Noah closed the door against the wind and snow and started removing his outer gear.
“Everything all right?” she asked.
He tossed a snowy boot to the side. “Fine.”
“It still looks awful bad out there.”
The other boot came off and joined the first with a clunk.
“I was wondering what kind of phone you have,” she said.
He spared her a glance.
“I’ll need to charge mine later, and obviously I didn’t bring a cord.”
He named the latest iPhone model—reluctance in the tightened corners of his eyes.
Different type. “Guess I’ll just have to conserve power then.”
The room fell quiet as he walked to the fireplace and began adding more logs. One of those gabby talk shows played on the TV, the kind where the women sat around a table and talked a subject to death.
“If it’s not too much bother, could I use your laptop to check my e-mail and print some documents?”
Without looking, he gestured to the laptop on the end table.
Tension had rolled into the room with him. Already her shoulders were tight, and a headache throbbed at the base of her skull. Is this what they were going to do all day? Ignore each other? She didn’t think she could tolerate ten more minutes.
She tucked her hands into her back pockets. “Noah . . . how ’bout we call some kind of truce or something?”
“I really don’t have anything to say to you, Josephine.”
Once again she flinched at his use of her full name. “I know you’re cross with me, Noah—”
His flinty look choked off her words.
She felt the impact of those fiery eyes clear down to her painted toenails. “And you have every right to be. But we’re stuck here for the day, and this’ll be painful enough without—”
“I know we’re stuck together—I can’t help that. But I don’t have to like it. And I’m not going to pretend everything’s all right when it isn’t.”
He headed toward the bathroom.
“So you’re just going to give me the cold shoulder all the livelong day?”
His only answer was the click of the bathroom door as it closed between them.
Noah leaned against the bathroom counter, his head hanging low between his shoulders. He could almost feel the adrenaline racing through his veins, flushing his body, quickening his pulse. Fight or flight.
He’d wisely chosen the second option, and that was his official plan for the remainder of this nightmarish day.
He raised his head and met his gaze in the mirror. A vein pulsed in his forehead, and his brows crouched low over his eyes, two grooves separating them. His whole face bore the grimness of someone fighting for his life.
Or his sanity.
He pushed off the counter, turned on the shower, and shucked his clothes. The hot water felt good on his tight muscles, so he lingered under the spray until his skin was red, the pads of his fingers wrinkled.
When he entered the living room awhile later, Josephine didn’t even glance up from the laptop. Her fingers danced over the keys, clicking and clacking. Her eyes were narrowed on the screen—her focused look.
She’d taken the same corner of the sofa that had always been her spot. Noah suddenly realized he never sat there. As if he were saving the seat for her, as if she might walk through the door any moment and make herself comfortable.
Lame, Mitchell. Real lame.
He settled at the kitchen table—as far away from her as he could get—and did his bills. He usually didn’t do them until midmonth, but his plan was to stay busy.
After the bills he rescheduled this week’s trail rides, then checked on the horses again, taking Shadow with him. He stalled for time, brushing Digger and Rango and taking extra time with Kismet.
When he came back, Josephine was in the kitchen. A few minutes later she announced that lunch was ready.
He sat opposite her at the table in front of a plate of buttered toast, peas, and potato chips. He flicked a glance at her.
The corners of her lips were tilted up in a sardonic look he’d seen a hundred times before. “You really need to get to the grocery more often.”
Her attempt at levity fell flat, and he sensed rather than saw the curling in of her body.
He closed his eyes and pretended to pray for a long moment before he actually began thanking God for his food. Sad state of affairs when prayer became a temporary reprieve.
They ate in silence, their forks scraping their plates. The refrigerator humming. Time was like a long tightrope, stretching into infinity, skinny and treacherous.
“It’s supposed to stop snowing later on tonight, right?”
He followed her gaze to the kitchen window. A miniature white snow devil danced a few feet away.
“Yes.”
He wasn’t lying. It was supposed to stop. What he failed to mention was that after a few hours of lull it might kick up again. The second part of the system.
He closed his eyes briefly. Please, God. A little mercy here.
“How long will it take to clear the roads?”
“Depends how much help they get.”
He finished his toast in peace, making a mental schedule for the rest of the day. While the tension hanging in the air was punishing him as much as it was her, he couldn’t bring himself to do anything about it. He didn’t have it in him to be nice to her. Or maybe he was afraid of what that might lead to.
He strangled the thought until it was limp and gasping for air.
He grabbed his plate and put it in the dishwasher, along with the pan she’d used to heat the peas. He was leaving the kitchen when she spoke.
“Noah . . .”
He stopped in the middle of the living room.
“I’m—I’m real sorry.”
Sorry? Heat flushed his neck. He turned and faced her. Look at her, sitting so innocently at his table, her shoulders hunched, her eyes wide and vulnerable.
“About what, Josephine? About the fact that we’re still married? About getting yourself stuck up here? Or about what you did—” His jaw clamped down hard, and he turned away. “I don’t want to talk about this. Any of it.”
He threw his schedule out the virtual window. He couldn’t be trapped in here another second. He shoved his boots back onto his feet and thrust his arms into his coat sleeves.
