CHAPTER 20
NOAH
By the time I trudge up the steps of my front porch the following evening, I’m bone tired.
It’s been a while since we have done a cattle move that far out.
I forgot how exhausting it can be wrangling hundreds with only a few of us on horseback.
As much as I love what we do, love the outdoors and the freedom of camping out in the wild with my brothers and friends, I can’t wait to have a hot shower and climb into my own bed for the night.
I was consumed with thoughts of Bella last night.
When Hunter told me that we needed to move the cows out west instead of the original back pasture and it was going to be an overnight trip, I was worried about leaving her alone.
I know Bella well enough to know that she’d never admit to me that she was also worried, but I saw the panic in her eyes the second I told her I wouldn’t be home.
So, I may have roped Liv in to help me organise a girls’ night on the ranch for her.
I knew she wouldn’t want to go out to the bar because the risks of running into Justin are high, so I figured here on the ranch where she feels safe was the next best thing.
If Bella’s texts were anything to go by, I’d say someone ratted me out, but I don’t care. I never want her to feel afraid here. I want her to feel at home.
In some part, my actions were a little selfish. A desperate attempt to show her what life could be like if she stayed here. That her closest friends and family are just a short walk away.
I push my key into the lock on the front door and turn it, using the slither of energy I have left to push the door open and step inside.
The smell that hits me is sensational and my stomach growls on cue, reminding me that I haven’t eaten a thing since breakfast.
“Bells?” I call out, toeing off my cowboy boots in the entryway.
“Kitchen,” she calls back and just the sound of her angelic voice brings a smile to my face.
“It smells amazing in here.” Rounding the corner, my eyes widen as I take in the food spread across the kitchen island in various serving dishes.
“Wow,” I say, not sure where to look first. Each tray holds something different, and my eyes drifts from the roasted chicken in the middle to the mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables before landing on the perfectly crisped mac and cheese.
“I figured you’d be hungry when you got home.” Bella shrugs, her hands twisting a hand towel in front of her.
“You figured right. I’m starving,” I say with a chuckle, pulling out a stool and taking a seat. “Seriously, Bells. This looks amazing.”
She smiles shyly, her cheeks taking on a pink hue and turns her back, busying herself at the sink. My brows pinch. “Aren’t you going to join me?”
Glancing over her shoulder, she says, “Oh. Yeah, I just thought I’d clean up a little first.”
I shake my head. “Leave that, I’ll do it. Come and eat.” I pick up a plate and begin loading it with a little of everything as I wait for her to do the same.
She doesn’t.
“Bella. Come and eat with me,” I say again, watching her shoulders fall in defeat as she puts down the roasting tin she was scrubbing. Picking up a second plate, I load that up for her and place it on the island next to me.
Bella reaches for the hand towel, drying off her hands before finally coming to sit beside me and I wave my fork toward the food. “You cook; I clean.”
“You’ve just finished work after camping out in a field. I will clean,” she argues.
I shake my head. “Doesn’t matter. You cook; I clean. It’s non-negotiable.”
I shovel a forkful of chicken into my mouth and release a groan at the explosion of flavours just as her pretty grey eyes roll into the back of her head and almost cause me to choke on my food.
“You’re being ridiculous. You’ve given me somewhere to live for the past month.
Worked basically a thirty-six-hour shift and went out of your way to invite my friends over.
Cooking and cleaning is the least I can do, Noah. ”
Placing my fork down, I turn in my chair, using my feet to turn hers so that she’s facing me. “Listen to me, and listen real good ‘cause I’m only gonna say this once, okay?” I look between her eyes, waiting for her to nod.
“I don’t know what kind of nineteen fifties shit your slimeball ex was into, but in this house, hell, I can bet in every house on this ranch, we split responsibilities. You cook? I clean. You do laundry? I put it away. You do the grocery shop? I pay.”
She glares at me on that last one, just like I knew she would and I wait for the inevitable rebuttal. She doesn’t disappoint.
“First of all, I haven’t done a single piece of your laundry since I got here because you always do it yourself.
Secondly, I am perfectly capable of buying some groceries.
I own a business, in case you forgot. And third, this has nothing to do with the nineteen fifties, my ex or responsibilities.
This is me saying thank you so stop being a macho dickhead and eat your food. ”
I don’t think she realised it but with every point she made, her face moved closer to mine and now we’re only a breath apart. My eyes flick down to hers on instinct and I wet my lips as I look back up at her.
