“Nurse Jacobs. What are you doing here?” Mr. Williams waved at her. His cheeks were ruddy from the cold, yet a twinkle glimmered in his eyes, and he never seemed happier.
She held up the bag of meds. “Dr. Fitzroy sent me over. Sorry, I’m so late.”
“That’s okay. My pal took me out on the lake.” He hiked a thumb at Noah.
“Is that right.” She avoided making eye contact but now allowed her gaze to shift his way. Yep, he looked the same, super hot, even with an ugly hat on his head and ice clinging to his beard.
“You two look frozen. Going on the lake in winter isn’t such a good idea, especially for you, Mr. Williams.” She studied the elderly man for signs of illness. “You did have pneumonia last month.”
He shrugged. “The lungs are old, though the spirit is strong.”
Speaking of spirits. The beer bottle clutched in his hand hadn’t escaped her notice. Lips pressed into a thin line, she kept her disapproval to herself. Scolding either man was pointless as Noah jumped onto the pier. Unsure of herself and him, she backed up all the way to the other side of the pier. Another step and she would’ve slipped into the lake, leaving Noah to rescue her again. Oh, what joy.
He tied off the boat and then climbed back on. “Time to get you home.”
Noah picked up the elderly man carefully and swung one leg, made sure he had his footing, then swung the other over the side of the boat. He landed solidly, his jeans pulling tight over his bunched thigh muscles. Yet, he carried the burden with little effort. She couldn’t help but remember those same arms hauling her onto his lap to straddle him. Now was not the time for her pussy to clench. Too bad she had no control over it.
Kensley expected him to set Mr. Williams back in his chair. Instead, he walked past the wheelchair and up the dock.
“Where are you going with him?”
Noah stopped and turned slowly, his gaze impersonal. “I’m taking him back to his home. Bring the wheelchair if it’s not too heavy for you if you care to help.”
If I care to help? No, I’m here for the view. She unlocked the wheelchair and followed behind them. He carried Mr. Williams effortlessly, his walk steady, his back erect. His natural swagger in full effect. No man should be that sexy, especially when he wasn’t even trying. And her damn libido wasn’t helping. Her pussy was slick and hollow and hard to ignore. But, ignore it, she would. Their two-night sexcapade was over.
Noah waited by the front door for her to bring the chair. She rolled up and held the handle while Noah set Mr. Williams’ on the cushioned seat. Once the front door was unlocked, Noah took over and pushed him into the house. He navigated around the stacks of magazines and newspapers Mr. Williams refused to throw away. He’d been here before. How many times? she wondered. And when had they become friends?
“Thanks for the outing, Noah. Same time next week?” Mr. Williams rolled his chair into the middle of his living room.
Hands in his coat pockets, Noah nodded and rocked on his feet. “If the weather holds. I’ll call to let you know if anything changes.”
Mr. Williams grinned. Ten years seemed to melt away, letting her glimpse the handsome man he used to be. “You going hunting any time soon? That deer meat you brought me last time was tasty.”
“I can do that. Night.” They shook hands, and Noah headed for the door, having said two sentences to her. She should be happy, ecstatic at not having a conversation with him. So why was she pissed?
Well, more pissed since she hadn’t gotten over him bailing her out or seeing him with Meghan.
“I’ll be right back, Mr. Williams,” she said and rushed to catch up with Noah on the porch. “Excuse me.”
He paused on the last step and refused to turn and face her. “What?”
She didn’t care for his tone or his back. It was rude, but that wouldn’t stop her from speaking her mind. “You shouldn’t take Mr. Williams out on the lake.”
Slowly, he pivoted. Eyes narrowed, face pulled into a deep scowl, “Why?” came out as a hard bark.
It should be obvious, but okay. “He’s not in the best health.”
Noah rolled his eyes. “And that’s why he should be on the lake. It’s what he wants.”
Why was this difficult to understand? “But it’s not best for him.”
He scowled, his brow lowered, his eyes pitted. “How do you know what’s best for him?”
“I’m his nurse.”
