Far from Perfect (Perfect, Indiana: Book One)

by Longley, Barbara

  “Noah Langford, you son of a bitch!” Teddy shoved him around by the shoulder and poked a finger into his chest. He held a plastic cup of beer in his free hand. Not his first by a long shot. “I just found out who you are.” Ted poked him again.

  “What the hell are you talking about?” Noah took a step back out of Ted’s reach and tensed, battle ready. Adrenaline surged through his bloodstream.

  “You’re that asshole’s brother. The one who broke my cousin’s heart, stole her money, and left her knocked up.” Ted tossed the plastic cup to the ground and lurched toward him with his fists in the air.

  Noah stepped aside.

  “I oughtta kick your ass. I’m gonna kick your ass.” He lunged again, and again Noah dodged him.

  Ted pivoted and took a swing just as a series of pop-pop-pops rent the air. Noah snapped, and his fist connected with Ted’s chin. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a flash of bright blue, a sundress. Celeste. Ted reeled backward, knocking into her. There was a splash, a shriek, and a child bobbed down the river. Sweet Pea ran back and forth along the riverbank, barking like crazy. Another splash and the dog was in the water too. Great.

  Ted scrambled up from the ground. “Jesus! Celeste’s in the river.” He dove toward the riverbank.

  Their battle forgotten, Noah snatched him back by his belt and tossed him to the ground. “You’ve been drinking. Stay put.”

  Noah ran along the riverbank, keeping Celeste in his sights. She was being carried away at an alarming rate. With the current as strong as it was, he feared he wouldn’t be able to catch her. He had to get ahead of her. Celeste screamed for her dad and gave it a squeeze. aA4dy, and he caught a glimpse of the terror in her eyes just as Sweet Pea collided into her. She went under, and all thought left him.

  He dove in headfirst and searched for a flash of blue or the paleness of her skin underwater. Sweet Pea paddled between him and his target, stirring the water into a froth and making it more difficult to see. Noah came up for air just as Celeste popped up to the surface, coughing and gasping.

  “Sweet Pea, come. That’s a good boy. Celeste, grab his tail.” Noah swam toward the dog. She was crying now, but she managed to get a death grip on the dog’s tail. Screams and shouts reached him from the shore, but he kept his attention focused on the dog and the child. Sweet Pea swam close enough to reach. Noah grabbed his collar. He took hold of Celeste’s dress and pulled her toward him.

  “I’ve got you now. It’s all right. I won’t let you go.” She sobbed and threw her arms around his neck. The current had taken them around the bend. Now that he had the dog and the child, he could think straight. He’d run out of energy long before they reached shore if he fought the current. Instead, he let the river carry them, and steered at an angle toward land.

  With only one foot to kick with, and his arms full, they weren’t getting clo/p>

  CHAPTER NINE

  HORRIFIED, CEEJAY WATCHED TED SHOVE Noah around and poke him in the chest. She raced to get to them before things got out of hand, but couldn’t. The whole scene played out before her in slow motion as Celeste fell into the Ohio. She ran behind Noah down the path winding alongside the riverbank. Her heart leaped up her throat when he dove in after the little girl.

  Once Denny and her uncle dragged the two to dry land, the breath she’d been holding came out in a rush. Ceejay put her hand over her racing heart and turned away from the crowd. She needed to gain control over her emotions. God, if Noah hadn’t gone in after Celeste...what if Ted had fallen in, inebriated as he was? She blinked at the sting of tears and searched for Noah. Everybody from the party had come down the path after her. With so many bodies pressing close, she could only imagine what he must be going through. While everyone fussed over the soaking, distraught child, she watched him slip away. Her fear morphed into anger. She located Ted standing a few yards away and made her way toward him. “You moron!” She smacked the back of his thick skull.

  “Ow.” Ted frowned at her.

  “What were you thinking? Don’t you know any better than to poke a veteran suffering post-traumatic stress?”

  “He hit me.” Ted rubbed his swollen chin.

  “You took the first swing.” Ceejay put her hands on her hips and glared at her idiot cousin. “You’re lucky he didn’t snap your head off.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me he’s Matt’s brother?”