“Come on, Shadow.”
He ushered the dog out the door and somehow managed to close it softly behind him.
He couldn’t say he’d gone into this relationship blindly. He’d been warned. He’d just been too stupid to listen.
Chapter 10
Copper Creek
Three and a half years ago
The savory smell of barbecue and the familiar commotion of a rowdy Saturday-night crowd welcomed Noah into the Rusty Nail. He made his way to the back.
The place did have a certain charm, with its beamed ceilings and wavy corrugated metal walls. The back of the bar was tiled with mirrored squares, making the place look double in size—and customers. He nodded to his neighbors as he wound through the clusters of wooden tables.
He greeted Jack and Seth, then pulled out a chair, taking a few minutes to catch up with the two before they ordered.
Seth and Noah ran the family construction business now that their father was easing away from his responsibilities. They were close. Seth was the younger brother who caused all the petty trouble and got away with it. Noah was the one who lived by the rules and got caught the first time he stepped out of line.
And Jack was the voice of reason of the group. Somehow the young Lutheran minister was a good fit with the brothers. When they weren’t talking about work or women, they were having spirited debates about their doctrinal differences.
Seth started a story about something that happened on a jobsite, but Noah couldn’t bring himself to pay attention. His mind had been elsewhere since last Saturday when he met Josephine Dupree.
He’d comm
andeered the barbershop’s bid sheet as soon as he returned to the office and finished pricing it out. Common sense told him he had to make money on the job, but something even stronger had him slashing prices to his cost. His dad would throw a fit if he knew. But he let Noah handle the finances.
Noah had dropped the bid by the barbershop on Thursday. Josephine—as mesmerizing as the first time he’d met her—was busy with a customer, but she promised to get back with him soon. He’d probably stared at her like a lovesick idiot, but somehow he couldn’t help himself.
“Hey.” Seth shoved his shoulder. “You’re not even paying attention. What’s wrong with you? You’re all fidgety.”
Noah dropped the napkin he’d been shredding to pieces and accepted the Coke from Kendra Stevens. Man, was she really twenty-one? He used to babysit her and her brother.
“Everything okay, buddy?” Jack leaned his elbows on the table, making it rock.
“I met someone.”
“Oh boy. My big brother’s going down.” Seth leaned back in his chair with a smirk. “Who is she? Gotta know who’s turned you into a googly-eyed fool.”
“She’s new to town. It’s the woman who opened up the barbershop. Josephine Dupree.” He even loved the sound of her name on his tongue.
Seth’s lips fell into a straight line. He rubbed his scruffy jaw. “Dude.”
“I know, I know. Out of my league. But I went in for a haircut last week and—I don’t know, man. There’s just something about her.”
Seth huffed a laugh. “It’s called lust.”
Noah gave him a look. “It’s not lust.” Well, he thought, remembering her generous curves, not just lust.
Seth leaned forward, planting his elbows on the table. His brother had the kind of intense stare that could rattle a Navy SEAL.
Something in Noah bucked up.
“Look,” Seth said. “I know she’s . . . striking. Nobody’s denying that. But she’s got a bit of a reputation, bro.”
Noah scowled. “She hasn’t been here long enough to have a reputation. She’s just friendly.”
“She’s from Cartersville, right? Buddy of mine runs an auto body shop down there. He told me stuff.”
Noah sat back in his chair, crossed his arms. “Since when do you listen to gossip?”
“It’s not gossip. My buddy’s friend went out with her for a while. She cheated on him.”
“There’s two sides to every story.”
“Maybe so, but according to my friend, she really made the rounds. He went to school with her. She sounds like a real man-eater, Noah.”
Noah gave his brother a cold look as something raw and protective surfaced in him fast and furious. “Just the same, I think I’ll draw my own conclusions.” He looked at Jack, whose brown eyes had grown somber. “You’re awful quiet over there. You have something to add?”
Jack’s eyes fell to the table. He flicked away a few grains of salt, then clasped his hands on the table. “What do you know about her spiritual condition?”
“Seriously? I just met her, Jack.” His eyes toggled between the men, and he suddenly wished he hadn’t brought up Josephine at all. They sure knew how to ruin a man’s good mood.
“But I’m planning to get to know her better. I’m going to ask her out.”
“Is she going to church anywhere?” Jack asked.
“Not ours,” Noah said. “Maybe she’s going to yours.”
Jack’s lips pressed together. “Not that I know of.”
“Well, it’s a big church. You could’ve missed her.” Though he honestly didn’t know how anyone, even a pastor, could miss a woman like Josephine. “Anyway . . . it’s just a date. I’m not asking her to marry me, for crying out loud.”
Seth turned his hands palm up. “Just don’t want you getting hurt, man.”
“Yeah, well . . . I can look out for myself.”
Noah was relieved when Kendra appeared with their plate of loaded nachos. When she left, Noah changed the subject. Nothing was stopping him from pursuing Josephine Dupree. Not even his well-meaning friend and brother.
Chapter 11
Sweetbriar Ranch
Present day
Needing to make a call to the Hope House director, Josephine turned on her phone. Noah had been gone a couple hours. The conditions outside were still nasty. She tried not to let it bother her that he preferred his horses’ company to hers.
