Page 20 of If The Fates Allow
“I’m going to start calling you Dr. Goat since you seem mildly obsessed with them,” Willa grumbled. “Then again, at least you’re not enthralled with pigs, so I suppose I shouldn’t complain.”
A pair of squirrels, lost in the throes of courtship, scampered out of the woods. Round and round in a circle they went until the male of the pair nearly caught his female prey.
Too busy watching the fluffy-tailed rodents, Willa tripped on an exposed root. As the ground rushed up to greet her face, she gasped when it never connected.
Having swiftly caught her before impact, Noah set her to rights by wrapping her in his arms. Standing together, neither moved, the two of them blinking at one another while the squirrels disappeared to continue their dance up a nearby oak.
“I-I’m very sorry.” Pressed against his chest, Willa’s mind could only comprehend the hard muscle holding her upright. Hewas so very large, unyieldingly male, and like nothing else she had ever touched in her life. “Truly, sorry.”
Somewhat aware that Lucy and Mr. Richards had taken the trail’s curve already and were no longer within sight, Willa remained in her spot, wanting to linger in his arms.
And Noah made no move to release her.
“The goats,” he exhaled as Willa stared at him, completely fascinated. Not by the goats, but by the small flecks of green mixing with the blue of his irises. This close, they were dazzling in the sunlight, the tiny imperfections making him more human yet all the more alluring. “You have to remove the goats, Willa.”
Noah Anderson had to be the most beautiful man in creation. A specimen for all others of his sex to live up to. But,good heavens, the man was surprisingly horrid at getting his point across.
Not that she could comprehend much in her current situation.
“I don’t have any goats.”
His eyes dropped to her lips, and she didn’t mind so much this time around. The slow progression of his gaze charged the very air as if a lightning strike were imminent—a bolt of electricity to match the emotions coursing through her.
“The goats are an analogy.” His throat worked as he swallowed, chest rising and falling with every word. “You must get rid of what is setting off your attacks.”
“Well, it’s safe to say that it’s not goats as I’ve never been around one,” she joked, trying to break the magic of the moment and stall yet another heartbreak waiting to happen. “They don’t appear to be creatures I would get along with at all.”
“Are you sure?” Noah broke out into a grin. An honest to God one that struck her directly in the stomach. “They’re very stubborn.”
“I am not stubborn.”
“Yes, you are, but rest assured, you are much more beautiful than a goat.”
She couldn’t stop herself from laughing. “Do you always compare the women you find beautiful to farm animals, Dr. Anderson?”
As her smile grew, his faded, dissolving into a thin line. His gaze once fixed on her mouth, roamed over her face, seeking every imperfection—the freckles, the pale skin, that obnoxiousbeautymark along her jaw. He took it all in with equal parts awe and wonderment as if he had discovered some rare creature in the forests of Haven House.
“Wilhelmina Fairweather, you are much more than beautiful,” he whispered. “You’re extraordinary.”
Her heart sank. His compliment did nothing more than remind her of the pathetic life she lived every day. “I don’t want to be extraordinary. I want to be like you and Lucy and even boring John Richards.”
At the mention of John Richards, his hold lessened, and she stepped forward, not willing to let it end. Not yet. Dear universe, let her have just a second more of his touch.
“Never underestimate the stability that comes from being ordinary,” she continued. “I want to ride a horse on a hot, windy day. I want to run—truly run—on the sandy shore that is but a mile from my home. I want to understand what it means to take joy in the simple things because those simple things, while ordinary to you and others,” she released a humorless laugh, “are not so simple for me.”
The large hand splayed upon her back moved forward to capture her wrist. It stalled there, his thumb grazing back and forth over the hammering pulse beating against her skin. “Well, now you’ve gone and done it, Ms. Fairweather.”
She really should have extracted herself from his hold by now, but she couldn’t find the want or strength to do so. “And what is that, Dr. Anderson?”
Noah drew a long breath, and looked down at where he held her wrist. “Provided me with a new purpose in life.”
The sun peeked out from behind the clouds, and rays of sunshine streamed through the canopy, dancing with the branches and leavesfluttering in the afternoon breeze. Tipping his face to the sky, Noah closed his eyes to bask in the light.
“A new purpose?” The question squeaked out of her, and she attempted to strengthen her voice and make it less breathy. “Such as what, exactly?”
“Wiiillllaaaaa.” Lucy’s singsong voice carried over to them through the forest. “Are you coming?”
The spell over, Noah released his hold and placed her arm in his without answering. Unsure of what to do or say as they continued on the path in silence, Willa’s mind raced with thoughts on what just happened. A new purpose? What could he have possibly meant?
