Nomad's Bride

by Rachel Cade

  Most of the night he racked his brain behind it. thinking it would be easy to hop on his bike and have two or three women doing whatever he wanted. But that wasn’t his style – it was his ego kicking in because he was hurt. She wanted him; he saw it in her face and felt it when they touched.

  It was normal for him to be up all night, but adding sexual frustration to the mix was utter bullshit.

  The blond realtor chick stepped out of her convertible in front of the warehouse where Noa waited.

  She took one look at him and for a second, he thought she’d hop back in her car and drive off. Instead, she plastered a smile to her face and approached him with a bounce in her step, holding out her hand.

  “Good morning to you. I apologize for being late. I’m Ashley Langley. You must be Mr. Cayless.”

  “Callas,” he corrected. Was this a regional thing?

  “Of course. We can start with the outside of the property.”

  “By the time they made it around the perimeter, there was a police car in front of the warehouse parked between her car and his bike. Noa didn’t recognize this cop though.

  “Henry?” Ashley spat. “What are you doing here?”

  The young cop raised his sunglasses, walking toward them with his eyes on Noa. “I could ask the same thing, Miss Langley.”

  “I’m showing a property.”

  “To him?” He thumbed in Noa’s direction.

  “He requested an appointment.” Ashley’s annoyance was obvious. “I’m doing my job.”

  Henry ignored her and turned his whole body to Noa. “Good morning, sir. How are you?”

  Noa was tempted to pull down his shades. “I’m great.”

  “Miss Langley had no idea this property is not listed. Some issues with the State over contamination from the last owners. It would be a legal nightmare to try to purchase it. Not to mention a waste of money.”

  Ashley held her clipboard tight and seemed to look everywhere but Henry.

  “Really?” Noa spoke smoothly. “I had no idea.”

  “Well I’m glad to be able to inform you, sir.”

  Some chatter started happening between Ashley and Henry that sounded snippy.

  Noa didn’t stick around, opting to hop on his bike and head back to the motel.

  Max slept fantastically.

  Lyndie, on the other hand, didn’t know if she was coming or going most of the night.

  She had a day off to herself and instead of enjoying the restful sleep Max had gifted her with, she was playing over her last moments with Noa.

  Then to add insult to injury while she was out running errands, she saw him standing near the warehouse with rich bitch Ashley. While she pretended to get gas, she saw the cop show up. Thank God it was Henry and not Will. Though he really wasn’t much better.

  For a few minutes, she thought Noa was about to get arrested but was relieved to see him get on his bike, the aptly named Deathstalker, and ride away.

  An hour later Lyndie, pulled to a stop in front of Lil’ Apple.

  It consisted of four rooms and his bike was nowhere to be seen.

  Lyndie took a wild guess that he might be in the room furthest from the office and with a huff, got out of her car.

  She’d changed out of her uniform in favor of jeans and a black halter top. Her hair was still pulled back into a ponytail. As usual, she hadn’t bothered with any makeup.

  She knocked on the door.

  Long gone, the back of her mind said again.

  If the bike wasn’t here, he probably wasn’t here.

  Maybe it was for the best. What right did she have showing up here after just pushing him away last night?

  The door swung open.

  Noa stood there shirtless. The ends of his hair were wet and dripping water down his chest. A white towel was wrapped around his waist. Lyndie was overwhelmed by artwork and muscles that were possibly more defined than the ink. Each time he took a breath, the water glistened over his chest.

  “Hi.” Lyndie wasn’t sure if it was a greeting or her lungs releasing captive air.

  *

  Noa held the towel against his hip as he pulled his hair back using his free hand.

  Seeing Lyndie out of her diner uniform for the first time was more than worth the wait.

  The windy day at the gas station hadn’t done her an ounce of justice.

  She was a fucking hourglass, perfectly proportioned. He let his eyes linger on every curve. The sight of the soft brown skin of her shoulders slammed his tongue to the roof of his mouth.

  “Good morning,” he said casually. “Were you passing through?”