“Oh, I thought you were going to say you were his mother.”
Seriously. She folded her arms and drew herself up. “He’s in my care and Dr. Fitzroy. His health has been precarious these last few years.”
“Because he’s wheelchair-bound and lonely. He has a doctor and a nurse, but no friends. They’re all dead. He can’t even get to the VFW.”
Embarrassed, she shifted on her feet. “I-I didn’t know that.” There wasn’t a reason she should know that. Still, guilt choked her. “Tomorrow, I’ll contact Social Services and get him some help.”
“Thanks.”
She expected him to leave, but he didn’t. Hands shoved into his pocket, shoulders hunched against the stiff wind coming off the lake, he watched her, his gaze dark, brooding. “It’s kind of you to take care of Mr. Williams. Spend time with him.” She threw out as a platitude, though she meant it.
“He’s a vet. We take care of our own.” Another sharp wind slapped them. Cold seeped all the way to her bones. “Go back inside, Kensley, before you freeze your ass off.” He headed toward the marina.
“Where-why are you going that way?” She searched the road for his truck.
“I came by water. I go home by water,” he shouted over his shoulder.
She ran down the porch steps and jogged to reach his side. “But,” she glanced at the choppy waves. “A cold front is coming, and the lake is about to get worse.” It was already choppy.
He stopped again and stepped in front of her to block the wind. “Is that concern I hear? Are you worried about my safety?”
She folded her arms and shrugged one shoulder. “As I would for any small child or dumb creature.” Admitting she was concerned wasn’t happening. “Dr. Fitzroy doesn’t need to be dragged out for another emergency, especially another drowning.”
He snorted. “Nice to know you care about something.”
What the hell did that mean? She cared about plenty of things. None of which were his business.
“Since I’m not small, in any way, I guess I fall into the dumb animal category,” he said with a smile.
He was a dumb animal if he thought she’d fall for that not so subtle innuendo.
“I’m getting the feeling you like picking a fight with me.”
Which she would neither agree with nor deny.
“I’m also getting the feeling you’re bitching about the bail is more than your moral code objecting to a monetary gift.”
Instead of answering what she couldn’t deny, she kept mum.
“Want to tell me about it?”
She pursed her lips and tightened her arms under her breasts, which caused his gaze to dip. She had on a shapeless white winter coat reminiscent of the Michelin Man. There was nothing sexy about her appearance, yet he made her feel like she was standing in front of him in a bathing suit…and she liked it. She liked his gaze on her, enjoyed how it made her insides sweat and her core slicken and ache. All of which he didn’t need to know.
Noah threw up his hands. “Fine. Stay mad. I tried.” He shuffled away. This time she didn’t stop him, and she didn’t stay to watch.
She knew she was being a bitch, an unreasonable bitch. Sometimes, she couldn’t help. It wasn’t so much Noah, but all the shittiness in her life wrapped up in a pretty package with a bow on top wedged in her lap.
Frustrated on every level, she returned to the house and went straight for the bag of drugs she left on the kitchen counter. “Mr. Williams. Do you need any instructions on taking your meds?” He didn’t answer. “Mr. Williams?”
She found
him peering out of his screen door at the back of the house, which had a lovely view of the lake with all the houses lining the bank, and Noah untying his boat. He climbed inside and backed out of the dock, gunning the engine and took off. She followed him until he merged with the weak afternoon light.
“He’s a good guy, that Noah.”
“Um-hmm.” It was time to head for the exit, but Mr. Williams cranked his wheelchair around and faced her.
“I met him at the Red Cross after that blizzard we had before Thanksgiving. He came around, checking on all the people in this area. We got to talking about the military and such. He brings me deer meat every now and then. Rabbit once in a while. It helps stretch the monthly pension and SSI check.”
“That’s really nice.” Hearing about St. Noah wasn’t what she wanted. She edged toward the door.
“I heard about what happened at the Watering Hole.”
That stopped her in her tracks. How the hell did a shut-in like Mr. Williams know about the bar fight?
