by Rachel Cade
Maybe all the nervousness she’d had over it had drummed up old memories.
Instead of putting Max in his crib, she’d kept him in bed with her.
He was in the spot Noa had been in.
The thought made her smile.
Lyndie touched her son’s side softly as he slept.
“Max,” she whispered. “I promise I’m going to keep you safe, okay?”
Lyndie knew she never should have gone there that night.
She was still trying to overcome her guilt at her inability to not see Will for who he was until it was too late. And for trying to actually fight Ashley while pregnant.
The cost that she could have paid for it…
“Mommy’s sorry,” she whispered to him, feeling her eyes sting. “I’m sorry for the choices I made. I’m sorry for putting you at risk.”
She couldn’t bring herself to even utter Will’s name.
“I know you must be wondering who that big guy with the tattoos is.” Lyndie snuggled back into bed next to her baby. “That’s Noa. He’s going to be around for a little bit. But… we can’t get too attached, because one day he’s going to have to go away.” Lyndie covered Max’s leg with his blanket. “We’ll be okay, though.”
*
The next morning, Lyndie started her normal routine, going to the diner and opening up.
Everything was especially quiet that morning and smoke still tinged the air from the fire.
Usually when she was alone in the diner right before opening or closing, she would just relax and be thankful to not have to make sure coffee cups were full.
Since late the night before while Max quietly slept, she’d been thinking about her life, her choices, and Vicky’s question about why she’d never left Amber Falls. More than once, she recalled Ashley Langley happily calling her a loser. All of it swirled in her mind, creating a tornado of emotions that frustrated her to the point that she’d barely gotten an hour of sleep.
Now here she was, back at the diner/drug den that was her supposedly safe workplace in her supposedly safe town.
The dream had gotten to her. It was like reliving it. She felt every emotion all over again. Had she really been holding out for Will after everything?
Not now, but then, after Max was born.
She’d been so thankful to get him home. But she also remembered being alone and afraid, not knowing how she was going to be a mom.
Will had used her for years and lied to her without batting an eyelash. Then he abandoned his son.
Would it have been that much of a stretch for him to have something to do with drugs being smuggled through Amber Falls?
Maybe Lyndie had been a fool for thinking that despite it all, Will had a genuine loyalty to the town. He was a snake. Men like him didn’t have moral grounds.
He was just a great pretender.
No matter how he was acting now, she would never forget who he really was.
And she didn’t want him around her baby. She didn’t want him to flip a switch one day in his head and decide he wanted to be a father. Lyndie wouldn’t be able to stand by and watch him pretend with Max.
Instead of preparing the tables for the day, Lyndie took a deep breath and went to the back of the diner and down the basement steps after flipping on the light.
The first thing she noticed was that the room was rearranged. Things were organized, but the crates she’d seen were gone; the only things left were the boxes with their usual supplies.
Lyndie sighed. A part of her was grateful, but another part was frustrated.
She knew what she’d seen.
A noise over her head sent her heart to the pavement.
“Shit,” she cursed under her breath, quickly making her way back up the steps.
Once she was in the front of the diner, she let out a heavy breath.
Noa was standing a few steps from the door.
Today, he was in all black, with a long sleeve shirt again that covered his tattoos. His hair was pulled back into a bun, so the ink on his neck was more prominent than usual.
A slow smile spread over his face. “I saw the open sign. I hope it’s okay to come in.”
Lyndie’s face crunched. “Technically we’re still closed, but… I always forget to turn it on, so I was just getting ahead of myself.”
She was so relieved to see him, and wanted to close the distance between them to hold him, but she didn’t.
“You’re alright?” he asked.
She nodded. “Yeah. What about you?”
“Still kickin’,” he said, making his way over to his usual seat. He crossed his forearms after sitting.
“What’s up?” He peered at her. “Because you’re not alright.”
Lyndie sighed. “I just checked downstairs. It’s all gone.”
“Not surprising. It was just a temporary spot. And I’m glad they moved it; I don’t want you anywhere near it.”
Lyndie rested her elbows on the counter.
“That look on your face is why I didn’t want you to know about any of this shit going on. You’re worrying.”
“I just…” Lyndie licked her lips as she tried to get her thoughts together. “People say this town is backwards and too small and a dump. They say all these things… Whatever they wanted to say about the town, we could always say that its safe.” She shook her head. “What if Mr. Langley doesn’t make it?” The more she talked, the worse she realized the situation was.
“I saw Langley last night myself. He’s a tough bastard.”
“You went to the house?” She stared at him in disbelief.
“Yeah. And I have to go someplace else today.”
“Where?”
“Back to Vegas.”
“Okay.”
“We’re trying to cut this off at the pass.”
“That other MC is still on their way here?”
Noa sighed. “That’s what we’re going to try to stop.”
“You guys are negotiators in addition to being in construction and auto repair?”
Noa laughed shortly. “We’re a jack of all trades group.”
