Serving Trouble(73)

He lowered his outstretched arm as she pushed herself off the sand, dusting off her butt. There was sand in her shorts. But it had been worth it.

“I don’t want your brother thinking I kept you out too long,” he said. “He might make it difficult for you to go to the party.”

“I’ll be there,” she said firmly. Even if I have to sneak out of the house again.

“Good.” He turned and started walking toward his grandmother’s beach chair. “Because I’d like to see you ride that bull before I go.”





Chapter Four


ONE MORE NIGHT. Don’t waste it.

Noah stared into the flames. With Dominic and Ryan’s help, he’d built one helluva campfire on his dad’s land, not far from the barn. Pickups formed a barrier on one side. Their tailgates were parked a safe distance from the flames. But they remained close enough for ­couples and groups of ­people he’d known his entire life to huddle together. The keg stood opposite the lines of trucks on the other side of the fire. And behind it, the woods he’d played in as a kid.

One more night. He wanted to enjoy it—­right or wrong. Because he wasn’t going to come home the same. He knew it. And it scared the hell out of him.

He scanned the crowd. Dominic was holding court, his legs dangling over the back of his dad’s truck and his arm around Lily. He couldn’t find Ryan. But he’d spotted him earlier, heading to the house with Helena. They’d been on a mission to raid his dad’s liquor cabinet. Knowing his father wouldn’t mind, Noah had given them the go-­ahead.

One more night. And he wanted Josie Fairmore—­the only person in Forever who’d asked, Are you scared?

He spotted her, standing off to the side of the keg with a red plastic cup in her hand. Her white sundress glowed in the firelight, hugging her curves and offering a stellar view of her legs. She wore her dark hair long and loose around her shoulders. And a pair of brown leather cowboy boots on her feet.

Noah was by her side before he realized he’d been walking, dodging backslaps from old friends. Sure, he’d smiled at them, but he’d wanted to get to Josie.

“Your dad would probably ground you for the rest of the year if he saw you sipping on that.” He nodded to the cup poised at her lips.

She lowered her drink. “Trying to save me from my dad now?”

“No.”

Tonight I want to land you in trouble. The kind that will piss off your dad and your brother. But it doesn’t have a damn thing to do with drinking.

“Well, it’s water. I haven’t touched the beer tonight.” She lifted her free hand and ran her index finger around the rim of her cup. “And I’m leaving for college in a few weeks. I doubt my father will bother driving up to Portland to ground me.”

“Would you listen if he did?”

“Probably not.”

“So . . .” Shit, he was acting like he’d never spoken to a woman before. And this was Josie.

Because it was Josie, he had to ask. “Has Travis left you alone?”

She nodded and her smiled faded. “He hasn’t called, texted, or emailed. And I don’t miss him.”

“Glad you’re not heartbroken.” Because I’m dying to take you into the barn and watch you ride that damn bull in your little, white dress.

“Not even close. I’m more upset about the fact that you’re leaving tomorrow. Not just you, I mean. Dominic too.”

She turned her gaze to the grass at her feet. It was green, which was unusual for this time of year. The fact that they’d had some rain and were still free and clear from forest fire danger had allowed them to build the bonfire.

“Nice boots,” he said, ready to slam the door on words like “Travis” and “leaving.”

She lifted her chin. And the look in her green eyes? It spelled mischief. “You mentioned something about riding . . .”

“The bull.” He nodded to the barn. “It’s in there. Follow me.” And make my fantasy come true.

He was one beer into the night, so he knew it wasn’t alcohol driving him. He wanted Josie. On the bull, on the cushions surrounding the machine—­it didn’t matter as long as she was in his arms.

“Sure there won’t be a line?” she asked, walking at his side through the darkness to the mostly empty pole barn that at one time, when his grandfather was alive, had housed cows, goats, and even a llama.

He shook his head. “I locked it up for the night. I didn’t want a bunch of drunken idiots taking rides and getting hurt. Plus, my dad would be pissed if someone broke it.”

“You’ll start it off slow so I won’t get hurt?” she asked, her voice low.