“It’s reality,” he said. “I can make more and hopefully do some good.”
“Are you scared?” The question slipped out. “Sorry. I’ve been watching Dominic and wondering . . . but he doesn’t act afraid.”
“I’m not sure he is.” He drew circles in the sand with his toes, not looking up at her. “But yeah, I’m scared. There are aspects of fighting, going out there with a loaded weapon . . .”
“You’re a great shot.” That fact gave her some comfort.
“Yeah, but this will be different.” He looked up at her, his expression open, honest, and so vulnerable it made her heart ache.
“I don’t want to let my team, the guys I’m serving with—I don’t want to let them down,” he continued. “Not out there, in places where it counts a helluva lot more than on the football field.”
“You won’t.” And oh God, she wanted to wrap her arms around his supersized muscles and hold him tight.
“I hope you’re right.”
“I am.” She reached out and placed her hand on his arm. “I mean, listen to yourself. Even your fears are perfect.”
“I’m not perfect, Josie.” His voice had shifted, the sound low, rough, and so unlike him. “If I was . . . shit.”
He stared at her hand and then lifted his gaze to her lips. And she silently prayed her facial expression didn’t scream please, please, please, do it! Kiss me!
But then he looked away and pulled his arm free from her touch. He stood and held out his hand to help her up. “We should get back.”
But she didn’t trust herself to touch him. Not when she still wanted a Noah Tager kiss more than anything this world had to offer her.
He lowered his outstretched arm as she pushed herself off the sand, dusting off her butt. There was sand in her shorts. But it had been worth it.
“I don’t want your brother thinking I kept you out too long,” he said. “He might make it difficult for you to go to the party.”
“I’ll be there,” she said firmly. Even if I have to sneak out of the house again.
“Good.” He turned and started walking toward his grandmother’s beach chair. “Because I’d like to see you ride that bull before I go.”
Chapter Four
ONE MORE NIGHT. Don’t waste it.
Noah stared into the flames. With Dominic and Ryan’s help, he’d built one helluva campfire on his dad’s land, not far from the barn. Pickups formed a barrier on one side. Their tailgates were parked a safe distance from the flames. But they
remained close enough for couples and groups of people he’d known his entire life to huddle together. The keg stood opposite the lines of trucks on the other side of the fire. And behind it, the woods he’d played in as a kid.
One more night. He wanted to enjoy it—right or wrong. Because he wasn’t going to come home the same. He knew it. And it scared the hell out of him.
He scanned the crowd. Dominic was holding court, his legs dangling over the back of his dad’s truck and his arm around Lily. He couldn’t find Ryan. But he’d spotted him earlier, heading to the house with Helena. They’d been on a mission to raid his dad’s liquor cabinet. Knowing his father wouldn’t mind, Noah had given them the go-ahead.
One more night. And he wanted Josie Fairmore—the only person in Forever who’d asked, Are you scared?
He spotted her, standing off to the side of the keg with a red plastic cup in her hand. Her white sundress glowed in the firelight, hugging her curves and offering a stellar view of her legs. She wore her dark hair long and loose around her shoulders. And a pair of brown leather cowboy boots on her feet.
Noah was by her side before he realized he’d been walking, dodging backslaps from old friends. Sure, he’d smiled at them, but he’d wanted to get to Josie.
“Your dad would probably ground you for the rest of the year if he saw you sipping on that.” He nodded to the cup poised at her lips.
She lowered her drink. “Trying to save me from my dad now?”
“No.”
Tonight I want to land you in trouble. The kind that will piss off your dad and your brother. But it doesn’t have a damn thing to do with drinking.