Lyndie didn’t hide her skepticism. “Even if you’re able to, that still doesn’t change the fact that our town’s police department is running drugs. What if they just find another buyer?”
Noa listened quietly, resting his hands on the counter.
“They could, but it’s going to take time. There’s a high possibility that your boss is the front. Aztecs don’t deal with cops.”
“Aztecs?”
“An MC out of Mexico.”
Lyndie wondered if they were why he was going to Las Vegas, but didn’t question him further about it.
“Whether or not Will’s in on it, he has to know.” Her brows lowered. “He doesn’t deserve to be the sheriff, allowing things like this to go on.”
“He doesn’t deserve to be a lot of things.”
Lyndie lowered her eyes from his pointed gaze. A little of her anger began to subside. She needed to focus on something else.
“Can I get you something? You must be hungry.” She whipped around to make him a coffee.
A large hand was on hers a moment later, taking it off the pot.
Lyndie felt her own hand tremor at the suddenness of his touch.
Noa’s fingers quickly laced into hers.
“Just for you.”
When Lyndie took in a breath, it was full of his scent, the spicy musk that she would immediately recognize as his.
Less than a foot away from her, he quietly watched her.
Completely caught in his eyes, she searched for words. “You know every time you look at me…”
“What?” he asked gently when she lowered her head.
“I feel like I don’t weigh anything.” Lyndie licked her lips when he closed in on more of their space. “Like I’m floating in water or something.”
Noa’s finger traced the bottom half of her lip and it sent a tingle rippling down her neck.
He lowered his finger, smoothing down her chin, then her throat, before stopping at her uniform’s zipper.
Heavy booted steps moved away from her and she looked up to see him at the door, shutting off the neon sign.
“Noa…”
“We got time.”
He quickly grabbed her hand and lead her wide-eyed to the back of the diner.
“Where’s the light?” he asked in the darkness.
“Noa – someone could come in.” Lyndie flipped it on. Her words were true, but her body didn’t care, especially when his large frame came into view again.
His brows raised. “That’s my plan.”
“You know what I mean,” she answered with a laugh, unable to not notice how out of place he was standing in front of hanging pots and pans.
The corner of his mouth lifted. “I need you to get a little reckless with me this morning, okay?” He leaned forward and kissed her fully. “With your husband.” His forehead pressed against hers as he stared at her.
No other words were needed. Lyndie completely accepted his mouth, surrendering to it. And welcomed the rush of his body that followed.
The shirt he was wearing molded to his skin and so did her hands as they made their way up his body. The center of her palms grazed over his nipple rings.
One step forward and Noa had her back against the wall.
His teeth grazed both her lips as he briefly separated their mouths.
The sound of him lowering her front zipper seemed to echo in the small space.
He opened the fabric. “This is what you wear to work?”
Lyndie stared down at the red lace bra she barely remembered putting on.
She looked back up at him. “Yeah.”
“All the time?” he asked.
Lyndie could only laugh. And it felt good to do it. He always managed to find a way to melt her stress away. She reached up behind him and undid his bun; his hair fell out of it immediately, scattering in long coils over his shirt. The way that he managed to be scary and beautiful still left her in awe. She doubted it would change.
“No, not all the time.”
He reached into his back pocket. “Is this a whole set or what?”
He pulled a condom out of his wallet.
Lyndie stared at it. “I think so. I haven’t worn it in a while. We don’t have a lot of room in here.”
*
As she spoke, her bra engulfed his vision. The soft brown breasts they held were calling his name. “I’m resourceful, especially when it comes to you. Up against this wall is looking pretty damn good.” He reached forward and tugged her bra cup down exposing her nipple, instantly he felt himself get harder as his tongue lifted over his bottom teeth.
“You want to try something else another time?” he asked.
“You mean with the bike?” Her words halted a bit when the pad of his forefinger caressed her nipple.
Noa unbuttoned his pants. “No, I mean with something else.”
Lyndie watched him put the condom on. It wasn’t easy pulling it down on top of his erection while her gaze made it harder than it already was.
“I don’t know what ‘something else’ means.” She looked up at him, her eyes pools of deep dark chocolate as her dimples shadowed her lips.
“I’ll show you.” He nipped at her mouth, which was just as full and warm as the first time they touched. So many other thoughts swarmed through his mind.
It made him realize this was a mistake, because he was going to think about it his whole trip. “I’ll get something nice for you like some silk ribbons. And you can break for me again and again.” His voice was soft. “Okay?” he asked.
Lyndie’s stomach tightened against his fingers as she whispered her answer. “Yes.”
Noa wrapped an arm around her waist and began bunching her uniform up until her panties were exposed. Her legs were a perfect cinnamon, long and toned, and lead up to hips that were made for his hands to hold.
Only his.
He had to relax his jaw in order to say, “When I come back – we’ll have more time.”
