I glanced at the street. “You’re welcome.”
She shifted and pulled her hands out. “I’m sorry I screwed everything up between us.” Her wistful voice warned me she was thinking things that would be bad for both of us.
“Me too.”
We walked a few steps, and she lifted her face toward the sun, inhaling deeply while a smile crossed her lips.
“Why did you lie to me?” I kept my voice low and measured because I didn’t want her to think I was angry—I wasn’t. I just wanted to know the truth. Why had she chosen to be dishonest?
Her eyebrows furrowed. “When did I lie to you?” Confusion contorted her features, and her lovely eyes studied me. “What are you talking about?”
“You told me you broke up with your ex.” Was she going to deny it? Or try to lie again? I stopped walking and turned to face her.
She went still, then pivoted in my direction.
“I did.” She spoke slowly, as if I was trying to trick her, and she was unsure of how or why I would do that. “Why would you think I lied to you about that?” Her tone took on a curious edge, without a hint of anger that I called her a liar.
I blinked. Back in the day, if I had said she lied about something, she would have bitten my head off and started world war three. She certainly wasn’t the same person she’d been then.
I crossed my arms and stared her down.
The confusion in her face grew as she took in my standoffish stance, and then her eyes flicked to mine. “I didn’t lie …” She trailed off, and it was as if the switch flipped and understanding flashed in her eyes as she inhaled. “Oh, you heard me tell Benji I was seeing someone.” Her shoulders slumped slightly. “I didn’t lie to you.”
That didn’t make sense because she very clearly told Benji she was involved with someone.
She sighed as her shoulders sunk another inch. “I lied to Benji.”
Why would she lie to Benji? And it hit me; she lied to ward off his advances. The bastard wasn’t taking no for an answer. She had to make up something to get him to leave her the hell alone. My desire to hit him ramped up.
“I’m sorry.” She touched my arms, and I lowered them. Her finger trailed down my wrist, to my hand, and I laced my fingers with hers, giving her a reassuring squeeze, but not letting go.
“No, I’m sorry. I’m a dick.” I ran a hand through my hair, pissed at myself that I accused her of lying. I was so pigheaded and couldn’t see the situation for what it was, and her reaction to it.
“Well, maybe just a little.” She lifted her free hand and brought her thumb and index finger close together to convey how little, and I couldn’t hold back a grin.
“I want to beat him down.” I was mad—mad that Kandra had to lie to Benji because he made her feel unsafe. Mad that I hadn’t stepped in sooner. But mostly mad at myself that a sudden surge of protectiveness welled up in me. You need to cool it; it isn’t your job to protect her.
“Benji?” She asked, confused again.
I nodded but needed to lighten the mood. “And my brother. The jackass stole my pancakes when I walked over to help.” Despite my humor, I struggled with my need to protect her from everyone and everything that might harm her.
She laughed. “I guess I owe you pancakes, then.” Her fingers tightened in mine, and I released her. Our hands slipped apart as she stared up at me with something dangerously close to affection. Her lips parted. “It’s a date.”
I saw something beautiful, something potentially wonderful shifting between us and had to crush it immediately. “No, it’s not.”
Chapter Ten
Kandra
Sunday afternoon, I sat in the bedroom where I would put the nursery and stared at the walls. I pulled my thighs to my chest and planted my chin on my knees.
Questions swam in my mind. To paint or not to paint? I didn’t even know the gender of the baby. What color would I choose? I hadn’t done much of anything for the room except pick up a bookshelf from a discount store.
I imagined holding a baby in my arms and reading stories for hours. My eyes misted over as I pictured chasing a little toddler through the hall. I thought about making breakfast and packing lunches, and on school mornings, I’d see my little one off to the bus.
My thoughts drifted back to Noah. We saw each other every night at the bar. After our truce on the sidewalk, he talked to Roy and said it was fine to wait on his table again. It was a small step in the right direction, but a step forward, nonetheless.
