Serving Trouble(24)

NOAH PARKED HIS truck in front of the chief of police’s old farmhouse and pressed the horn. He hoped Josie’s dad had already left for the station. Chief Fairmore would start asking questions if he found Noah grinning like a damn fool while waiting for his daughter. And what the hell would he say to Josie’s father?

I want your daughter in a way that promises to leave her boots beside my bed—­or next to the bull in the barn.

Chief Fairmore might tell him to steer clear of his daughter, or threaten to tell his dad, Big Buck himself, that his son was messing around with an employee. And yeah, Noah probably should have served himself a heaping plateful of regret alongside his eggs this morning. He shouldn’t have kissed Josie. But he sure as shit hoped they found their way back to that moment. If she gave him a chance, he’d steal a kiss and then some.

The front door opened and Josie stepped out. She’d skipped the black dress today. And for a split second he missed the tight fit of her red sundress. But then she stepped off the porch and headed for his truck. Between her tight, short jean skirt, boots, and top, his attention splintered, drawn to the legs he wanted to feel wrapped around his hips. And those boots . . .

But his gaze zoned in on her top. She wore the old Big Buck’s T-­shirt he’d given her that first night. Only she’d tied the loose fabric into a knot at her back, pulling the words “Big Buck’s” tight across her chest.

He wanted to replace the worn letters with one word—­“Noah’s.”

He was one helluva jerk. But ever since he’d come home, he’d wanted to lose himself for a little while, forgetting about all the shit that had happened while he served his country.

A blow and a beer—­that’s what I want.

He’d had a beer, but he’d steered clear of meaningless oral sex with a willing woman. Because he’d wanted Josie since he walked out of that barn five years ago. Smart, sexy, brilliant Josie.

“Morning,” she said as she opened the passenger side door to his truck. “You look good for three hours of sleep.”

“I’ve gotten by on a lot less,” he said.

“I know.” She climbed in and fastened her seat belt. “How is Caroline?”

Still living in a nightmare. But he didn’t feel right talking about how he’d heard his houseguest crying through the thin walls in his childhood home.

“All right.” He turned onto the two-­lane country road leading toward the highway. “She found out about your dad being chief of police.”

“I didn’t tell her, but I’ll make it clear that my father won’t find out about her from me,” she said. “And I don’t think Josh clued her in either. But he did offer to make her a pie.”

“What?”

“He likes her,” Josie said.

Oh shit.

“If he lays a hand on her,” Noah growled, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. “If he touches her—­”

“Calm down. You don’t need to rush in and save her. Not from Josh Summers,” she said. “I have a feeling Caroline can decide for herself. And one day she might want to say yes to sharing a pie.”

“I hope you’re right,” he murmured. They drove in silence, speeding past one farm after another. Mountains rose in the distance, but they were still firmly in the valley. Cows, goats, and horses dotted the landscape.

“But you’re sweet to stand by,” she added. “Ready to protect her.”

“Yeah? You think your brother is a big old teddy bear for jumping to your defense?” he challenged. Sweet. Jesus. He couldn’t wear that label, not anymore.

“My brother’s not so bad. Especially when he’s stationed on the other side of the world. But this isn’t about Dominic.”

“No?”

“Go ahead,” she said, her green eyes sparkling with daring. “Tell me what a jerk you are.”

“A damn big one,” he muttered.

“I want details.” Her low, sultry voice flipped a switch, turning him on.

“Josie, I would strip off a lot more than your panties if we ever found ourselves in a hay wagon. But I’d prefer someplace we wouldn’t be discovered.” His voice was a low growl and his fingers tapped on the wheel, itching to turn the truck around and take her . . . where?

They couldn’t go back to his place. His dad was there. And Caroline. And he wasn’t about to seduce the police chief’s daughter in her father’s house. But Big Buck’s?

“Like right here on the side of the road?” she asked. “We haven’t passed another car in while. And I don’t think the farm animals would breathe a word to anyone. Not that they can see inside the truck.”