Chapter 12
Addie smiled and waved goodbye as the last park visitor left for the day. Her cheeks hurt. She didn’t realize how much effort it took to smile when smiling was the last thing she felt like doing.
Six days. She’d been living in Noah’s house for six whole days, yet she’d barely seen him.
She’d thought that if she stayed in his home like he asked, they’d have an opportunity to talk or move on from what had happened, but instead of coming home, he’d been staying with Colt and Indie and there’d been a deputy on the house.
It was silly because it was his house. He should feel like he could spend time in his own home, but he clearly didn’t because she was there.
Well, not any longer. She’d changed the locks on her front and back doors, so she could finally go home. Did she want to live by herself? No. But she was basically doing that now anyway, so nothing would really change.
And that wasn’t the only thing on her mind right now.
The park was closed tomorrow, but the staff was doing a team bonding day of rock climbing.
She’d thought—hoped—that because she worked in the office, she wouldn’t have to do it.
Apparently, not the case, so she was rock climbing tomorrow, and everyone would find out that she was not the outdoorsy adventure person she’d marketed herself as.
Great.
With a sigh, she turned off the laptop and packed her bag.
Once everything was locked up, instead of going to her car, she went down the trail to the campsite.
A group of schoolkids were there for a few nights, and Noah had been with them all day and the day before.
He was actually really good at staying busy and far away from her.
Her heart gave a little squeeze because, yes, it made her sad. She liked spending time with him.
Jules rounded a corner, empty trays in her hands. “Addie! Everything okay?”
“Yeah, I just need to talk to Noah.” Or talk some sense into him, at least.
“Is it to make sure he goes home? Because that boy’s been here far too much this week. He’s a step away from setting up camp and living here.”
Oh, she was absolutely aware of that. “Actually, it is.”
“Maybe you’ll have better luck than me.” The older woman patted her shoulder. “I’ll see you tomorrow, honey.”
At the campsite, the fire was lit and there were kids everywhere. Some roasting marshmallows. A lot running around.
But where was Noah? There were a few adults around, probably teachers. But she couldn’t see—
Her gaze zeroed in on Noah’s broad shoulders. He was standing with his hands in his pockets, talking to Rhett.
Gotcha.
She crossed the campsite and tapped him on the shoulder.
He turned, and the second his gaze fell on her, a dozen emotions passed over his face all in the span of one second. Surprise. Frustration. And maybe some desire. But that could be in her head.
“Addison…is everything okay?”
“Are you returning to your house tonight?”
His brows pulled together. “You walked down here to ask me that?”
“Yes.” Absolutely yes. She already felt bad enough for stealing his home.
He ran his fingers through his hair. “I’m not sure. I have some stuff I need to get done here, then it will be late, so I’ll probably just stay with Colt and Indie again.”
“What?”
He paused. “What do you mean, what?”
“What do you need to get done here that’s going to make you late?”
“I need to check the tire pressure on the bikes. Make sure the disc brakes aren’t rubbing and replace any thin brake pads.”
“And it all needs to be done after work instead of tomorrow?”
His frown deepened. “What’s going on, Addie?”
“It’s your house.”
“What?”
“It’s your house, and you’re avoiding it because I’m in it.”
Noah grabbed her arm and tugged her to the side. Because he didn’t want Rhett to hear?
“I’m doing what’s safest,” Noah said, the second they were out of earshot.
“Look, I was going to move back home tomorrow, but I’ll leave tonight so you don’t have to avoid your own house anymore.” She started to turn, but he grabbed her arm a second time and pulled her back.
“No.”
Her brows shot up. “No?”
“You’re not going home until we find this person.”
“I have new locks.”
“I don’t care. My house has more security.”
She tilted her head. “Noah—”
“I’ll come home tonight. I’ll sleep on the couch. I won’t be home too late. Just…don’t move out.”
She swallowed. She felt like she should push, but there was something about his pleading gray eyes that made her want to give him anything he asked for. Did that make her weak? Or just a bit infatuated with the guy? “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“You need to stop avoiding me at work too.”
“You think I’m avoiding you?”
“I know you’re avoiding me.”
He swallowed hard. “Okay. I’ll stop avoiding you.”
“Good.”
A lock of hair escaped from behind her ear and fluttered across her face. Before she could flick it away, Noah reached out and tucked it back.
Her skin tingled where he touched her.
That…that was her reaction to him. And that was what she was chasing…and he was running from.
“I’ll try to be home at a reasonable time tonight,” he said softly.
“G-good.” Oh, Jesus. One touch and she was stumbling over her words. “I guess I’ll see you later then.”
“I guess you will.”
One quick nod and she turned.
“Wait. I don’t want you walking alone.” He looked over her head. “Rhett, you’re finished now. I need you to walk Addie to her car.”
She just held in the cringe.
“Sure.”
She turned and gave Rhett a forced smile. “Thanks.”
As they headed down the path, she felt his eyes on her.
“What?” she asked, finally looking up.
Rhett’s grin was wide. “So…you and the boss, huh?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She was not in the mood for this guy’s company.
“If I heard correctly, you’re sleeping in his bed?”
She rolled her eyes. “He’s letting me stay at his place while I go through something.”
“I’m sure you’re going through something.”