A new voicemail dinged as her phone came to life. She pulled it up and listened, recognizing the voice of Ava, one of the girls from the Hope House. Ava’s mom had passed away, and her dad was in jail. Like the other girls, she’d been anticipating the spring fling for weeks.
Ava’s voice was thick with tears as she asked Josephine to return her call. Josephine dialed the number and waited until Ava came on the line.
“Honey, I’m so sorry I missed you. What’s the matter?”
Ava’s voice crumbled. “I’m not going to the spring fling. Devon texted me this morning and told me he forgot he’d asked someone else. As if!”
“What? Oh, sugar.”
“Maya Pendleton.” She spewed the name out as if it were poison. “Brad told Jacob who told Laura that he really just asked her out Saturday night. He’s such a liar.”
“I’m so sorry, sweetie. You don’t deserve that. You deserve someone who respects and appreciates you, and clearly that’s not Devon.”
“Friday I told him I wouldn’t—you know, sleep with him the night of the dance. He only asked Maya because he knows she will! I shouldn’t have told him.”
Anger flushed Josephine’s cheeks. She didn’t even know Devon, but she wanted to snatch him bald-headed. Sometimes she really hated the male species.
She barely heard the front door open, barely noticed Noah as he removed his winter gear.
“Honey, listen. You didn’t do anything wrong. If that’s really all he wanted, then good riddance.”
Ava sniffled. “But now I don’t have a date for the dance! All my friends have dates, and I’ll be sitting at home watching some lame TV show.”
The sofa gave a little squeak as Josephine shifted her position. Shadow came over and nuzzled her hand until she petted his damp fur.
Noah stoked the fire and dropped in a log.
“Maybe it’s not too late,” Josephine said. “Maybe one of your friends can fix you up with someone. Or . . . I know! One of my stylists has a son who goes to Pickens. He’s a senior and really nice and cute. Why don’t I give her a call and see if he can go with you?”
Ava heaved a sigh. “I don’t know. He probably wouldn’t want to go out with me.”
Her low self-esteem broke Josephine’s heart. “You’re a beautiful, classy young lady, Ava. He’d be lucky to take you. Let me just give it a try.”
A long pause sounded while Josephine encouraged her mentally.
“I suppose so,” Ava said on another heavy sigh.
“Good girl. I’ll get back with you by tonight with an update. Don’t lose hope. And I’ll put you on my personal schedule for Saturday. I can’t wait to get you all gussied up and see you in your pretty dress.”
“Thanks, Josephine. Even if it doesn’t work out, I do feel a smidge better. Talking to you always picks me up.”
“Right back at you, sweetie pie. I’ll call you later.”
After she hung up, Josephine called Callie and explained the situation with Ava. Her friend agreed to call her son as soon as he got home from work.
“Is the shop busy?” Josephine asked.
“It’s pretty dead what with the weather. The real question is how are you doing?”
“Um. It’s all right.”
“Why do I have a feeling he’s sitting right under your nose?”
“Because that is indeed the case.”
“Well, hang in there. The snow has to stop sometime. Hey, gotta run. A customer just walked in.”
Josephine ended the call, then looked up to find Noah’s eyes on her. She turned off the phone as he put the poker
back in the rack and settled in his recliner with his laptop.
She observed him from beneath her lashes, getting a read on him. His cheeks were still flushed from the cold, and bits of melting snow clung to his hair. He seemed less tense than he had when he’d left, thank heavens. His jaw wasn’t ticking, and the skin around his eyes wasn’t so tight. Whatever he’d done in the barn had burned off some negative energy.
Josephine looked down at the schedule she’d made on the paper and began puzzling out how she’d accommodate Ava on Saturday. If Alex agreed, the girl was going to be a nervous wreck. She’d need lots of positive thoughts.
“Was that about your event this weekend?”
She looked up, surprised he’d addressed her with such a neutral tone. “Yeah.”
“I guess it is time for the spring fling. Wouldn’t know it by the weather.”
“I’m just glad it’s hitting now and not Saturday. The girls would be so disappointed.”
His eyes flickered to her, then back to the laptop. “You finally got that day-of-pampering thing worked out.”
She’d wanted to do this since she’d first heard about the Hope House. But in the early days she’d barely been scraping by.
“This is our first year, and it really mushroomed. Hope Daniels teamed up with me. She did a consignment dress drive, and Oopsy Daisy is providing free boutonnières for the girls to give their dates.”
“That’s great.”
After a moment’s silence she went back to the schedule. Just when she thought she had it all worked out, Noah’s phone buzzed.
He pulled it from his pocket. “Hey, Mary Beth.” The recliner groaned as he leaned back.
A sharp sensation cut through Josephine’s middle like a knife. Her heart gave a heavy thud, and she consciously unclenched her jaw.
He was none of her concern anymore. But that didn’t stop her from eavesdropping on his conversation. Wasn’t like she could help overhearing anyway.
“Yeah, he was a little spooked last night. Gave him some valerian in his feed and he’s better today. Wind’s supposed to keep up for a couple more days.”
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