“It made the morning news.” He answered as if he read her mind. “Leading story.” He smirked. “Great picture of you in handcuffs, screaming at Officer Mikelson.”
She didn’t remember that or the new being on the scene. However, if there were a video of the event, her moment of infamy would live on forever. The internet was a black hole nothing ever escaped from. Fucking awesome.
“There was a video of Noah too. He was in handcuffs, but the newscaster exonerated him. Said he was the hero. Stopped a gunman. His face is plastered all over the news. Even got a shot of him getting breakfast at the diner on Riverside.”
Well, ain’t that special. Yeah, she was jealous though she couldn’t deny it, no doubt, Noah was the hero.
“He mentioned paying for your bail.”
“Oh yeah?” She planted her hand on her hip and waited to hear what Mr. Williams had to say because he definitely had something to say. That was the only reason for this conversation.
“I grew up in a different time where men were men and women—”
“Knew their place and was grateful for it.” She cut him off because she’d had about enough. She got it. Mr. Williams and probably the entire town was team Noah while she was the crazy kook who got dumped practically at the altar, who hit the darling of the town, Officer Mick, the daughter of the mayor no one wanted to associate with. Fine. What. Ever.
“Young woman do not put words in my mouth,” Mr. Williams snapped, his gray mustache tipping down in a frown.
Her grandmother taught her well because Kensley swallowed her reply and bit her tongue to keep anything else from falling out. Until given a reason, elders were to be respected.
His lips corkscrewed into a tight scowl, his brow low over his rheumy eyes, Mr. Williams glare could peel paint. “Sometimes, a gift is just a gift. Without any hidden meanings.” His lips unscrewed a bit, and he scratched at the patchy gray whiskers on his chin, seeming to search for his words. “It’s okay to accept a gift when it’s given without conditions.”
Now she screwed her lips together. “How do you know it’s without conditions?”
He gave her a look that said please, and she had a moment of contrition. Noah had been nothing but kind. She had no reason to doubt his sincerity about the money, yet it stuck in her craw.
“And that’s all I’m gonna say on that topic.” Mr. Williams huffed, which led her to believe the man wasn’t done. “Noah also mentioned Founder’s Day.”
She did not want to talk about this. Absolutely did not. Especially not with someone who had no clue what she was going through. “Goodnight, Mr. Williams.”
“However, he received the invitation to speak, it is a chance to bring attention to veteran’s issues. The state and House representatives will be there. Did you know Sessory Hospital has lost so much funding, it’s operating on a hope and a prayer?”
She heard whispers but was focused on other things; Kevin, her grandmother, leaving town. “And a two-minute speech from Noah can change that.” She shook her head.
Tiredly, Mr. Williams shrugged. “Either way, it’s better than nothing. Better than having all them politicians up there spouting their bullshit. Lies, lies, and more lies,” he said bitterly, his mouth puckered in a deep frown. “I’d rather eat my own shit than listen to another damn politician. Whatever Noah says, it’ll be better than anything those jackasses have to say.”
She didn’t disagree but couldn’t let go of her anger. Not yet. “Can I help you with anything else before I go?”
He screwed his lips together again and shook his head.
The fresh air didn’t clear her head as she’d hoped. Neither did a slow walk back to her car. The problem was, Mr. Williams had a point. While she didn’t know Noah well enough to be completely certain of his character, he had been nothing except kind and protective. He used his body as a shield, he could’ve taken a bullet for her. That alone cut him some slack. A lot of slack. The bail money… she couldn’t help her continued irritation. While it wasn’t the crime of the century, she would pay it back.
She went to the supermarket store, picked up a few necessities, and a half-pint of mango gelato. She really should get the fruit pops, but fuck that. She needed gelato.
Dropping it in her cart, she spun to find Meghan blocking her way.
“Hey, Kensley.”
An angel on one shoulder. Satan, on the other. One wrong word and they’d need a cleanup in aisle two. Kensley stared Meghan down, her hands clenched on the handlebar of the cart instead of the bitch’s throat. She never wanted to be one of those women who threw punches over a man. No man was worth fighting over. Period.
