AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Yes."
Noah grins.
"I mean, he doesn't like most people. He usually hides when people come over." The last time Nash visited, Brick bit him when he tried to pick him up. In Brick's defense, I'd probably bite my brother, too.
"We have an understanding."
"You have an understanding with my cat," I repeat, amused.
"Mmhmm." Noah's grin widens. "He's going to help me keep an eye on you. In exchange, I'm going to feed him extra when you aren't looking."
"Noah!" I shake my head, laughing. "He's on a diet."
"Calories don't count at my house, Dimples."
"Are we still going to your house?"
"Unless you're ready to share a room with me."
I hesitate for a moment. Am I ready?
"Can I ask you a question? And I need you to be honest with me," I say, wrapping my arms around myself as I lean against the small two-seater table.
"I won't lie to you."
"Why are you here?"
He eyes me levelly.
"I mean, if you're just here because Nash asked you to look after me, you don't have to act like this is more than that, Noah. It won't hurt my feelings. But I'd rather know now than after…"
"After what?"
"Nothing," I mumble. "I'd just rather know now."
He leans down, gently placing Brick on the floor. As he straightens, his gaze locks on mine, and my mouth goes dry. That look in his eyes… Lord. It pierces right through me, making my knees weak.
He paces toward me, moving like a leopard on the prowl.
"You think I'm here because of Nash, Aspen?"
"I don't…" I lick my lips. Now that I've said it out loud, it sounds crazy. "I don't know."
"He asked me to keep an eye on you, but he isn't the reason my fucking heart stopped beating when you called me this morning." He takes another step toward me and then another. "He isn't the reason I didn't sleep last night." Another step. "He isn't the reason I can still taste you on my tongue." He stops in front of me, still holding my gaze. "And he damn sure isn't going to be the reason I put a ring on your finger as soon as you let me."
"I…" I swallow hard, rendered speechless, perhaps for the first time in my life.
"I'm exactly where I want to be, protecting the one thing in this town that matters." He slides his hand around the back of my neck, pulling me into him. His lips brush my forehead. "And I'm not going anywhere, so you might as well get used to it now."
Well, I guess that's clear enough, isn't it?
"Here," he says a few minutes later, dropping a photo album in front of me. "These are the photos the sheriff wants you to look through."
"Dillon."
"What?"
"His name is Dillon. He isn't the kind of sheriff who likes to be called the sheriff." I stare at the photo album. It's a nondescript black, and a lot thicker than I thought it would be. "I thought he was just sending a couple of photos."