  “He isn’t. They were stepbrothers, as in no shared genetic material whatsoever. The Langfords didn’t know I existed until after Matt died. You can’t blame Noah for what Matt did to me.” She had, though, and the hypocrisy of her own words came back to hit her hard. Other than the fact that he’d kept his connection to Matt to himself, Noah had been nothing but good and kind. She’d repaid that kindness with her own displaced wrath.

  Jenny joined them with Lucinda in tow. “I told you Noah was one of those people who can’t help themselves. Being a hero is in his blood.” She turned a baleful eye toward her nephew. “And you...I’d better hear a sincere apology coming out of that mouth once you’ve sobered up.”

  “I’m sorry, Aunt Jenny.”

  Jenny sighed. “Not to me. You need to apologize to Noah, and why are you drinking? As far as I know, you aren’t legal yet.”

  “Dad said I could have a beer.”

  “A beer.” Ceejay cocked an eyebrow. “How many does a beer add up to in Teddy world?” went to the back of his skull.Noah nearly

  Ted’s shoulders raised a notch. “A few.”

  Ceejay shook her head. “You’d better ride home with your folks tonight, or plan to stay here, ’cause I’m not letting you drive.”

  “I’m not twelve.”

  “You sure?”

  Jenny placed her hand on Ceejay’s shoulder. “Go fix Noah a plate. He never ate, and after all that exertion, he must be starving about now.”

  Her daughter had two fingers firmly planted in her mouth, and her eyes were as big as saucers as she took everything in. “Lucinda, stay with Aunt Jenny.” Shooting another glare Ted’s way, she headed back to the food. Denny caught her before she reached the pavilion.

  “Where’d Noah go? Gail and I want to thank him.”

  “I’m sure he went to get cleaned up and change into dry clothes. If you want, you can take Celeste inside and give her a quick bath. Borrow something of Lucinda’s for her to wear. She’ll be more comfortable.”

  “Thanks. I’ll tell Gail. We were hoping you, Noah, and Lucinda would join us for the fireworks. Gail will be heartbroken if she doesn’t get the chance to thank him personally.”

  “I don’t know if—”

  “Didn’t Noah tell you? We talked about it before Celeste went into the river.”

  “He didn’t get the chance. I’m going to bring him something to eat. I’ll see if he wants to watch the fireworks, but I wouldn’t count on it. I think the explosions are hard on him.”

  Denny frowned. “Oh. Right. I didn’t even think about that.”

  “I’ll talk to him, and if he’s up to it, we’ll find you.”

  “Good enough. I’d better get back to Gail and the kids.”

  She continued on her way to the food. Did they see Noah and her as a couple now? One kiss and the whole town was probably planning their wedding. She hated the lack of privacy, hated the way everyone stuck their noses into everyone else’s business. That kiss didn’t mean anything. Noah had been suffering, and she’d reacted, that’s all. Even so, she had to admit, his kiss was the best she’d ever had...and she wouldn’t mind a second helping.

  She heaped two plates with generous piles of everything. With practiced ease, she balanced the load and headed for the carriage house. Ted wasn’t the only one who owed Noah an apology.

  She knocked on the door and waited. When Noah didn’t answer, she maneuvered the plates so she had a free hand to twist the doorknob. “Noah?” she called out as she let herself in. The shades had been drawn, and Noah sat in the gloom on an unfamiliar couch. Come to think of it, the room wa
s filled with unfamiliar furniture. Ceejay flipped the light switch and took a look around. “Wow. When did you get all this?”

  New period pieces had turned the space into a cozy home while still managing to appear entirely masculine. A flat-screen TV had been mounted on one wall, and an overstuffed leather chair and ottoman took up the opposite corner. A thick floor rug with geometric designs in muted tones of sage, tan, and cream complemented the wood floor and trim perfectly, and mission-style end tables flanked a matching couch where Noah s muttered to himself. “Gunny, fire a round into the dirt in front of them.”t cat. He’d changed into dry shorts and a T-shirt. His prosthetic was off, and he was massaging the stump with both hands.