However, right now, she understood the appeal of beating the shit out of her, understood how satisfying it would be to have her fist buried in Meghan’s face over and over again.
Meghan moved from in front of the cart to stand within the strike zone. Bitch, you touch me, I will be spending tonight in jail. Wonder if Noah would bail me out again?
“Look, Kensley. I’m not bothering you to start anything. I want to ap-pologize. What happened was wrong. It never should’ve happened. I’m so sorry for ruining your life.”
In total disbelief, Kensley barked out a single laugh. “Sweetheart, you did me a favor. You can have Eric and Noah. I really don’t care.”
Around them, several carts stopped rolling. Customers stopped shopping in favor of the live show. Who needed Broadway when Sessory Corners had the Kensley show?
Meghan’s face scrunched into a frown. “Noah? Noah and I aren’t a thing. He gave me a ride. That’s it.”
I bet he gave you a ride. Kensley powerwalked to the express lane, paid for her items, and returned home to her cold, lonely house. A hot shower and some comfy sweats, all she needed was a frozen dinner and Netflix to complete the night. Which worked for as long as it took to shovel her food down her throat. Pissed about her father. Pissed Founder’s Day, pissed about Meghan.
Why didn’t I ask him about Meghan? That would’ve been the logical thing to do. There were days when she was very logical, days when all her ducks were lined up in a perfect row, and everything made sense. Today was not one of those days. Seeing him, then Meghan, threw her off-kilter. Shit, from the second he walked into the clinic, she’d been off balance. Which was a shame since she’d just regained some stability after the Eric fiasco.
A sliver of truth halted her in the center of her living room. She wasn’t mad at Meghan over Eric. That ship had sailed and sunk like the Titanic. What had her ovaries in a twist was the picture of Noah holding Meghan in the parking lot of The Watering Hole.
And the only way to unscramble her eggs was to get some answers from the source because she refused to believe anything out of that slut’s mouth.
In the end, Kensley couldn’t take it anymore. She wasn’t one to let shit fester, and the shit between them was an open wound. She’d keep picking at it until it oozed, and where would that leave her? Bitter, that’s where. She had enough to b
e bitter about and didn’t want to add Noah to the pile. She needed answers, and Noah would provide two of them.
Kensley should’ve gone directly to his cabin the second she was done with Mr. Williams, which would’ve avoided Meghan in the supermarket.
Kensley dragged on her coat, stuffed her feet into her boots, and hopped back in her car. She headed into mountain country ten miles from her house. The city had plowed and salted the road. Wouldn’t do to have the ritzy owners paying the most property taxes complaining. Plus, the mayor lived on the lake.
Noah’s cabin was the third house off the circular road. It was smaller than the others and leaned toward rustic rather than the modern contemporary leanings of the other cabins situated around the water. She pulled into the long driveway and parked behind his truck.
The air was colder up here, cleaner, sweeter. The view, breathtaking. If she lived up here, she’d never want to leave. Summer, winter, the other two seasons, this was a place she could stay forever.
She turned to the house and called out, “Hello?” The answer wasn’t from a human. Bear came running out of the side of the house, tail wagging, barking like a maniac. Kensley braced for full body contact.
Eighteen
The five-point buck appeared between the trees, just as sunlight gave way to the first traces of night. It wasn’t in the right position and still a tad too far away for a clean kill, but patience presented rewards.
High up in the high-hide he’d built, Noah quietly positioned his bow for a quick draw and release. The buck froze, it’s muscles tense for a quick dash to safety, its ears twitching to catch any stray sound while its breath curling in the frigid late afternoon air. Noah held his breath. Caught between life and death, time slowed. One second became one minute, then another until the buck panned its head around for a survey of the area.
Come on, fella. Move just a little to the right.
Confident once more, the buck ambled through the evergreens, and into Noah’s crosshairs. Without hesitation, he pulled back on the bowstring, registered the deep ache in his rotator cuff, and let the arrow fly. It pierced the right eye and drove straight into the animal’s brain. It was dead before it hit the ground.
If I Love You Page 14