Lyndie quickly looked up from his mouth, nodding. Noa slipped his hand between the band of her underwear and grabbed a handful of her ass, crowding her against the wall and kissing her with everything he had. He tried to drink the little moan that came from the back of her throat.
The softness of her hands on the side of his cheeks while her mouth pressed closer to his caused his closed eyes to tighten. Her gentle touches always did him in. A second later, he pulled his mouth back.
His dick was aching and pulsing, changing his breath as desire consumed him.
A quick snatch with his fingers pushed the underwear down her hips.
“Take these off,” he ordered.
The edge in his voice seemed to startle her, and he felt a small tremor in her hand before she lowered them from his face.
He let go of the uniform only after realizing how it limited her movements.
Lyndie scooted down the wall a bit to get her underwear down.
Her high ponytail hit his waist as she bent over, like he needed a reminder of how close her head was to his dick.
White cotton underwear and a red lace bra; that was very much her.
He would have grinned, but her hand braced the front of his thigh suddenly for balance as she lifted herself back up.
“Sorry,” she began with her balled underwear in her hand. “I got a little clumsy there.”
Noa didn’t say anything. He just lifted her, wrapping her soft legs around his torso. With her face above his, her breath rained down on him as her arms wrapped around his shoulders.
“It’s gonna be quick, but good.”
Noa lowered her body down onto his erection, letting his eyes flutter closed as that perfect velvet grip allowed him in.
Lyndie’s shoulders tapped the back of the wall time and again as Noa collided their bodies together. All of her breath was trapped in her chest as sensations coiled and exploded inside her.
The back of her head hit the wall as she grit her teeth, feeling his hot skin meet hers.
She needed to stay quiet, but she didn’t know how she would manage.
He shifted their bodies and his thrusting got harder and deeper.
Lyndie sucked in air; her hands balled the fabric of his shirt at the shoulders.
She felt her breasts bouncing as she leaned forward to hug him to her. “So good. You feel so good.” She bit her lip against the mewling sound that wanted to be a scream.
Noa grunted, pressing her back into the wall. His mouth was on her neck as he pumped into her. “I can only give you one this time,” he panted. “Make it a big one.”
He held her legs open as her thighs tried to tighten around him.
Each thrust made her body jerk, and she could feel the edge of her orgasm approaching.
Lyndie’s head dropped.
The sound she made was a barely restrained cry. Her hard grasp should have ripped his shirt. He licked the side of her neck, pressing the ball of the tongue ring into her skin.
Despite his control, Lyndie still moved her hips to meet his, struggling not to scream as everything intensified. He always knew exactly how to touch her and when. She never thought a man could know a woman’s body that way.
“Fuck.” Lyndie’s entire face burned with the rest of her body as Noa’s persistent skill made her come for him, like she always did, wild like a like a flame engulfing a flower.
She called out his name, barely able to breathe as it froze her body.
Noa’s hold on her ass tightened viciously. “Babygirl-”
His moan against her neck ended whatever else he was going to say as he came inside her, still pinning her against the wall.
Lyndie had no idea how she was going to get through the rest of her shift. How was she even going to hold a plate or a glass?
They managed to get themselves in some kind of order and still had a half hour left before the diner needed to open.
“If you say it, I better listen, so I’ll do my best.”
Noa was putting his hair back into a bun. He glanced out the single half open blind. “When you look at me…” he made eye contact with her again, “it makes me feel strong – to know someone as sweet as you could trust a guy like me.”
“Noa…” She couldn’t think of anything else to say. His words were sweet, but there was something else in his eyes and something in his voice. She wanted to go to him again, to just hold him close.
“I’ll see you when I get back.”
The knot in her throat only allowed her to nod right before he left the diner.
*
The station was pretty quiet when Will arrived later in the morning.
“Thought you’d still be at the hospital,” Henry said, not hiding his surprise at seeing him.
“I’ll be heading back later.”
“How’s Langley’s doing?”
“He’s still out of it. He has to burns to his back along with the bad smoke inhalation, likely going to need surgery.”
“You think he’s going to pull through?”
Will was aware the other officers were listening. “He’s tough.”
Will sat in his office a short time later. The shit he had on his mind made him wish he still kept the flask in his top drawer.
Did he?
When he opened it to check, he realized he must have tossed it.
His finger hit something and when he lifted it, he realized it was a gold writing pin. Engraved on it were the words Will Durand, Sheriff.
Lyndie had bought it for him when he told her he was officially running for the position.
“You’re going to be good for the town,” she’d said. “I’m proud of you.”
Then she hit him with that smile.
Will felt his body respond to the memory.
No matter what he did, she was always somewhere in the back of his head. No matter how many times he told himself he hated her for having that kid.
Shit.
He had to get his head on fucking straight. Taking back up with Lyndie could get complicated. She already had a history with Ashley and that was one boat he didn’t need to rock. But there was a part of him that missed her. It was why he kept finding ways to show up at her place.