  Lyndie clasped her hands in front of herself and the action shifted her cleavage.

  Noa let the tongue ring roll over in his mouth.

  “I saw you over by the gas station,” she admitted. “With Ashley Langley.”

  “I should never forget how small this town is. So that’s why you drove over to the opposite end?”

  Lyndie’s gaze tripped from his face to his shoulders, occasionally dropping a little lower, and it took everything in him to not offer her access to his room for a better look.

  “I was the one who told you about the warehouse.”

  “Over breakfast, you sure were.” He waited, tucking the towel at his waist.

  “Are you trying to buy it or something?”

  Noa leaned against the doorframe, it creaked a second under his weight. “No, babygirl, I guess not.”

  “What happened?”

  “According to the busybody cop that showed up, the land is contaminated or some shit. You ever heard of that?”

  Lyndie shook her head and her ponytail moved with it. “No… that’s what he said?”

  “Yeah. And since he’s cop, he must be telling the truth, right?”

  Lyndie made a noise before her face deflated and she looked down. “That’s how things go around here. I tried to tell you.”

  Noa scoffed, folding his arms. “One monkey don’t stop no show.”

  Her face contorted. “What?”

  He grinned. “You never heard of that?”

  “No.”

  “It means one thing bad thing doesn’t stop you from proceeding.”

  “So that means you’re still going to try to buy it? Do you know how much money it costs?”

  He didn’t answer her.

  A slight movement and he felt the towel slipping. He reached his down to adjust it.

  Lyndie cleared her throat. “I also wanted to apologize for how I treated you last night. One sec.” She went to her hatchback and grabbed a plate off the front seat.

  It was covered in a red and white checkered napkin.

  “I was off this morning and cooked myself some breakfast.” She held the plate out to him. “Hash browns and blueberry muffins.”

  As usual, Noa hadn’t eaten shit and gladly accepted it.

  Half the plate was golden hash browns and the other held three good sized muffins he could smell before he pulled off the napkin.

  Noa picked up a muffin and bit into it.

  Still warm.

  “Apology accepted.”

  “Okay.” Lyndie watched him chew a moment before started back toward her car.

  “Is that what you’re wearing for our date?”

  Lyndie turned to look at him. The curve in the small of her back lead down to an ass he could literally fall to his knees and worship.

  He took a large second bite and swallowed heavy. “The last day of the carnival is today. So is that what you’re wearing?”

  At some point in their conversation, Noa decided to throw slow out of the window. Seeing her now made him realize there was way more to Lyndie than the person he met in the diner. He’d just scratched the surface. And he wanted to know more about this halter top and jeans wearing girl.

  If anything was going to happen between them, she’d have to be willing to take a chance.

  Quietly, he waited for a response.

  Lyndie fiddled
with her hands on the roof of the car.

  “Does Deathstalker have a spare helmet?”

  Noa’s grin couldn’t be contained. “Just for you.”

  Chapter Six:

  Just the Beginning

  A loud gasp filled the porch.

  “There he is,” she whispered.

  Max quietly stared up from his baby carrier at the lady whose hair was almost bigger than him.

  Peggy Luzon leaned forward, waving her chubby hand at Max.

  Peggy owned the town’s only salon and most of her customers were… dying off, quite frankly. She had a unique sense of style and a devout love for Elvis Presley, which was blasting from one of the rooms in the house. Lyndie had grown up with Peggy, who’d been good friends with her grandmother. The lady was as eccentric as she was kind, and aside from her other sitter Ester, Peggy was the only person she trusted with Max.

  “What brings you two by?”

  Lyndie scratched her temple. “I actually was wondering… if you could keep an eye on him for a few hours. But if you’re busy, I-”

  Peggy straightened, the huge hearts on her dress shifted as she bopped to the song. “Don’t tell me you’re going to the diner? You gonna let that Mitch work you to death? Let Jeff come out of that kitchen and serve some of that hash he slings.”

  Lyndie chuckled. “No, it’s not for work. I was just taking a little me time.”