  “It must hurt after running like you did.” She nodded toward his stump. “Do you want something for the pain?”

  He didn’t look at her, but reached for his prosthetic and put it back on. “What do you want?”

  “I brought you something to eat.”

  “I’m not hungry.”

  “Sure you are. I’ll just warm some of this in the microwave.” Ceejay walked to the kitchenette and deposited the plates on the counter. She opened one of the cupboards, took note of the brand-new set of ceramic dishes, and pulled out a dinner plate. “What do you want? I brought a little of everything.”

  “I said I’m not hungry.”

  “I heard what you said, but you never fixed yourself a plate tonight, and then you took that long swim in the Ohio. How could you not be starving?” He’d come up behind her, and she glanced at him over her shoulder. The despair in his eyes had her turning to face him. “You’re Perfect’s newest hero. Why are you looking like that?”

  Noah’s jaw tightened, and his gaze slid away from hers. “Like what?”

  “I don’t know.” She started opening drawers, looking for silverware. “Kind of like you’ve lost all hope. Where do you keep your forks and spoons?”

  Noah moved around her and jerked a drawer open with enough force to cause the stainless steel inside to clatter. “Why are you here?”

  “I brought you something to eat.”

  “Thank you.” His tone was flat and cold. “Now, please leave.”

  “I’m trying to be nice here, and you’re making it difficult.” She crossed her arms in front of her and stared at him.

  “For how long?”

  “What?”

  “How long are you going to be nice this time?”

  Ouch. Even though she had it coming, apologizing to him lost its appeal. “I don’t get it. What’s eating you? Everybody in town is waiting to shake your hand, and you’re holed up in the dark like—”

  “Shake my hand?” A strangled, choking sound broke free from deep in his throat. “For what?”

  “For saving Celeste’s life.”

  “If it hadn’t been for me, she wouldn’t have needed saving.” Noah crossed the room and sat on the edge of the couch. He propped his elbows on his knees and buried his face in his hands. “Please leave.”

  “Don’t tell me you’re blaming yourself for what happened. You’re not the one who started it, and how could you know the child would pick that moment to walk behind my idiot cousin? You’re not—”

  Noah’s cell phone started to ring. He grabbed it off the end table without sparing her a glance. “Hello,” he snapped. “Sorry...now is not a good time, Mom. Can I call you back? OK...thanks.” He set the phone back on the table. “The death certificate is in the mail. Stay. Go. I don’t . First order of business would be s . His care either way.” He shot up from the couch and headed for the bedroom, slamming the door shut behind him.

  She stood frozen in the middle of the living room. Should she force her way into his bedroom and insist he talk to her? Leaving him like this didn’t feel right. She glanced at the piles of food she’d brought. Dammit, she had come to see that he ate and to apologize. She meant to do the apologizing part before she lost her nerve.

  “Noah.” She rapped her knuckles against the bedroom door. Muffled curses came from the other side. Taking her life in her hands, she opened it anyway and walked inside. He was lying on his bed with one arm pressed over his eyes. A lamp on the bedside table filled the room with soft light, casting him in shadow and sharp angles.

  “I’ve changed my mind,” he grumbled. “You aren’t a mosquito bite I can’t stop scratching. You are the mosquito, buzzing around my head in the dark and driving me crazy.”

  “I came to apologize.”

  He lifted his arm to stare at her in surprise. “For what?”

  “For taking my anger at Matt out on you.” She watched the play of emotion cross his face before he dropped his head to the pillow and covered his eyes with his arm again. She waited for some kind of response, anything. The seconds stretched out end-on-end between them. “That’s it? You aren’t going to say anything?”

  “Your timing sucks.”

  “Seems like something we have in common.” She moved to the edge of the bed. “Are you going to accept my apology or not?”

  “Did you accept mine?” He pushed himself up to sit and leveled her with a look hard enough to dent her heart.

  Heat crept up her neck and into her face. Stubborn, stupid man. “Fine. You’d better put that food away before it spoils.” She fisted her hands by her sides and took a step back.

  Before she could escape, he caught her wrist and drew her close. “Oh, no, you don’t. You’re not leaving until we get this straightened out between us. Why can’t you meet me halfway, Ceejay?”

