Page 10 of Coming Home

Nat spun to face him. “What the hell was that?”

“What?”

She stabbed her index finger into his chest, trying to retain her annoyance and not swoon at the firmness under his shirt. “I already have one overprotective big brother. I don’t need another.”

Noah flinched.

Why is he flinching?No way had her poke done any damage.

“Here you go, your highness.” Todd plopped down two pint glasses with the right amount of head on them on the bar.

“Thanks,” Noah grumbled, his eyes fixed on her.

Todd’s gaze bounced between them. With a wry smile, he shook his head and walked away.

Pivoting to grab the drinks, she blew out a heavy breath.Ugh! This man!Plopping the drinks back on the bar, she whirled. “I don’t need Clayton nor you butting into my life. I’m twenty-eight. I’ve had boyfriends. I’ve had sex. Lots of sex.”

“I know.” He swallowed thickly. “I just want to look out for you.”

She threw her hands up. “I’mnota little girl anymore!” Granted, her rebuttal was little girl tantrum-like, but utterly justified. Even if only to herself.

Who washeto butt in? Her brother’s obnoxiously intrusive overprotectiveness, while just as annoying, was one thing. But Noah indulging in that behavior by intervening was quite another. With Clayton, she was the little sister. She knew that. Noah’s action was akin to rubbing salt in the “you’ll only ever be my BFF’s little sister” wound.

“I know you’re not a little girl.” His blue eyes heated as their gazes twined together.

Something sparked in the bonding nature of their interlocked stares. The intensity forced her to step back, bumping against one of the stools at the bar. Stumbling, she started to fall backward until Noah’s strong hands clamped on her shoulders and steadied her.

A charged electrical current coursed from his palm. The air between them snapped, crackled, and popped like Rice Krispies with the first splash of cold milk. His thumbs stroked circles on her bare upper arms. Each caress calmed and inflamed her scorched skin.

What the fuck is happening?Her breath shallowed.

“Sorry.” He released her, his hands threaded into his short dark hair. “You’re right. I’m just used to looking after you. Clayton is like a brother, so you’re…”

“Like a little sister.” The sting was not dulled by the words coming from her own mouth.

With a firm line sketched on his face, Noah grabbed the drinks. “I’ll carry these.” He turned, looked at the table, and then back to her. “Sorry. I just remember when you dated Duncan. You two broke up so soon after Evan that… It just didn’t sit right with me that he’d break up with you right after your brother died. It speaks to his character.”

Evan?The mention of her long-dead brother slammed into her like a freight train. Instead of the sensation of being crushed, red-hot anger surged in her.

Nat clenched her jaw, yanking the drinks from him, some of the creamy red ale sloshed onto both their hands. “I can carry my own damn drinks and decide who I spend time with.” She stomped toward the table and then whirled on him with narrowed eyes. “For the record, I broke up with him. I’m not some damsel who got her heart broken that you need to protect from the big bad ex-boyfriend. Why don’t you focus on your…whateveryou have going on with Willa and let me make my own decisions.”

“Nat—”

She ignored him and walked away.

CHAPTER FOUR

“I don’t pretend to be wise, but I am observing, and I see a great deal more than you’d imagine.”~Louisa May Alcott,Little Women

Stupid Noah Wilson!Teeth gritted, Nat brushed her shoulder-length hair up into a ponytail in preparation for high tea at the farmhouse. It would only be the wedding party. Plus, Jerome’s husband Tobey, Mathew, Carmen’s husband, and Ryan, Viet’s husband. Including Noah and Willa withwhateverthey had going on, she’d be the rainbow sprinkled single scoop…Again.

“Fuck it!” she said aloud, putting on the glittery rose teardrop earrings Elle had given her last year. If she was going to be the single scoop, then she’d put on all her rainbow sprinkles.

After shimmying into her hot pink dress with a tulle skirt that stopped just above the knees, she twirled in front of the sleeping loft’s gold-framed mirror. Yes, she actually fucking twirled. If everyone was going to treat her like the little sister, she’d do what she’d done throughout her residency program when others discredited her for her being younger than everyone else, herpetite size, or her gender; she’d put on something that surged her confidence and shake it off before facing them. Even if she chose her battles, she could always be prepared with a cute outfit and an assured smile.

With her newfound confidence, she descended the stairs to the living area. Stretching her arms, she let out a small yawn. All night, she’d tossed and turned. She’d flipped between stewing about Noah’s unwanted intervention with Duncan and fixating on that electric heat that came with proximity to both men. Two men. The same reaction.

Plopping onto the green couch, she leaned her chin on her hands. Noah had been the real-life Prince Charming who’d starred in her daydreams from the age of ten. Eighteen years ago, he’d gone from Clayton’s best friend to the star of all her schoolgirl fantasies when he’d come down the escalator at the Buffalo-Niagara Airport in his Marine uniform. Both families greeted him with signs welcoming him back after his first deployment. Excitement rioted through her as she held her handmadeDid you bring me a present?rainbow-glitter-covered sign.

---