  Peggy’s mouth ticked up. “It’s about time. I’ve been telling you for at least a month. What’s the plan? Spa day?”

  Lyndie licked her dry mouth. “I was going to check out the carnival, since it’s the last day.”

  “The carnival? That’s an odd thing to do by yourself, baby.” Peggy was quiet for a moment peering at her. “Unless you’re not going alone. And no one should go to a carnival alone.”

  Lyndie knew she’d be better off lying or at least skirting the truth, but she couldn’t with a woman that changed her diapers for a time.

  “I’m not.”

  “Lyndie, are you going on a date? ‘Cause that’s the only thing you would contemplate lyin’ about.”

  “Peggy-”

  Peggy’s hands turned into fists that shook. “Yesssss.”

  Lyndie grimaced at the woman’s enthusiasm. “Peggy, it’s not a big deal.”

  “Nonsense. It is a very big deal.” Peggy’s brown cheeks rounded with her wide smile.

  Of course Peggy wasn’t buying her act.

  Inside, Lyndie still couldn’t believe she’d agreed to go with Noa. She never wanted to turn him down, but she just felt… scared. What she felt for him was a little more than like. She knew it when they hugged.

  Then seeing him at the motel.

  Seeing almost all of him.

  Lyndie swore on everything she still had no idea what a man like that was doing in Amber Falls.

  And what he was doing asking her out? She didn’t hide the truth from him, and it didn’t send him on his way.

  “How much time do you got?” Peggy asked, glancing up at her hair.

  “Oh. Peggy, no, that’s okay.”

  Peggy picked up Max’s car seat with one hand and grabbed Lyndie’s arm with the other one. “Come on, Max, we’re gonna get mommy pretty for her date.”

  A little over an hour later, Lyndie was standing in front of a full-length mirror in a borrowed Peggy Luzon Original. It was a ‘50s inspired fitted white cherry print dress with spaghetti straps and a sweetheart neckline. It stopped just above her knee with two generous splits up each side.

  Her hair was straightened, parted down the middle with heavy waves curling the sides of her face and the ends. Catty eyeliner and red lipstick wrapped up the look.

  “Honey,” Peggy shook her head, “back when I wore this, I got anything I wanted, you better believe it. Cars, trips, engagement rings, you name it.”

  Lyndie smiled. “Peggy…”

  “I wish we wore the same shoe size, but you have something that would go, right? It’s a carnival, so I’d advise flats.”

  “I have a pair that will work.”

  Peggy sucked her teeth. “Oh, my sweet pea, you look so beautiful. I know your gram is smiling down on you tonight.”

  Lyndie shook her head and laughed softly.

  “Happy thoughts, happy thoughts,” Peggy encouraged. “Don’t mess up your makeup.”

  Lyndie still had to drive back to her house for shoes then get to Lil’ Apple to meet Noa.

  She couldn’t kiss Max and get lipstick on him, so she gently rubbed a knuckle on her wide-eyed munchkin’s belly. “I love you, lil’ guy.”

  Lyndie hugged Peggy at the door. “Thanks, Lady P.”

  Peggy in turn patted her back. “Have fun, gorgeous.”

  Noa’s goal was to look as normal as possible.

  He found the most boring shirt he owned. A white a v neck he didn’t even know was in his bag.

  The only pants he had were the several pairs of black jeans. So t-shirt, jeans, and boots it was.

  Glancing at himself in the mirror he decided to at least roll the sleeves up.

  A knock came to his door.

  When Noa checked his watch, a smile came to his lips.

  He opened the door swiftly.

  “Lyndie.” He took a breath. “Lyndie.”

  “Hi again.”

  His hand stayed on the door handle.

  His eyes were the only part of his body capable of moving. And they slipped over every nook and cranny on display in front of him.

  “Lyndie,” he said again. Shaking his head, he rubbed his chin and laughed. “Turn around for me.”

  With a downcast sheepish expression, she did.

  “Cherries, huh?”