We hadn’t had any deep conversations since that day at the diner when he helped me escape Benji.
Tears stung my eyes as I thought about how I playfully said that my owing him pancakes was a date, and he swiftly said it wasn’t.
I’d been teasing him, more joking than serious, but his biting response cut me to the bone.
Dragging the back of my hand over my eyes, I took a deep breath. Sheesh, being pregnant sure made me an emotional mess.
Before I got pregnant, I could count the number of times I cried over the last decade on one hand. But now, it seemed like everything made me cry—commercials, songs on the radio, and anything to do with babies.
I laughed at myself.
For the millionth time, I wished Noah and I had never split. Sure, I was happy to be pregnant and excited to be a mom, but all my dreams of being a parent had always included Noah. He was the one I always imagined being married to—the one I could picture spending the rest of my life with. Anthony had been nice—or so I’d thought—but he never seemed like forever material. I’d been stunned when he proposed to me, but when I thought back on that whole situation, I imagine he’d done it to hold on to me. At the time, I’d been considering leaving the modeling world behind and striking out as a photographer as I originally planned.
A strange sound in the bathroom grabbed my attention and made my body jolt. Icy-hot pinpricks danced over my skin. I stood, and a wave of light-headedness overwhelmed me. In seconds the feeling went away, and I breathed a sigh of relief that ended when the sound of trickling water met my ears.
I raced into the bathroom and found the showerhead on the tile and the spout dribbling water. I reached for the handle to turn it off, but it came off in my hand, and the rush of water increased. Without thinking about it, I put my hands over it. Half a second passed, and I realized I couldn’t stop the gushing water.
With careful steps, so I wouldn’t slip on the wet floor, I dripped my way into the living room and grabbed my cell phone. I dialed the only person I knew who could help.
“Hello?” he answered.
“Bayden?” I’d called Noah’s company phone, but for some reason, I’d expected Noah to answer despite knowing all four brothers ran the business together.
“Kandra?” He sounded as stunned to hear me as I was to listen to him.
“I, uh, have a problem.” Rubbing the back of my neck, I paced the floor.
“Let me text you Noah’s number.” The line went dead, and I paced the floor. A second later, his text came through, and I sent him a silent thanks. Somehow, I felt that if Quinn had answered, I’d never hear the end of this, but Bayden kept things closer to the vest than his twin. I doubt he would tell anyone I called.
Holding my breath, I touched Noah’s number on my screen. The option to call popped up and I pressed the green phone to dial. I listened to it ring and chewed on a nail while I waited. What if he didn’t pick up? What if he refused to help? I pictured my whole bathroom filling with water, and a flood seeping under the door with every passing second.
“Hello?” His gruff voice made my heart flutter.
“Noah, sorry to bother you,” I smiled, feeling like an idiot. Pressing my hand to my forehead, I gave my head a slight shake. “I need your help.”
“Where are you?”
I bit on my lower lip and let it pop free. “My place.” Oh, gosh, that sounded like a line, didn’t it?
“Text me the address. I’m on my way.” Click. I stared at my phone, stun
ned. He was going to help me; no questions asked. It was just a back and forth of me telling him I needed help and him saying he would be there. Imagine that.
I texted him my address and took a deep breath. My hands trembled, and I couldn’t hold back a smile. Everything had happened so fast that it only then dawned on me that calling him felt right. I could have called a plumber, or my landlord, or anyone else. Even my dad or my brother, but I didn’t. I called Noah.
I walked back toward the bathroom. Thankfully, there was no river of water flowing under the door like the horrific gate scene in Titanic.
The floor was wet, but there was no ark-type flood like I had envisioned. Most of the water seemed to rush down the drain. Seeing the potential disaster somewhat contained, I relaxed a little and closed the door.
My water bill for the month would be ugly, but my house would survive.
As I padded back toward the front door to unlock it, a thought suddenly hit me—Noah would be in my house, and we would be alone.
We would be truly alone for the first time in over a decade.
