“Why?”
She straightened up. “Because I care about you, of course.”
“Yeah, right.” He paced to the door of the kitchen, then came back. “What’s the problem, Abby? Are you tired of the good ol’ boys in town? Looking for something different? A little excitement?”
“That’s an obnoxious thing to say.”
“Or do you come on to every single guy who walks in the door?”
“I don’t know that you’re single.” She wiped her hand across her mouth. “I just offered a kiss.”
“You offered a hell of a lot more than that, and you know it. But I’m not taking.”
“Obviously.” Trying for dignity, she stalked past him without a glance, picked up her purse and keys off the counter and left the kitchen.
At the front of the diner, she turned off the lights for the dining room and took a great deal of pleasure in listening to Noah stumble against tables and chairs in the dark. Still swearing, he brushed through the door as she held it open, but the touch only chilled her. Or maybe it was the cold night wind.
He watched from his bike as she bolted the door. “You lock up by yourself like this every night?” His growl took her by surprise. “In the dark? With nobody around?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact.” She started toward her car and heard the bike rolling along behind her.
“Your dad lets you do that?”
“I’ve never had a problem.”
“Dumb luck. You should never be here alone. Especially at night.”
“Don’t lecture me on safety, Noah.” She didn’t look at him as she spoke. “You don’t know the first thing about this town or my life. You haven’t been here for fifteen years. So just…just put a sock in it.”
He was silent as she unlocked the Volvo and got in. But before she could close the door, he was looming over her.
“You probably think New Skye is a sweet little place where nothing bad ever happens. But I’m telling you, there are nasty people here, like everywhere else. And if you aren’t careful, one day you’re gonna find that out the hard way. Your friends and your family should take care of you.”
Abby stared up at him. “Yes, I guess they should, friend.” She pulled on the door with both hands and, when he stepped out of the way, slammed it shut. The engine started with a purr, thank goodness. Engine trouble would have been too mortifying. Needing to get away, Abby shifted gears and set her foot on the accelerator.
But then a thought struck and she rolled down the window. “Come get your dog,” she yelled.
Noah turned and stared at her. “I don’t want the damn dog.”
“Well, if you don’t come get him, I’ll send him to the shelter. My dad doesn’t want to keep him.”
“What’s your dad got to do with it?”
“I live in his house. He makes the rules.” She couldn’t believe they were shouting at each other across the parking lot in the middle of the night.
Noah wasn’t shouting now. He’d gone quiet, and stood still as he gazed at her. “You live with your dad?”
Abby nodded.
“Damn,” he said distinctly. He dropped his head back and stared up at the sky. “Damn, damn, damn.”
Then he got on the Harley, gunned the noisy engine, and roared off into the night.
CHAPTER THREE
NOAH MISSED BREAKFAST. After finally falling asleep as the sun came up, he stumbled into the kitchen at ten to find a pot of cold coffee and his mother’s note.
“Drs appt. Back sometime.”
“Love you, too,” he told her. He had no business feeling resentful, since he was the one who’d been gone for fifteen years. A warm welcome was the last thing he deserved.
Especially a welcome like the kind Abby had offered last night.
He groaned and rubbed the heels of his hands into his burning eyes. He’d put up with a lot of punishment in the last few years, but last night just hadn’t been fair. He shouldn’t have been required to turn down a generous, willing woman like Abby. He would have made sure she enjoyed the night as much as he did. They both could be feeling pretty good this morning.
Instead, he felt like hell. Nothing new there. He flicked the switch for the coffeemaker to warm up, then bent over to rest his folded arms on the counter and hide his face from the bright light coming through the window. A hangover would be bearable. This ache inside him was too much.
The phone’s ring interrupted his pity party and Noah straightened up, reaching automatically for the place on the wall where the phone hung. His hand met air, then wall. No phone.
“Damn.” He tracked the noise into the living room and pounced on a cordless model set up by his mother’s chair. “Hello? Hello?”
“Good morning, Noah. It’s Kate Bell. How are you today?”
Best to settle for a polite answer. “I’m good, Kate. How are you?”
“Just fine. But I have a little problem you could help me with, if you would.”
He dropped into the chair. “I’ll do what I can.”
“Thanks so much. After your brilliant idea last night, Dixon volunteered to take some measurements in the gym to determine how large the painted panels should be. But when he volunteered, he forgot that he’s flying to Nashville this afternoon on business. Since he can’t be here, he wondered if you would take those measurements for him. We want to give people plenty of time to sign up and complete their paintings.”
“Nashville?”
“He writes songs—rock, country. You’ve probably heard them on the radio. Every so often, the folks in Nashville want to see him up there, and this is the week.”
“I’m impressed. You’ll have to give me a list of his songs. But—”
“He also wanted me to remind you that you’re expected at the basketball game Saturday morning. Seven o’clock.”
“I appreciate the offer. But—”
“I know Rob Warren will want to see you—y’all spent time together in high school, didn’t you? Rob’s just married a really lovely woman with two children. He was married to Leah Rodes—do you remember her?—but she died having their baby, Ginny. So it’s great that he’s found somebody to share his life again.”
“Sounds really nice, but—”
“Then I’ll tell Dixon to expect you on Saturday. And if you don’t mind, get those measurements to me as soon as possible. I’ve got a flyer ready to print and send out, as soon as I figure out the size of the panel.”
“I’ll get that done today, Kate. But—”
“Thanks so much. I really appreciate your help. I’ll give you a call soon and have you over for dinner. I’d love you to meet my children, Trace and Kelsey. Till later, then. Bye.”
She clicked off before he could say another word, but Noah continued to stare at the phone.
What had just happened? People like Kate Bowdrey and her sister had barely given him the time of day in high school—now all at once they wanted him to help out with their dance? Maybe Abby was behind this sudden friendliness, trying to make him fit in somehow.
He clenched his back teeth at the idea of being anybody’s charity