  Lyndie seemed unprepared for the attention. The small movements in her mouth teased her dimples. “It’s just a dress.”

  Her lips were just as red as the fruit, but hers were 3D. Noa didn’t doubt they were sweeter than the real thing.

  On his next breath, he realized his mouth was dry.

  “Where’s your car?” he asked, needing the distraction.

  “I parked it down the road a ways.”

  “Gotcha.” He went in the room and grabbed his key. “You ready then?”

  She smiled. “Sure.”

  “Deathstalker,” she said as they found his bike parked on the side of the building.

  “I’m sure she’s happy to see you again.”

  “Um… likewise,” she said quietly.

  “Have you ever ridden a bike before?” Noa knew the likely answer from the way she looked at it at the gas station. A similar look carried in her eye now.

  “No, this would be a first.” He glanced down at her dress, and it wasn’t until then he wondered how they were going to make this work.

  Noa gestured to the back of the seat. “Sit down.”

  Lyndie did, and when she tried to push back, the bike shifted balance. Noa reached for her flailing hands, grabbing them. The bike wasn’t in danger of tipping over, but he wasn’t so sure about her.

  “I’m going to turn you,” he said looking down at her, “and you’re going to have to open your legs so I can sit.” Noa kept the smirk off his lips.

  “I guess I should have kept the jeans on.”

  “We’ll make it work.” The sight of the toned bare legs that would be on either side of him soon greeted his hungry eyes.

  He grabbed the plain black helmet from behind her. “This is for you.” Noa assisted her with putting it on.

  “I’m trying to watch your hair,” he said, as her eyes popped through the open visor. “It’s pretty.” He couldn’t resist dragging his finger up her exposed neck, stopping right where her chin hit the helmet. He’d touched her before, their handshake, the hug. But this was different. It was done on instinct, but it was also a test.

  Lyndie didn’t pull away, and her lids cast halfway over her eyes at the touch. She didn’t say anything, but it was enough of a response for him to know she wanted more. Her skin was soft like a
feather and the heat still warmed the pad of his finger.

  Skorpio pointed out that his room was a few yards away and he could easily pick her up off the bike, take her there and show her a far better ride than anything at the carnival. But Noa wasn’t going to pay that part of himself any attention.

  For now.

  He cleared his throat. “Babygirl, I’m not that skinny. You’re going to have to hike your dress up for me to fit.”

  Noa kept his face completely straight.

  Nothing wrong with some foreshadowing, while staying a gentleman.

  Lyndie reached down and pulled the dress up higher, exposing more of her thighs.

  “Is this enough?”

  No.

  Noa licked his lower lip. “Let’s find out.”

  Careful of her, he lifted his booted leg over the bike and sat back.

  Instantly the sides of her thighs pressed close against his hips. The little tremor in her muscles brought a smile to his mouth and he leaned back a little further.

  “You feel comfortable?” he asked.

  “The seat is okay. I don’t- There’s not anything to hold onto though.”

  “Yeah there is,” he answered, looking back. “Me.”

  A heavy excitement filled him that he hadn’t felt in a while.

  “You need to get your legs up.” Noa reached behind and positioned her leg, running his hand under her bare knee to make sure her foot found the pedal.

  He did the same with the other leg, lingering a bit on the underside of her thigh. It drew to a halt before he explored any further.

  “I’ll start slow so you can get used to it.” Noa grabbed his helmet off the handlebars and popped it on. Once the engine started, he felt her tense behind him, and her hands wrapped around his torso.

  “Do you drive fast?” she asked over the engine.

  Noa raised his brow before snapping the visor closed.

  “Don’t worry, babygirl. I’ll get you home safe.”

  Chapter Seven:

  Thrill Ride

  Maybe Lyndie had gotten in over her head. As the rumbling bike began moving over the dirt toward the road, she reminded herself again that he called it Deathstalker. Peggy would likely ring her out to dry if she knew what she was doing. Noa had been kind to her, but she didn’t really know him. And here she was taking this huge risk going to the next town with him.