Page 4 of Coming Home

“I can always count on you.” He placed his large hand atop hers.

An electric tingle pulsed from his palm into her body, fanning those bonfires into a raging forest fire within her. Warmth crept up her neck and heated her cheeks.

“Are you okay? You look flushed.”

“Yes. Just warm in here.” A small catch stole her breath.

Their gazes tethered. Maybe it was just her moth-like gaze refusing to look away from the flame of his eyes, but for a moment, it seemed as if he was as drawn to her as she was to him.

His fingers skated across the heated skin of her hand in soothing strokes. “Do you want to go?—”

His words were snatched from a loud voice bellowing from the bar. “Hey, Prince Charming!” Todd, Noah’s business partner, peeked over the heads of partygoers crowded at the barndoor paneled bar.

“Todd?” Noah blew out a long breath, twisting toward the bar.

“Stop flirting with Clayton’s sister and come help me!” Todd’s face pinched with annoyance.

“I’m not flirting with Clayton’s sister.”

Gut punch.Nat’s smile didn’t reach her eyes.

“Duty… well, Todd calls.” Noah jumped up and strode to the bar.

Just the sister.Nat frowned and gulped her ale. While Noah’s eyes saw so much, she feared that in his eyes she’d always be Clayton’s little sister.

Nat meandered through the party chatting with the guests. It was a mixture of family and friends. Elle’s two besties, Viet and Willa, held court in the corner of the room surrounded by Elle’s Uncle Pete and cousin Tobey.

It felt a little too unrequited for Nat to stand, with a longing gaze, in the opposite corner of the bar watching Noah. A carefreeexpression on his face as he whispered something in Willa’s ear. Head bobbing in laughter, her long caramel locks tumbled over her pretty face.

Nat’s fingers curled tightly around her drink as she took in the sight. It wasn’t the first time she’d witnessed the flirtation that flew between Noah and Willa, which had been a topic of conversation with Elle and Clayton. Nat observed it first-hand in May after Willa had flown in for the Farmer’s Ale Grand Opening. Both Noah and Willa insisted they werejustfriends, but who flies cross-country to come to a brewery opening in Perry, New York for a “friend” you’d barely known for a year?

Not buying it.

A frown formed on Nat’s lips with each caress of Willa’s fingers down Noah’s muscular arm. The sultriness in her eyes as she looked at Noah like he was the last Oreo in the package even caused Nat’s temperature to tick up.

Of course he was drawn to Willa. The sexy curves and flirtatious personality aside, she was brilliant, warm, andnothis best friend’s little sister.

I could never be Willa.

“What are we frowning at?” Summer Michaels’ soft voice broke into Nat’s self-loathing.

She sighed, “Nothing.”

“Looks like thatnothingis flirting with Willa.”

Ugh. Can’t get anything past her.She nodded.

Since coming back to Perry, Summer and Nat had formed an unexpected friendship. The single mom, nine years older than Nat, had gone to high school with Elle, Clayton, and Noah. To say Elle and Summer were high school besties was like saying great whites and seals were snuggle buddies. Summer wasn’t just the former great white, but the Regina George of Perry. That was high school, though, and neither she nor Elle were the girlsthey’d been. After reconnecting last summer, the two became close friends.

Nat soon followed. After meeting at the Owens’ annual Christmas party, they formed a fast friendship. What started as superficial bonds over a shared love of Disney movies, their favorite bookLittle Women, and being terrible cooks soon deepened.

Besides Elle, Summer was the closest friend Nat had in Perry. She was the only person who knew about Nat’s long-standing crush on Noah. Elle knew that she had a crush as a little girl but had no idea that the fascination lingered like a mosquito that just wouldn’t fucking leave no matter how often she’d swatted at it.

“I’m pathetic,” Nat muttered, pressing her hands against her face.

Summer squeezed Nat’s bare arm. “You’re not pathetic. You’re scared.”

“I’m scared?” she scoffed.

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