Page 39 of The Way Back Home
Noah’s expression hardened. “Back off. I mean it.”
More silence, until Alex said, “I can find out, you know.”
Noah’s eyes met Teagan’s, and she smiled at him as she led Chester back toward the stables. Truly smiled. She had to be hurting, but the look on her face was one of peace and, if not happiness, then at least contentment.
He wanted to see more of it. What if he could do something to make that happen?
Alex might be able to help. Whereas Noah had chosen to pursue a medical career in the service, Alex had gone the clandestine, high-risk ops route. He had access to things no one should have access to.
Did they dare?
Going behind Teagan’s back to find answers she wasn’t willing to provide would be an invasion of privacy at best, an unforgivable betrayal of trust at worst. His intentions were good, yes, but wasn’t there a saying about the road to hell being paved with good intentions?
“No,” Noah said finally. He didn’t want to chance shattering the fragile trust between them. If Teagan wanted his help, he’d be there in a heartbeat, but it had to be her decision, not his.
“All I need is a last name. I can take it from there. You won’t be betraying any confidences if you tell me her name, will you?”
Noah shifted his weight uncomfortably. “I don’t know her last name,” he admitted.
Alex ran his hand through his hair—a sure sign that he was trying to control his irritation. “She worked at the ranch with you, right? I can find out from there.”
Noah shook his head. “I doubt she used her real name.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Alex hissed angrily. “What kind of woman works under a false name?”
“The kind who’s had to,” Teagan answered from right behind Alex.
Eli was leading Chester back into his stall, looking back toward them uncomfortably.
Silver flames flashed in her blue eyes as she looked defiantly up at Alex, hands on hips. “So, do you want to call the cops now? Or are you going to be a sport andgive me a one-day head start if I promise to leave in the next five minutes?”
Alex glared at her with an intensity that had forced many grown men to wet themselves, yet she didn’t flinch.
“I protect what’s mine,” he said, his voice a low, dangerous rumble.
“Good to know,” she answered.
“What’s your last name?” he asked boldly.
“Alex!” Noah warned.
Teagan’s expression went neutral. “He’s being a good brother, Noah. He loves you. You can’t be angry at him for that.”
She walked away then, and Alex blinked.
“You can be such a dick sometimes,” Noah muttered as he jogged to catch up to Teagan.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
TEAGAN
Teagan blinked back tears as she followed Daniel into the stable. Clearly, the pain and lack of sleep were catching up to her. She wouldn’t cry simply because someone thought the worst of her. People had been doing that her whole life, and she’d learned a long time ago that what they thought didn’t matter.
She knew who she was. What she was capable of.
But this wasn’t about just her. She’d accepted Noah’s invitation—at least in part—to help him, even if she wasn’t sure why he needed someone to “take some of the heat off him.” His family seemed like the type to support him no matter what.
As for Alex? He was right to be concerned. She couldn’t fault him for looking out for his twin, especially when Noah was doing nothing to dissuade them from thinking she and Noah were a couple.
