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“That’s perfectly fine! My own partners hate me at times, and I can’t blame them a bit!”
I laughed at that, and Noah knocked on the door. “Hang on, Brian. I’m going to do a little couple session, so you can tell Noah what you just told me.”
“I’ll be here.”
I got up to let Noah in, and he held me in the doorway. “Don’t mean to interrupt, but I don’t want you out of my sight for too long.”
“Come in here with me. Brian’s still on the computer.”
We sat together on the bed, leaned back on those twisty logs that made up the headboard, and Brian nodded to Noah in greeting. “Your boy is fine, Noah. He’s a little shaken, but that’s to be expected.”
“Got any heavy drugs to sendmethen? I’m jumpy as a wild colt in the middle of a rattlesnake patch.”
“Descriptive. I like that. Yes, I can tell you’re tense, but you don’t need drugs. You have one another. Take sanctuary in that. The house is undoubtedly set against intruders. The night has fallen and the weather moving in, so light a fire in the fireplace, if you have one, and enjoy the evening just being together. You came close to losing that very thing today.”
“Got a jumpy stallion to thank for that,” Noah said of Spirit, then he turned to me and teased, “Two of them.”
“Ha! Yes, that’s very true. Your boy deserves a reward. But that’s not my place to tell you what to do with your boy, only to help him get better at dealing with things. Have a good night, you two, and remember to cherish the time you have together. It’s precious.”
When he was off the screen, Noah kissed me, then set his forehead to mine. “He’s right. This is precious.”
“It is. I’m never, ever going to take it for granted. Life was so good and then bam.”
“That’s… wise, baby. Let’s get some supper and eat it in front of the fireplace and just… be. That’s what I need the most.”
“Me too.”
That was the best night. Sure, every noise had us jumping, but I was with Noah. Harvey hadn’t won. He hadn’t taken Noah from me, hadn’t had me framed for murder.Hewas on the run. With every touch of Noah’s hand, I knew we had won.
The next day, the sheriff came by to let us know that soon after he’d run from the ranch, Harvey had all his money transferred to an account that was immediately emptied. He was on the run, and he had enough money to run for a long time.
He assured us that Harvey wouldn’t be back. I knew that was probably true, but we would never feel completely safe until he was caught.
Damon and Burke came to visit again a few days later. Burke held me in an embrace that I knew had Noah worried, but Burke didn’t care at all. He was my friend, maybe the best friend I ever had.
“Dammit, kid, you scared the fuck out of me.”
Damon was simmering by the door, his eyes narrowed in heated fury. “Give us every detail you can about this guy.”
“Damon, babe, lay off for now,” Burke said, and Damon gave him a nod before Noah took him into the kitchen, leaving Burke and me alone. We sat together on the couch, and he complimented me. “You look great for just being threatened like that.”
“I’ve been… good. I told you that the therapist helped me a lot. Noah’s great. Burke, everything is great except that one thing.”
“It’s a big thing, Eli. It cinched the deal, though. We’re moving out here.”
I was elated, but thinking I was the reason tainted it for me. “You don’t have to move to watch over me.”
“Narcissistic tendencies are a sign of insanity, babe.”
“Fuck right off.”
“No, it pushed me over the top a little, but we haven’t stopped talking it over since we left months ago, and going over finances, getting a realtor, all that, it takes some time. Should be out here by summer, hopefully.”
“That’s in, what? Three months at the most?”
“About, yeah. In fact, coming here this time isn’t just for you. Sorry to tell you that,” he teased.
“Looking for places? Noah can help. He knows the area well.”
