Page 84 of The Way Back Home
He hadn’t even realized it himself until he almost lost her.
He pushed the door open quietly, afraid she might be asleep, afraid she wouldn’t be.
Teagan was curled up on the couch beneath the throw blanket, Bear stretched loyally at her feet. A book lay open on her lap. Her eyes lifted the second he stepped inside. She seemed happy to see him, and that sparked hope in his chest.
“You’re back,” she said softly.
“Yeah,” he replied, tugging off his gloves. “Sorry I was gone so long. My mother insisted on packing a full spread.” He lifted the zipped thermal bag.
That earned him the ghost of a smile, and damn if that didn’t do things to his chest. He wanted more of that smile. Wanted to break through every wall she’d built.
“She loves you,” she murmured, adjusting the blanket. “And you don’t owe me any explanations. This is your place. You can come and go as you please.”
He crossed the room with slow, deliberate steps. Sat on the opposite end of the couch, close enough to feel the connection between them, far enough to preserve her personal space.
Even if he wasn’t ready to lay his soul bare before her and beg her to stay, he had to say something.
“Maybe so,” Noah said, his voice low. “But I like having you here.”
For a brief moment, emotion once again flashed in those beautiful, expressive eyes. Heat? Desire? Longing? She opened her mouth as if to say something, then closed it again and looked down at her hands.
“What?” he prompted.
“I don’t belong here.”
“I disagree.”
Her smile was sad. “You are a good man, Noah. But carrying the weight of others on your shoulders isn’t going to fill that hole inside you. You know that, right?”
Teagan’s words cut into his soul. Shesawhim. Saw him in a way no one else ever had. Maybe because she carried so much weight of her own.
“Maybe not,” he said softly. “But it helps. Especially if I can ease the burdens of those I care about.” The words slipped out before he could stop them. Honest. Too honest. He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, holding her gaze.
Silence stretched between them, the air thick withthings unspoken. Then her lips parted in a way that stole his common sense. For a heartbeat, he swore she leaned closer. Close enough to kiss …
Bear gave a huff and shifted, ruining the moment. Teagan lowered her eyes and pulled back, wrapping the blanket tighter around herself.
Noah cleared his throat. “Are you hungry?”
“Not really,” she said, closing her book. “Just tired.”
“No worries. This will keep. You should rest.”
“What about you?”
Noah placed the bag in the refrigerator. “I’m fine. I need to head back to the house anyway.”
“But you just got here.”
“Yeah, I know,” he said. He couldn’t tell her that if he stayed, he’d end up pulling her into his arms, getting that kiss, and begging her to stay. “I just came by to bring you dinner and check on you, make sure you’re okay.”
“Oh. Okay. Will you be back soon?” she asked hopefully.
“Probably not.” Hell, it might take hours of walking through the forest to sort himself out. Should he tell her how he felt or not? Ask her to stay or don’t? Hold on tight or let her go?
That emotion he’d seen only moments earlier faded, her expressionless mask back in place once again.
“Okay. I guess I’ll see you in the morning then.”
