barking greeted her. Bert and Ernie, the family’s Blue Lacy herd dogs rushed toward her. Their sleek, dark silver coats glistened in the sunlight as they danced circles around her. She knelt and hugged their necks while they yapped in excitement.
“Hello guys. It’s been a long time but you never forget do you?” she crooned, petting them as they vied for attention. “You both look as healthy and energetic as always. What’s your secret, huh? Lots of exercise and no stress? I hope Noah doesn’t work you too hard. He can be a slave driver.” She took their low whines to mean they agreed. Standing again, she said, “Speaking of which, I’d better go find him or I’ll be in the doghouse with you.”
The rumble of the old tractor engine grew louder as Andrea approached the shed where Noah worked. She slowed her stride and watched as he wrestled to connect the heavy hitch between the tractor and the wagon. Bending over the iron tongue, he had his back to her. She got an up-close-and-personal view of his tight rear end packed in even tighter jeans. The flex of cheek and thigh muscle made her heart thump and her temperature rise.
Get a grip! She scolded herself and shifted her attention higher. But the ripple of arm and shoulder muscles reminded her of Noah’s incredible physical strength. The way he’d anchored her body to his last night. The heat and hardness of him as he’d carried her this morning and the unwelcome sizzle of attraction she felt whenever they touched.
Shaking her head to rid it of the mental images, she reminded herself that she’d met hundreds of attractive men. There was nothing wrong with a healthy sexual response to a fine specimen of the opposite sex. There’d never been any lack of desire between her and Noah. Just a whopping lack of trust, commitment and fidelity.
Had Caroline been equally attracted to him? Had he responded just as passionately to her big sister as he had to her? Had he been sleeping with them both at the same time? Had Caro been carrying his baby when she died? Andrea’s stomach clenched at the thought. Even though she’d adored her sister, a dark, raging jealousy at the thought had gnawed at her for years.
She’d asked Noah, point-blank, if he’d slept with her sister. He hadn’t denied it. The sting of that pain still stabbed her in the heart. It would be wise to remember the pain any time she felt the pull of attraction.
Time had tempered the survivor guilt, the resentment and her possessiveness. Coming home had churned up all the old insecurities, leaving her plagued by turbulent emotions. Her body had become a battleground for what she wanted versus what she knew would destroy her.
“What?”
Andrea snapped out of her reverie at Noah’s question and wiped all expression from her face. “I didn’t say anything.” She yelled to be heard over the noisy old tractor engine.
He gave her a strange look that likely reflected the look she’d been giving him. Time to snap out of her trance and pay attention.
The dogs wanted to go with them but he gave them a firm order to stay. They gave her soulful looks and sat back on their haunches.
“You remember how to drive this thing?”
She put a foot on the chassis and grabbed the steering wheel, pulling herself into the flat, unpadded metal seat. “It might take me a minute.”
Noah stepped up beside her and grasped the back of the seat for support. She felt his gloved hand against her buttocks. A quiver danced along her spine. He loomed over her, his chest pressed to her shoulder. His hot breath teased her ear as he leaned close enough to give a quick refresher course on gears, gas and brakes. Andrea did her best to concentrate on what he said rather than how his closeness made her feel. She couldn’t seem to catch her breath.
“Drive out to the far west pasture.”
She pulled in air and asked, “Aren’t you riding on the wagon?”
He gave her a quick, searching glance. “I’ll get the gates
“Hello guys. It’s been a long time but you never forget do you?” she crooned, petting them as they vied for attention. “You both look as healthy and energetic as always. What’s your secret, huh? Lots of exercise and no stress? I hope Noah doesn’t work you too hard. He can be a slave driver.” She took their low whines to mean they agreed. Standing again, she said, “Speaking of which, I’d better go find him or I’ll be in the doghouse with you.”
The rumble of the old tractor engine grew louder as Andrea approached the shed where Noah worked. She slowed her stride and watched as he wrestled to connect the heavy hitch between the tractor and the wagon. Bending over the iron tongue, he had his back to her. She got an up-close-and-personal view of his tight rear end packed in even tighter jeans. The flex of cheek and thigh muscle made her heart thump and her temperature rise.
Get a grip! She scolded herself and shifted her attention higher. But the ripple of arm and shoulder muscles reminded her of Noah’s incredible physical strength. The way he’d anchored her body to his last night. The heat and hardness of him as he’d carried her this morning and the unwelcome sizzle of attraction she felt whenever they touched.
Shaking her head to rid it of the mental images, she reminded herself that she’d met hundreds of attractive men. There was nothing wrong with a healthy sexual response to a fine specimen of the opposite sex. There’d never been any lack of desire between her and Noah. Just a whopping lack of trust, commitment and fidelity.
Had Caroline been equally attracted to him? Had he responded just as passionately to her big sister as he had to her? Had he been sleeping with them both at the same time? Had Caro been carrying his baby when she died? Andrea’s stomach clenched at the thought. Even though she’d adored her sister, a dark, raging jealousy at the thought had gnawed at her for years.
She’d asked Noah, point-blank, if he’d slept with her sister. He hadn’t denied it. The sting of that pain still stabbed her in the heart. It would be wise to remember the pain any time she felt the pull of attraction.
Time had tempered the survivor guilt, the resentment and her possessiveness. Coming home had churned up all the old insecurities, leaving her plagued by turbulent emotions. Her body had become a battleground for what she wanted versus what she knew would destroy her.
“What?”
Andrea snapped out of her reverie at Noah’s question and wiped all expression from her face. “I didn’t say anything.” She yelled to be heard over the noisy old tractor engine.
He gave her a strange look that likely reflected the look she’d been giving him. Time to snap out of her trance and pay attention.
The dogs wanted to go with them but he gave them a firm order to stay. They gave her soulful looks and sat back on their haunches.
“You remember how to drive this thing?”
She put a foot on the chassis and grabbed the steering wheel, pulling herself into the flat, unpadded metal seat. “It might take me a minute.”
Noah stepped up beside her and grasped the back of the seat for support. She felt his gloved hand against her buttocks. A quiver danced along her spine. He loomed over her, his chest pressed to her shoulder. His hot breath teased her ear as he leaned close enough to give a quick refresher course on gears, gas and brakes. Andrea did her best to concentrate on what he said rather than how his closeness made her feel. She couldn’t seem to catch her breath.
“Drive out to the far west pasture.”
She pulled in air and asked, “Aren’t you riding on the wagon?”
He gave her a quick, searching glance. “I’ll get the gates
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