My heart somersaulted, and I hesitated mid-step, a few feet from the door. Gritting my teeth, I reminded myself that Noah hated me before I continued walking to the door to unlock the deadbolt. When I heard his boots on the porch, I opened it and pasted a smile on my face.
“How did you get here so fast?” I asked.
“I sped. What’s going on? Are you okay?” The intensity in his eyes as he studied me warmed my very soul.
“I’m fine, but let me show you what happened.” I led him through the house and into the bathroom.
The second he looked at the running water, he turned and left. I chased him toward the front door. “Where are you going?”
“To my truck.”
I followed him onto the porch as he walked down the path. He stopped near the street and knelt. A moment later, he walked to his truck, grabbed a few things out of the toolbox in the back of his shiny silver Super Duty, and came back my way.
I swung the door wide, and he entered with a nod. My heart skipped a beat as I followed him. The water had stopped, and I stared, puzzled.
“I turned off the water to your house at the curb. I’ll turn it back on before I go.” He stepped into the shower and began to work.
“Can I make you lunch or something? I appreciate you coming here without notice.” I smiled at him.
“Actually, you can hold this.” He tilted his head toward the shower, and I walked over. Without hesitation, he had me hold a hose while he tightened the screw thing. “You needed a new showerhead. Has it been spraying water around the head?”
I nodded, biting down on my lower lip. “I didn’t know that was a sign of a problem. When I went to turn it off, the handle came loose.”
He nodded. “That was a screw, and now you have a detachable showerhead. Enjoy.”
“Thank you.” Grateful, I squeezed my eyes closed as he leaned in close to tighten it up. We were nearly chest to chest standing there. He was so close that I could smell his warm, spicy cologne. I inhaled, loving the way I felt the body heat rolling off him.
“I’ll be right back.” He walked away, and I stood there, missing him suddenly and internally chewing myself out for being so stupid.
A moment later, the pipes in my house hummed to life, and I watched the showerhead, afraid Niagara Falls would set loose again, but not a drop of water leaked.
“How’s it looking?” he asked from the doorway, and I jolted.
“Don’t scare me like that!” I spun to face him.
“Did you test to see if it works?” He asked, ignoring me.
An evil thought crossed my mind. “Let me check.” I turned the water on and pointed the nozzle at him. The spray hit him from across the room. He seemed shocked at first, but his expression darkened. I let out a squeal as he closed the distance between us and turned the showerhead on me. Warm water sprayed down my shirt while laughter rolled from my lips.
“Did you seriously spray me with water?” He was out of breath and on the brink of laughing.
“It was an accident.”
“Accident my ass!” He pulled the showerhead completely from my grasp and sprayed me full force in the face. As the water quickly filled my open mouth, I spat it at him and used his surprise to wrestle the showerhead away from him. We continued to struggle as he wrapped his arms around me, and suddenly we tumbled to the wet floor in a death struggle for the slippery jet.
Giggling like crazy, I managed to spray him square in the face.
He smacked it out of my hand, and it fell back, dangling in the shower, turning in lazy circles as it sprayed.
I focused on Noah. Droplets of water clung to his dark hair and eyelashes, and those bright-blue eyes locked on my face.
My laughter went quiet as his gaze dropped to my mouth, then moved up to stare at my eyes. I inhaled between parted lips, certain he’d just thought about kissing me. My heart thundered as we stared at one another.
“I should go,” he growled.
My heart sank. “You don’t have to.” I glanced at his mouth, dragging my tongue across my lower lip, wishing he’d lean in and kiss me.
“But I should.” His eyes moved back and forth between mine like he was searching for answers. Answers I didn’t have and couldn’t give him. We were on my bathroom floor, soaking wet, and so close I could feel his breath cooling my chin.
I leaned in, keeping my eyes on his. He could stop me or pull away. He could if he wanted to, but he didn’t move. Instead, he seemed frozen as I studied his face.
Our lips touched, and his hand came up to cup my face.
