Page 102 of The Souls of Lost Lake
“You determine this now—when it’s more than apparent we’ve been living together? I put my entire reputation on the line for you!” Noah’s arms waved in exasperation. “Not a soul will believe we—”
“Well, I never asked you to!” Ava spat.
“My ministry here is shot to heck.” He skewered her with a look, striding a few paces toward her.
“Then move to another church. Doesn’t seem like you’re happy here anyway.” Ava tilted her head and glowered at him.
Noah stilled. “And why would you say that?”
“Doubtful I’ve ever seen you smile,” Ava challenged.
“You’ve been in my house all of a couple weeks.”
“Most people smile at least once in fourteen days,” Ava retorted.
Noah glared.
Ava raised her brows. “’Sides, it’s clear as the nose on your face thatEmmalinehas caused you problems. Seems like I ain’t the only one with ghosts in my closet.”
“I neverkilledher.”
“I neverkilledmy family.”
They stared each other down. Both of them breathing heavier. Angry. Hurt. It was thick between them. As thick as the air that swirled but with something entirely different. Something that made Ava distinctly aware of the way Noah clenched his square jaw. Of the way his hair fell over his forehead. Of the way his eyes burrowed so deep into her soul that she was afraid he could read every part of it and know every nook and cranny.
“Emmaline isn’t my issue,” Noah responded finally, his voice a bit softer.
“Then what is?” Ava held up her hands. “No. I don’t need to know. Wanna know why? ’Cause I’ve had my face bruised in and bloodied. Someone left an ax-head in the back door for me to find. People think I’m a bloodthirsty murderer. Seems like I’ve got enough on my plate to be considerin’ than worryin’ about what your problem is.”
Noah’s eyes darkened. “Ava.”
“Don’tAvame. You don’t have the slightest clue what it’s like to be afraid all your life.” Ava could hear herself ranting, like a dam of pent-up emotion she didn’t even realize she had. “You don’t know what it’s like to be lost. To grow up never knowin’ why your family died. To live with a crotchety old widower who thought your only worth was to do his chores and watch his traplines and rap at yourdoor at night till Jipsy intervened. Ain’t no one ever cared enough to love me. To want me. Only thinkin’ I’m some mystery and then bein’ quick to judge when they needed someone to blame. Now I’m runnin’, but to where? Only home I got is deep in these woods, and it’s all burned down. I drug my family into the lake to save ’em from burnin’, but they was already dead. Dead and bloody. So don’t talk to me about yourissues! Your problems. I’m sooooooo sorry I added to your troubles!” Ava was trying to shout, but her throat was clogged with tears, and her words came out more of a croak than anything.
“Ava—”
“You can move on. You prob’ly got family, and well, if’n Tempter’s Creek wants to make a mess of you ’cause you were helpin’ me, an’ they want to make up lies ’bout you, then it ain’t like you can’t pick up and go start new somewhere else.”
“Reputation and sin follow you.”
“So you’re gonna make this about sin now?”
“No,” Noah growled in exasperation. “That’s not my point.”
“Just let me go,PreacherPritchard. It’s time we go our separate ways. I never asked you to look out for me. I never asked you to defend me. I never asked you tocare!” Now she was crying, and that made Ava more frustrated. She wrapped her arms around herself.
“Maybe caring is just what I do best.”
“Ain’t no one ever cared before.” Ava choked on her tears.
“Maybe you shouldletsomeone care.”
Ava tightened her embrace on herself, her fingers curling into the material of her dress. “Anyone who cares about me dies. Then I’m all alone. That there’s the hard cold truth of it, Preacher.”
Noah cleared the distance between them in a few quick strides. His hand threaded through her hair at the back of her head and he hauled her toward him. His mouth closed over hers, needing, searching, communicating something—something Ava wasn’t sure how to understand. But she responded anyway. She released her embrace on herself and clutched at his necktie, his shirtfront.Noah’s free arm slid around her waist and pulled her close to him. Ava could feel the breadth of his chest. She could taste him as he kissed her. Over and over, until she couldn’t breathe.Hecouldn’t breathe. They broke apart, and Noah leaned his forehead against hers, his hand still holding the back of her head.
His eyes were fully on fire. There was a passion in them that went beyond the kiss, went beyond any physical need. It was longing for closeness, a soul seeking oneness. The pain in Noah’s expression mirrored her own, and Ava couldn’t understand. Couldn’t fathom how he knew her ache without experiencing it.
They breathed in unison, staring into each other’s eyes. Oh, she’d been wrong. She wasn’t capable of handling the flames in this man. It was powerful. It held promise of things Ava longed for, but it was dangerous. A different sort of dangerous than what lurked in the woods—in her past and present—but dangerous nonetheless.
