by Vella, Wendy
“You’re a sellout!”
“Sit down, Jed,” Cubby said. “Insults are getting us nowhere.”
“Makes me feel better. I don’t want my children growing up with an extra breast, is all.”
“For the love of God, man, shut up.” Cubby looked frustrated.
“No one is growing extra body parts as a result of genetically modified food.” Dr. Trask attempted to regain the floor, although now he looked a bit tight around the mouth.
Noah was trying not to laugh, Lani noticed. His friends were the same.
“I’m guessing he’s not that bright. Jed, I mean.”
“Didn’t spend a great deal of time in school, and I think it shows,” Noah said.
“And then some,” Newman added.
“What about them aliens,” Ethan said in a different voice so no one realized it was him.
“There are no aliens,” Dr. Trask said, trying to remain composed.
“Aliens!” Jed said. “No one said anything about them. I don’t want to have to get about with foil wrapped around my head so they don’t suck out my thoughts.”
Noah snorted as he battled back the laughter.
“Okay, this meeting is over. We have a list of questions we want answered, Dr. Trask. I will have them emailed to you; see that you reply promptly,” Cubby said. “Jed, you’re an idiot.”
“I love this town,” Noah said as everyone started filing out. “Move it along there, Lani, this man needs a coffee.”
She got out of her seat and made for the door with the rest of the guests.
“What’s your take on that?”
“Dr. Trask and the potatoes?” She looked at Noah.
“Yes.”
“Hard to say, but I think it’s something you all should keep a watch over.” Lani thought about that large camouflage tent she’d found. Could that have something to do with Dr. Trask?
“My thoughts exactly.”
“Hey, Lani, what are you doing later?” Branna asked her.
“Working.”
“After that.”
“She’s not working for long, we’re having a short day,” Mrs. C said as she passed them, walking at a fierce pace, arms swinging. No sign of a bad heart there. “In fact, after my appointment, we’ll shut the shop. See you back at work soon, Lani.”
“I’m coming now.”
“Take your time chatting with your friends.” Mrs. C waved a hand over her head and marched off.
“That woman can’t walk slowly anywhere. Just looking at her makes me tired,” Branna said.
Friends. They weren’t her friends, Lani thought.
“We’re having a baby shower for Willow at Macy’s house. Why don’t you come along? It’ll be fun.”
Branna was serious. First she’d invited her to her daughter’s birthday party, and now this.
“No, but thanks.”
“Okay, well if you change your mind, everyone knows the address. Just ask.” Branna left, leaving her and Noah standing alone.
“You should go, it’ll be fun.”
“I don’t know these people. I want to work for a while, then leave here. None of this other stuff.” Frustration was loosening her tongue. “What is it with you people? First I was at Rose’s birthday party, and now I’m invited to the baby shower. Baby shower, for pity’s sake!”
“You don’t like babies?”
“Of course I do, who doesn’t like babies? But my point here is, I’ve been in town a matter of days and you people keep luring me into things. It’s not what I do. I don’t like to do those things… woman things, people things!”
“Calm down there, slugger. You know that sounds just plain weird, right? Besides, how can sitting around gossiping not be your thing? You do have the 101 handbook for women, right? Gossip is right there on the first page.”
“That’s insulting.”
“Surely not.”
“I have to go.”
“Where? You getting a start on your potato baking?”
She’d turned, then stopped and swung back to face him again. “Are you trying to deliberately annoy me?”
“Is it working?”
“And some.”
“You need shaking up.”
“How do you know what I need, and furthermore why do you care? I thought we’d decided to avoid each other. Plus, I’m none of your business. I work and sleep here, nothing more. So tell your friends to stop including me.”
Clearly she was rattled, as Lani couldn’t seem to shut her mouth.
“It was you that decided my intentions were nefarious and that my kindness stemmed from wanting to get you back in my bed, if I remember correctly. Sex as payment for a room.”
Her cheeks filled with color as she shot a look to the left, then the right. “I can’t believe you said that out here where anyone can hear.”