“Anything else?” I ask, my breaths coming in short, sharp pants. She’s so close I can almost taste her.
Bella swallows hard, her own breaths matching mine. “Yeah,” she croaks.
I move forward another centimetre, my voice low and gravelly. “And what’s that?”
Our eyes are locked on one another’s, a silent battle happening in the small space between us.
Kiss me, Bells. Just lean forward and kiss me.
She leans in even closer and for that split second, I really think she’s about to do it.
My eyes close, lips parting as I wait for the feel of hers against mine.
But they don’t come. Instead, the heat of her cheek brushes against mine as she presses her mouth to my ear and whispers, “I want to start paying rent.”
***
BELLA
I’ve never felt so alive.
For the second time in just a few days, I’ve almost kissed Noah. And every nerve ending in my body is on fire.
I don’t know when we went from two friends sharing a house to friends who flirt with each other, but I’m not mad about it.
It’s been years since my body has craved someone as much as it craves Noah right now.
I’m uncertain whether this is just a game for him or if he feels the same burning need for me as I do for him.
And as much as I wanted nothing more than to climb into his lap and take exactly what I want from him, I’m not going to be the first to make a move.
If Noah wants me, he knows where to find me.
And until he admits it, I’m happy to keep playing whatever game we’re playing right now.
Although, I can’t help feeling like my teasing backfired because after my comment about paying rent, Noah laughed and continued eating his dinner like he hadn’t seen food in over a week.
Meanwhile, I had to force myself to chew and swallow while squirming in my seat and pretending like I couldn’t see the painfully obvious bulge pressing against his jeans.
As promised, he cleaned up every bit of mess I had made while cooking the meal before disappearing upstairs to take a shower. The moment I heard the lock on the bathroom door turn, I was tempted to sneak into my bedroom and put the new toy I just bought to good use, but then I thought better of it.
The last thing I need is him finishing his shower quicker than usual and overhearing me getting myself off to thoughts of him.
So, now I’m lying on the couch in my pyjamas – which happen to be the skimpiest ones I own – and flicking through Netflix to distract myself from the wet, naked man upstairs.
Spoiler alert; it’s not working.
The bathroom door opens and my stomach flips in anticipation. Sitting up straighter on the couch, I slow my breathing and continue flicking through movies, not really paying attention.
The stairs creak with every step and I smell him before I see him. The earthy yet masculine scent of his body wash tingles my nose and causes goosebumps to litter my skin.
“What are we watching tonight?” He asks, coming into view and if I had even the slightest idea what we were watching, it would have left my mind the moment my eyes land on his still damp bare chest.
Tattoos cover almost every inch of his skin save for his abs, that are a work of art all on their own.
A light dusting of hair runs from his navel down to where it disappears behind…
mother of God, a pair of light grey shorts.
His left leg is also covered in tattoos, with intricate designs woven around the front and back, making it all blend together seamlessly. And his feet are bare.
I swallow. Hard.
“Bells?”
My eyes snap up to his, face heating with embarrassment when I see the smirk on his. He knows exactly what he’s doing. “Yeah?”
“What are we watching?” He gestures at the TV, holding out one of the two beers he’s holding for me. Huh, hadn’t noticed those before.
I take it and say a quick thank you before chugging half of it down in one and toss the remote to him. “You can choose.”
He chuckles and shakes his head, taking a seat next to me and picking up the remote. He scrolls through the options, and I watch in fascination as the muscles in his arm flex with every click of a button.
Is everything he does hot? Or am I ovulating? I should check my app.
“What are you feeling? Action or comedy?” he asks and for some strange reason I almost answer, “You. I want to feel you.”
“Umm, I’m not really bothered,” I answer instead and take another long drink from the bottle of beer. I might need ten of these to make it through this night.
“Are you okay?” he asks, his eyebrows furrowed as he looks at me in feigned concern.
No. I’m not okay. And you know exactly why.
I nod, taking my bottom lip between my teeth. His eyes zero in on it, the cockiness in his gaze faltering and for the first time since he came back down the stairs, I feel like I’ve gained back a slither of control.
He clears his throat. “You’re sure?”
“Mm-hmm,” I hum.
Noah gives me a once over and I give myself a mental pat on the back when he focuses a little too long on the skin showing between the bottom of my vest and the top of my shorts.
I watch his throat bob with a swallow and I’m downright giddy when he runs a hand over his face, shaking his head with a whispered fuck.
That’s right, Calloway. Two can play that game.