Page 306 of Warlords, Witches & Wolves

I laughed, mainly to ease the pressure building in my chest. “Don’t tell me you’re handy at DIY, too?”

He shrugged. “I do all right. My brothers and I took over the family ranch when our parents died.”

That pressure returned tenfold. His parents died. I disowned my mother and never knew my father. With all these things we had in common, no wonder it seemed like we’d already met.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. They lived a long and happy life.”

I leaned against the counter, content with watching Noah. He transferred the mouthwatering fry-up onto plates and lured me back out to the bar.

Seriously, where had this guy been my whole life?

Noah set two places for us, and I sat on the stool beside him. “Thanks for this.”

“Anytime.” He grabbed a fork and dug in. “You know, Woodland Falls may have shit weather ninety percent of the time, but there’s lots of hidden gems only the locals know about.” He paused, chewing a piece of bacon. “If you’re here for the summer, I’d be happy to show them to you.”

Warmth bloomed along my cheeks. This guy made me smile more in the last twelve hours than I had in…forever.

Would it be so bad to spend time with him while I completed my mandatory will-cation?No. Quite the opposite. I suspected spending time with Noah would make the summer much more enjoyable. And maybe, just maybe, it’d ease some of my guilt for never contacting Joan when I had the chance.

I glanced at him and smiled. “I’d like that.”

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