“Sure you can, and as for knowing you need to loosen up, I can just tell. You’re uptight, and one of these people who keeps all their secrets and emotions close. The only time you relax is when I kiss you.”
“We won’t be repeating that,” Lani said, refusing to acknowledge the lick of heat arrowing through her. “I’m not uptight, and not everyone spills their innermost thoughts constantly. It’s always worked for me,” she ground out. “I’m just not loose like you. I don’t have a whole bushel of friends—”
“Bushel?” He raised a dark brow.
“I have a select few,” Lani lied. “I’m not all chatty and involved in stuff that doesn’t concern me. I move around, that doesn’t lend itself to connections.” She was saying the words quietly so no one would overhear, but it was hard. Lani could feel the fear rising and with it the need to shriek. Fear of forming connections, fear of not wanting to leave, fear of being found by him.
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why do you move around?”
“I like it.”
“From where I’m standing, it doesn’t seem to make you happy.”
“You don’t know that.” This was why she avoided people; they tended to want to know stuff about you, personal stuff.
He studied her with those all-seeing eyes. The eyes of a man who could read people and did so every night in his bar. A dangerous man who was a lethal combination of sex appeal and honesty.
“How can living in your car and moving from one town to the next make anyone happy? People are important to have in your life. Connections, shared moments, friendships.”
“Not for me.”
He rocked back on his heels, hands in his pockets, looking at her, and she felt trapped. Like her feet were stuck to the ground. Run, Lani.
“You sure about that? Because I think you’re lonely. I think you’re also scared and running. I’m not sure why and what from, but I’m sure I’m right.”
The fist squeezing her chest was so tight she could barely breathe. Lani made herself laugh. It came out a wheeze.
“Th-that’s ridiculous.”
“No, it’s reality.”
“I’m happy with my life just as it is, Noah Harris. Not all of us need people to complete them. Some, like m-me, enjoy our own company, so stop trying to unravel how I work. I have nothing to fear, and I’m definitely not running from anything.”
“So you’re completely content with your life then?”
She nodded.
“Lucky you. I don’t know many people who have it all going on.”
“Well, I do,” she snapped. And it was a lie, because Lani’s life had fallen apart years ago and she wasn’t sure she’d ever be able to put it back together.
Chapter Seventeen
Noah watched the expression on Lani’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 Lani.”
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. Lani 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 Lani 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 Lani. 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 Lani 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 Lani 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 Lani 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 Lani? 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 Lani 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 Lani’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 bac
k. “But I’m good, and there is nothing between me and Lani 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.
Chapter Eighteen
After grabbing a box of beers out of the chiller, Noah headed out the front door to where Cubby waited in his Cruiser. Climbing in, they were soon heading around the lake.
“Your pissed-off-ness is coming off you in waves, bud. Care to share?”
“No.”
“Sweet.”
And that was how men worked. None of that “get in touch with your feelings” crap. They bottled things up inside and let them out through physical exercise.
Pulling up at the park, they saw the others there already. The Texans had on Longhorns caps; Jake wore a Packers one like him. Buster wore a visor, and Newman had some kind of bucket hat on and managed to look good.
“The man has style though, you have to admit that much,” Cubby said, pulling on his sheriff’s hat. “But to be honest, I trump the lot of you.”
“There is that.”
Noah carried the beer.
“That better be cold, asshole.”
“Says the man wearing a visor. Seriously, Buster, WTF? It’s not card night.”
“Yeah, loser, man up,” Cubby added.
“I brought extra Longhorns caps, thinking you guys would finally back a winning team,” Tex said.
Everyone but Brad scoffed.
“Joe Trainer is coming to town from Ryker Falls. He wants to check out the Howler, and Fin Hudson is tagging along,” Jake said. “We can show them how real men work.”
That produced a round of hell yes’s.
“You started assembling your potato muffins, Baker Boy? Or are you stepping it up to potato vol-au-vents?” Brad asked.