  His eyes were filled with hurt, and his vulnerability tugged away at her resistance. If she let herself fall for him, she didn’t know if she’d ever recover once he left. “I’m not mad at you anymore, but it doesn’t change anything. I’m still leaving Perfect, and I—”

  “And you don’t trust me.”

  “It’s not you, it’s—”

  “Damn straight it’s not me. Why do you want to leave Perfect so badly?”

  Ceejay’s voice rose. “You don’t know what it’s like to have everyone in town know everything there is to know about you. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have to ask.” She tried to free herself from his grasp. His hold tightened.

  “All right, then tell me what it’s like.”

  Blinking hard, she clamped her mouth shut. She didn’t want him to see her as the pitiful, abandoned toddler, the fatherless girl, or the abandoned pregnant teen. A lump the size of Mount Rushmore lodged itself in her throat. More than anything, she wanted Noah to see her the way she wanted to be—strong, independent...desirable.

  She wanted him to see her as a woman worth fighting for.

  Where had that come from? Frantic, she searched for something to count. The slats on the blinds would do. Turning to face the window, she started a silent countdown. Noah took both of her hands in his and drew her down until she sat on the bed.

  “Don’t. Don’t shut me out. Tell me what’s going in that head of yours, honey, or we’ll be here all night.” His gaze slid over her face, coming to rest on her mouth. He leaned in and brushed his lips across hers. “Come to think of it, that’s not such a bad idea.”

  A pleasurable shiver ran down her spine and warmth flooded her. “A few great kisses don’t make me your honey. We haven’t even gone on a date, and I’ve already told you more than once why I want to leave.”

  “Explain it again. Only this time, say it real slow so I’ll understand.” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “You think my kisses are great?”

  She couldn’t help smiling at the hopeful tone in his voice. Somehow he managed to make her believe he really did want to know what was going on with her, like he really cared. Had Matt ever made her feel that way? She searched her memory for a time Matt showed genuine interest in what was on her mind, her fears, or even her hopes. Her search came up empty, and it was probably her imagination in overdrive when it came to Noah. Wishful thinking, nothing more. “Everybody knows...”

  “What do they know?”

  “M
y sad story. My mom, no dad, then Matt...”

  “You still haven’t tried to find out what happened to your mother?”

  “No, I haven’t, and I don’t plan to either. You’re missing the point here. I want to start over someplace where no one knows I have a history. I want to live in a city with more to offer than this small town. What if Lucinda wants to learn how to play the violin or take ballet? Do you have any idea how far I’d have to drive to get her to lessons if I stay here?”

  “You and Lucinda have deep roots in Perfect. You have family here.”

  “Lord, don’t I know it.” She sighed. “You can’t swing a dead cat by the tail around here without hitting a Lovejoy. That’s reason enough to make a break for it.” Noah chuckled, and the sound sent a thrill reverberating through her. “I’ve been thinking about your situation, too.”

  “My situation?”

  “You can’t spend the rest of your life taking care of Aunt Jenny’s house.”

  He let go of her, scooted down so he lay on his back, and placed his arm over his eyes again.

  “Now who’s shutting who out?”

  “I’m doing the best I can,” he gritted out.

  His anguish went right through her. Ceejay snuggled up to his side and wrapped her arms around him. This time, she was the one to initiate a kiss. She’d do anything to wipe the despair from his soul. He didn’t respond at first, but lay stiff and tense beside her.

  She teased and coaxed with her tongue against his sealed lips until his tension eased. He opened for her, and took over. His hands explored her rib cage, and his palms brush muttered to himself. “Gunny, fire a round into the dirt in front of them.”t ced the sides of her breasts. Noah Langford was bliss and heartache wrapped up in one sexy wounded warrior. Ceejay melted into him, savoring each stroke, every electrifying brush of his fingers.

  “I forgive you,” he whispered against her lips, ending the sentence with another bone-melting kiss.

  Oh, God. The way he held her against him, the feel of his tongue sweeping into her mouth, she could become addicted to his touch, to the way he smelled. She was in real danger when it came to Noah.