Page 6 of Fractured Dreams

But apparently reassured by her answer, Noah turned and led her into the airy, double-story entryway of the house and up the wide wooden stairway to the second floor. “Well, while you’re here, you’ll have four big brothers—and a big sister if you count Lexie—looking out for you, so I dare another guy to try anything.”

Eden rolled her eyes. “Great, exactly what I need, four killjoys watching over my every move. Although Ihavealways wanted a big sister. I’m sure Lexie won’t try to spoil my fun.”

“You’re not here to have fun, you’re here to recover from whatever that asswipe did to you and keep me entertained when I’m at home bored out of my brain.”

“Sounds like a blast. Why did I agree to this again?” Eden asked, pinching his side. It was surprisingly difficult to do since he seemed to be all muscle.

“God, how much do you work out?” she asked.

“I’ve told you before, I burn a ton of calories drumming. Throw in surfing, rock climbing, sex, that’s all the workout I need.”

Eden pulled a face. “I don’t need to know how active your sex life is, Noah, but thanks for that.” She paused, then smiled to herself as she continued. “I don’t think the piano and violin burn quite so many calories, I can’t surf or rock climb, so I guess if I want to get fit while I’m here I’m going to have to—” She laughed as Noah quickly cut her off.

“Alright, you made your point. I won’t talk about my sex life if you don’t talk about yours. In fact, you should probably avoid it altogether.”

“What, sex?” Eden followed Noah into the large, light-filled guest room, putting her violin case on the bed as Noah put her bags on the floor near the walk-in closet.

“Yeah. You don’t need any guys messing with your head right now. You need to concentrate on your career, not worry about another asshole breaking your heart.”

Eden’s eyebrows winged up. “Really? Is that what you did on your first tour, after you broke up with Summer? Swore off sex so you could concentrate on your music.”

Noah winced briefly at the mention of his high school girlfriend, then frowned at her. “No, but…”

“But what? But it was okay for you because you’re a guy and you can screw around as much as you want, and it doesn’t affect you?”

His eyes narrowed, knowing he was on dangerous ground. “You’re not the kind of person to screw around without becoming emotionally involved though, Eden, and I don’t want you getting hurt again. That moron you were dating obviously treated you like shit; you shouldn’t let anyone else get the chance.”

“I’m not a little girl anymore, Noah. I don’t need protecting, as much as you—and Mom and Dad—might think so.” She rubbed her temples. “And who says I’ll get emotionally involved? If I want to have a good time and enjoy myself while I’m here, that’s my choice. Obviously, I won’t bring anyone back to your house, but I’m tired of people making decisions for me based on whattheythink I need. If I screw up, that’s on me. I’ll learn and I won’t make the same mistake twice. But I need to be allowed to decide what I do with my life all on my own.”

Noah scrubbed his hand over his face and sighed. “Okay, okay, you’re right. You’re an adult and you can do what you want.”

“Thank you,” she said.

Noah walked over and gave her a hug. “You know I love you, right Eden? I’ll always be here for you.” His care and concern for her were obvious in his expression.

Tears pricked the back of her eyes. “I love you too, Noah.”

“Good.” His smile was back. “Now get unpacked and come downstairs so we can have a beer by the pool, and you can tell me who this asshat is and what exactly it was he did.”

“If you think I’m going to tell you his name, you’re sorely mistaken. I know you, and trust me, he’s not worth damaging your unbelievably valuable hands on.”

“Pfft,Iwouldn’t hit the guy. I’d send Tex, he might as well do something useful with all those muscles he has.”

Eden smiled at the thought of Tex. After her brother, he was the most laid-back of the four men, although he didn’t look it with his intimidating size and tattoos. Not that she didn’t like all the guys, but Connor and Zac were a little more reserved, a little harder to get to know. Regardless, she was looking forward to catching up with all of them while she was there. Lexie, too. Even though she’d only met Connor’s fiancée once, the two of them had formed an instant connection.

That thought prompted her to ask. “Will we be seeing the guys and Lexie sometime soon?”

“They’re coming around for lunch tomorrow. We’ll grill some burgers, drink beer, and hang by the pool, maybe jam some if everyone’s in the mood. Sound good?”

“Sounds fantastic. Okay, well, I’m going to unpack quickly, then we can have that drink. I’ll see you downstairs in a few minutes.”

After Noah left, Eden wandered over to the glass doors that led out to a small private balcony. Her eyes were drawn to the horizon, the vivid blue of the water mirroring the cloudless blue of the sky. She took a deep breath in, letting it out on a long exhale.Being near the ocean always gave her a sense of relaxation—of freedom. Perhaps sheshouldmove to LA when it was time to get a permanent position; it would be great to see Noah more often. As long as he kept his overprotectiveness to a minimum, that was.

Eden sighed. Her brother meant well, as did her parents. But they didn’t understand how stifled she’d felt growing up. Even when she was in high school, her parents had refused to let her do a lot of the things normal teenagers did. Which meant that until she’d left home for college, Eden had often felt like she was watching life from the sidelines, sheltered from both the highs and the lows by her parents’ well-meaning but misguided overprotectiveness.

She loved them—she missed them—but she loved being free to be her own person too, to make her own choices, do what she wanted to do. Even if those choices did sometimes come with painful consequences.

Like dating a musician who couldn’t keep it in his pants.

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