She shot an annoyed glare his way. “What are you insinuating?”
“That I finally understand why you turned me down.”
She laughed, but it was less out of humor than absurdity. “First of all, you never asked me out. But if you had, I would have turned you down without needing any other reason than I don’t like you like that.”
The cockiness slipped, replaced with…annoyance? “What does that mean?”
“It means what I said.”
When they reached the parking lot, she stepped toward her car, but his fingers suddenly wrapped around her wrist and he pulled her back. “Are you saying you think you’re too good for me?”
While Noah’s touch had been gentle, Rhett’s was rough. “Let go of my arm, Rhett. Now.”
He didn’t. His fingers were like iron bands around her. “Answer my question first.”
“You have two seconds to release me before I make you.”
Footsteps crunched from somewhere off to the side before Jules’s voice sounded. “Hey, what’s going on?”
“One second left,” Addie pushed, not answering Jules.
“I told you, answer my question first.” His fingers tightened.
She moved quickly, turning her wrist toward Rhett’s thumb, then pulling her arm back and up sharply, using her body weight for momentum.
When he was off-balance, she shot her palm into his nose.
He released her and grabbed his face, blood now pouring between his fingers. “Fuck!”
“You touch me again and I’ll do worse.”
She turned and reached her car just as Jules ran up to her. “Addie, honey, are you okay?”
“I warned him.”
“I know you did. I saw.” Jules shot a glance at Rhett, who was still leaning over, holding his face. “Should we call Noah or Colt?”
“I’ll let Noah know tonight.”
Jules’s gaze flickered between her eyes. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
No. She was shaking. But she didn’t feel bad. The asshole had gotten what he deserved. “I’m fine, really.”
Jules’s frown deepened before she nodded and stepped back.
Addie slid behind the wheel and drove away. She’d just pulled into Noah’s drive when her phone vibrated with a text.
Unknown: You’re still here, which means you’re either stupid or you don’t get it. Leave before you make me do something you won’t like.
Noah parked in his driveway, his gaze going to his front door.
He was late getting home. Later than he’d wanted to be. He’d tried to get home earlier, but every time he’d attempted to leave the park, he just wasn’t able to.
He’d had another therapy session yesterday, where he’d told Toby about his fear of being around Addie. Toby had suggested that a bit of space might actually be good.
But Addie was in trouble. He didn’t want her alone at her place. His house was safer, especially when he was there at night to protect her.
So what the hell was he supposed to do?
He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. Fuck, he was tired. He’d been tired for so damn long.
Eventually, he forced his body up and out of the car.
Inside the house, he keyed his code into the alarm before locking the doors. Just like every other night, he snuck a peek into the master bedroom. Addie was asleep beneath the covers, and she looked so peaceful.
A yearning pulled at his chest. One that called for him to cross the space between them. Wake her up.
Tell her that she was his.
He forced it down. Forced himself to close the door with a quiet click and move into the second bathroom. He took a long shower, letting the water get so hot that his skin burned.
He was just climbing out when a text came through from Jesse.
Jesse: Hey. Heard about the second text. Sorry we haven’t made any progress on the case, but know that we’re working on it.
A second text? To Addie?
He stepped into the hall and called Jesse.
He answered immediately. “Noah—”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
There was a small pause before Jesse spoke. “Addie didn’t tell you? I thought she was staying with you?”
He scrubbed a hand over his face. “I got home late.”
“Okay. Well, she called the station. She got a second text tonight. It said that she needed to leave before they did something she wouldn’t like.”
Noah cursed. Damn, he wanted to kick his own ass. He should have been here. She’d needed him. “I should have been with her.”
“Why weren’t you?”
“I just have some…stuff going on.” It didn’t come close to describing what he was going through.
“Anything you want to talk about?”
He was shaking his head before Jesse finished speaking. “Not right now.”
“Let me know if that changes. I’m happy to listen.”
“Thanks.”
“And we’re going to find the jerk who’s messing with her.”
“I know.” He trusted his cousin. Jesse was good at his job and he would find them. But when?
Noah hung up, but instead of going to the couch, he stepped into the bedroom and crossed over to her bed, like every part of him was pulled toward her. Unable to stop himself, he crouched beside the bed, and just like he’d done that afternoon, he slipped a lock of hair behind her ear.
Her eyes fluttered open. “You’re late.”
“I’m sorry. I should have been here.”
“Are you okay?”
“Jesse called. Why didn’t you tell me about the text?”
“I was going to when you got home.”
Yeah. His fault.
“Will you do something for me?” she whispered.
“Anything.” And he meant it. In that moment, crouched in front of her, surrounded by her sweet scent, he would have agreed to anything she asked.
“Lie with me. Just for a little bit.”
A voice inside him told him it was a bad idea. Told him to step out. Wait until he was safer for her to be around.
But her gaze chained him to the spot. Before he knew what he was doing, he rose and moved to the other side of the bed. The second he was beneath the sheets, he tucked her against him.
And Jesus, she felt good. She was soft and warm, and the sound of her sweet sigh was fucking music to his ears.
For the first time in months, his body relaxed. The feel of her against him silenced the voices in his head that had been deafening him for so long. It unraveled the rope around his chest and just let him feel that thing he hadn’t felt in so long—peace.