He tilted his head, and his mouth claimed mine.
Chapter Eleven
Noah
I couldn’t get yesterday’s kiss out of my mind.
All I could think about were her ocean-blue eyes locked on me as she told me I didn’t have to go. Her eyes moved to my mouth and said exactly what she wanted me to do instead of leave. As her tongue traced her lower lip, it left behind a sheen that woke a slumbering beast within me.
I shouldn’t have kissed her, but she leaned in, pressed her lips to mine, and I was a goner. Everything flooded back. All the love, the heat, the passion. Our childhoods, sunny summers at the lake and playing in the river, camping trips under billions of stars, our first kiss…
It all swept back in one confusing, overwhelming, stunning realization. A part of me still loved her and always would, no matter how much I lied to myself.
A beep snapped me out of my thoughts as one of the trucks backed up on-site. My brothers were all off working in their respective spots, and I said a soft word of thanks they weren’t here to witness my daydreaming. No doubt they’d all be able to read my mind, and I’d never hear the end of it.
We made progress on the police station; cement was poured and dry, and we were working on framing. Those were the parts I enjoyed the most, but today my head wasn’t in the game because yesterday’s kiss replayed repeatedly.
I was losing my damn mind. It was stupid not to keep my distance, but the panic in Kandra’s voice when she’d called alarmed me. How could I tell her no? I was worried she was hurt, and my instinct to protect her kicked in before I thought about the potential consequences.
The guys worked to raise a frame, and I hurried over to lend more stability as the bones of the walls were lifted. With shouts of joy, the men got to work securing it while others nodded or watched. I locked eyes with each of my brothers in turn. Quinn flashed me a quick grin, while Bayden gave a stoic nod. Ethan glanced up into the sky, where the clouds parted just enough to allow the sun to break through. I expected him to tell me Dad approved of everything we were doing.
As we secured the frames into place, I backed off, needing some time before my brothers descended on me like the wolves the bastards were. I didn’t get ten feet away before a hand clamped down on my shoulder. I turned to face Quinn.
“Well?” He arched an eyebrow, and my stomach
twisted.
“Well, what?” I could play dumb, but we both knew I wasn’t fooling him for a second.
He glanced at Bayden, who strolled up to us. “How did last night’s house call go?” His calm tone had my knuckles itching to rearrange his face. Of course, he told them she called for me.
His steel-toed boot shifted the gravel as I spoke.
“I don’t know, how’s the sheriff?”
He lifted his shoulders, giving me a wicked half grin. “Don’t know; haven’t seen her, but we’re talking about you. Try to keep up.” He patted my chest as Ethan approached on my left.
“Has he explained, yet?” Ethan seemed worried he’d missed out on some news.
“What is with you guys? You’re like a bunch of high school girls gossiping in the bathroom.” Annoyed, I turned to go, but they broke and re-formed a circle around me. With my exit cut off, I hesitated.
“So, it went well, then?” Quinn’s eyes sparkled. “If nothing happened, you’d just say that.”
“Nothing happened,” I growled the lie right to my brothers’ faces, but I could see the suspicious looks in their eyes. They didn’t believe me, and rightly so.
“Oh, it was something big.” Quinn tapped Bayden’s arm while staring at me, and Bayden sidestepped his reach.
“Don’t you guys have work to do?” This familiar dance was becoming commonplace, and I didn’t like it one bit. It was none of their damn business what happened between Kandra and me. Still, thinking about it, even though I wasn’t talking about it, brought up questions. Why had she called me? Was she looking for a way to drag me back into her life? Was it all a ruse to kiss me and make me remember the past? If so, she succeeded. It couldn’t possibly be that I was the first person to come to mind in a moment of panic. Or, if I was, it was because I was likely the most polarizing person in her life at the moment.
“Probably, but you’re our brother, and we need to check in on your well-being. Especially when your ex calls looking for you in a panic. What happened, anyway?” Bayden seemed more curious than his usual disinterested self.
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