“McBride, Newman?” Buster asked. Both nodded.
It seemed everyone was in need of some man time and a bit of rough play. He went back to the Howler to check everything was ready for the evening shift, then went up to his room to change.
“Hey, you.” Faith was just wandering out of hers looking glammed up for her night out.
“Hey, you.”
They had the rear part of the hotel to themselves. A living area, small kitchenette, two bedrooms, and a bathroom.
“You look nice, who are you dating again?”
“No one you know.”
“I’m going to play ball with the guys, call if you need me.”
She shuddered. “I won’t, and don’t come back broken or bruised.”
“Have a little faith… Faith.” She rolled her eyes.
“Can I ask you something, Noah?”
“Anything.” She wandered into his room as he stripped off his good T-shirt and replaced it with an old T-shirt. It would likely end up shredded.
“You got a thing for Lucy Sullivan?”
He tripped on the edge of the shoe he’d just toed off and landed face-first on his bed.
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
“What? No way. I don’t even know the woman. Why would you say that?” Noah turned over and sat on the bed, all casual like. His heart was thudding but Faith couldn’t see that. Grabbing his worn sneaker’s, he slipped on one, then bent to tie the laces, thereby hiding his expression.
“I know that, and it’s confusing me, to be honest. I mean, from what I gather you haven’t even had time to get her into bed—”
“Jesus, you make me sound like I’m this guy who prowls about the place hunting woman down to sleep with him.”
“Noah, Noah, Noah,” she said in that way that really pissed him off, a sanctimonious I’m-smarter-than-you tone. “You make her jittery, and she makes you nervous.”
“You’ve been reading too many of those romances again. Seriously, go buy a horror or something.”
She leaned on his doorjamb, which was a sign she was settling in for a nice long chat. Noah got off the bed and went to his closet and dug out his Packers cap.
“I know when you’re trying to distract me, Noah, and I’ve also seen the way you look at her. All big bad wolf.”
“And that’s just plain insulting.”
“I think she’s scared for some reason. I also think she’s been living in her car.”
Why was everyone picking today to confront him with Lucy? First Mrs. C, and now Faith.
“How do you know that?”
“I saw in the back window the other day when the curtains were opened a crack.”
“So you looked?”
“Of course.” She showed no remorse.
“Faith, I’m saying this once, and once only. I’m not interested in Lucy Sullivan. I think she’s nice, but you’ve seen the way she dresses. She’s not for me.”
“What does the way she dresses have to do with anything?” Faith had her hands on her hips now, glaring at him. “Are you seriously that shallow a pair of baggy jeans and a cap would put you off?”
“Yes,” he lied, wanting to throw her off the scent. “But if there were something between us, which there isn’t, it would be over soon because she’s leaving Howling.”
“I just think that having a casual date or two before she does would be good for you. I’m not asking you to form a lifelong commitment to her, just get back into the game.”
“I’ve been in the game,” he gritted out.
“But not with the right kind of woman.”
“There’s a kind?” He was getting seriously pissed off now.
“Although I do think Lucy’s vulnerable and can be easily hurt, so you’d need to make sure not to do that.”
“It’s insulting that you’d think I’d hurt her, Faith.”
“Not intentionally.”
“Don’t you think I can be hurt too?”
“Oh, Noah.” She pushed off the doorway and came closer. “I know you can and still are after what that horrible woman did to you.”
“Samantha’s not the bad guy, Faith. She did what she did because of what happened. It was hard on both of us, especially when we realized we didn’t love each other anymore.”
“She changed you.”
He held up a hand and hated that it was shaking. “We’ve talked around this subject for years, and I’m done with it. Let it go; I have.”
“Have you? Is that why you react weird every time one of your friends is ready to give birth?”
She knew him better than anyone, and that wasn’t always a good thing.
“Whatever. I don’t have time for this, the guys are waiting.”
He walked by her, but she grabbed his arm, hauling him in for a hug.
“You know I talk like this because I love you, right?”
“I know.” He relented and hugged her back. “But I’m good, and there is nothing between me and Lucy Sullivan.”
“Okay, if you say so.” She kissed his cheek. “Now go out and have fun.”
Noah ran down the stairs, needing to put distance between himself and… hell, he didn’t even know what. He knew some of what Faith said about his time with Samantha was true, it had changed him, but he’d relegated that to a dark place inside his head that he never revisited unless someone forced him to.
Lately that was far too often.