He swiped his finger across the screen and lifted the phone. He couldn’t ignore the call. Now one of the elite army rangers, Dominic could be freaking anywhere and might not get a chance to phone home again for a long time. “Hey, Dominic.”
“Hey, man. Did I catch you while running? You sound out of breath,” his friend spoke over the crystal clear signal.
“No, just finishing up for the night.”
“Yeah, about that.” Dominic’s tone shifted, hardening, and Noah braced for the hit. His friend couldn’t touch him from half a world away, but he could pack a powerful punch with his words. “My dad said Josie moved back and she’s working for you now. How’d that happen?”
He had nothing to give his friend but the truth. “She asked, man. And I had to say yes.”
“That’s it?” Dominic growled.
“Yeah.” Noah looked at Josie. She unfolded her arms and held out her hand.
“Let me talk to him,” she said softly.
He nodded, but didn’t pull the phone away from his ear. “I got to tell you, your sister is the best thing that’s happened to this bar in a while.” And to me. “She’s standing right here. Want to say howdy?”
“It’s fucking four thirty in the morning there,” Dominic snapped. “What are you still doing—”
“Here she is.” He held the phone out to Josie. “Your brother’s pissed off.”
“WHAT HAPPENED TO school? I know you were taking some time off, but I thought you were going back.” Dominic’s voice boomed in her ear as she moved away from Noah’s truck and into the dark, empty parking lot. Glancing up, she searched for stars or a glimpse of the moon. Nothing but clouds. It was as if the night sky had decided to take a vacation.
But even a dark, gloomy summer’s night and her brother’s how-did-you-screw-up-this-time tone couldn’t penetrate the memory of Noah’s mouth crushed against hers. He’d kissed her as if he needed to take her.
“Josie, I know you’re still there,” her brother said. “I’m on the base in Tennessee. There is nothing wrong with this connection.”
“You’re coming home?” she asked, torn between wanting to wrap her arms around her brother and keep him safe in Forever, Oregon, and needing a little more time to jump-start her life here.
“No. We’re heading out tomorrow,” he said gruffly. “To the base in Turkey. Then, we’ll see.”
“Did you call Dad?” she asked.
“Yeah, which is how I found out you’re home and serving drinks at Noah’s bar,” he said with a sigh. “I thought you were going to finish your degree. You only had one more year.”
“I needed more time.” And seventy thousand dollars. “So I came home.”
“That’s it? That’s why you walked away?” Dominic demanded.
“Life doesn’t always work out like you think,” she said quietly. Sometimes it hands you a pile of heartbreak and you need pie. And I think Noah’s the perfect combination of sweet and tart.
But if she said that to her brother, he’d want details.
“No,” Dominic said flatly. “It doesn’t.”
And she wondered if he was thinking about Lily, his high school sweetheart. They’d broken up after he joined the rangers.
“If you’re sure about working there—”
“I’m sure,” she said firmly.
“Then put me on speaker so I can say goodbye to Noah,” he said. “And, Josie? I love you. Don’t forget that.”
“I love you too,” she said softy, hoping it wouldn’t be the last time she said those words to him. She walked over to Noah and held out the phone as she found the right button on the screen. “You’re on speaker and Noah’s here.”
“Thanks for looking out for Josie,” Dominic said. The hard, threatening edge had returned to his voice, signaling he was done with the I-love-yous. “For treating her like you would your own sister and all.”
“Dominic,” she said. “Don’t worry about how he treats me—”
“The hell I won’t,” her brother snapped. “Do you hear me, Noah?”
“Loud and clear, buddy,” Noah said. “I’ll take care of her. You focus on doing your job, staying safe, and staying alive.”
“Will do,” Dominic said. “Will do.” And he ended the call.
“Let’s go, Josie.” Noah took the phone and slid it into his pocket. “Time to get you home before you father sends a patrol car to look for you.”