“I want to kill him. Icouldhave killed him.”
“But you won’t.”
“How doyouknow?”
“Because I know you. And you’re a better man than he is.” Noah gripped his shoulder. “Come on. Let’s get you home. Indie’s worried.”
Colt nodded but spared one last glance at the mountains before he left. Gordon better leave Amber Ridge, and soon, or Colt was fully prepared to follow through on his threat.
CHAPTER 19
“Noah, that’s too many chocolate chips!”
Noah grinned, looked Indie dead in the eyes, and added another handful. “I remember one very bossy eight-year-old telling me there was no such thing as too many chocolate chips.”
“Well, that eight-year-old grew up and realized she couldn’t survive off just sugar.”
“Strange. I skipped that life lesson.” He took a chocolate chip out of the bowl and tossed it into his mouth.
She chuckled before pulling the bowl across the butcher-block countertop to give it a mix. “This is now chocolate chips with a side of cookie dough.”
“So I made it better.”
She shook her head, but a hint of a smile played at her lips, because fighting with her brother could quite easily be the best part of her day. “Thank you again for having me over.”
She really meant it. The last thing she felt like doing was being in her house alone. Colt had wanted to try the new gym in town. Apparently, a former UFC fighter ran the place. And of course, she’d said yes. He hadn’t even needed to ask her. Notafter the last week. He hadn’t been himself. Hopefully hitting a bag would help.
And she wasn’t going to say no to eating cookie dough at her brother’s new place.
“You know you’re welcome anytime, Indie. Even if you just need a break from Colt, my home is your home.”
Her gaze flicked to her phone, the mention of his name making her itch to call him. Check in and make sure he was okay.
Noah bumped her shoulder. “Hey. What’s going on in your head?”
“Just thinking about what a great place you have here.”
Noah’s brows arched. He didn’t believe her. But even though it hadn’t technically been true in terms of what she’d been thinking, the placewasnice.
Noah had bought a Craftsman home that was built almost a hundred years ago. Not that you’d know it by looking at the place. It had been updated, and it was beautiful. Open-concept layout. A restored fireplace in the living room, which made it feel warm and cozy. And a ton of wood cabinetry and exposed shelving in the kitchen.
Noah put another chocolate chip in his mouth. “I was lucky Old Man Peters put it on the market right as I was looking.”
“It was meant to be. Now you just need a woman to keep you company.”
“I don’t mind being alone. In fact, I’m kind of enjoying my newfound freedom after being in the military for so long.”
“How are you doing with that? And be honest. I’ll know if you’re lying, because your eye does that twitching thing.”
Something crossed Noah’s face. An expression that came and went so quickly, she couldn’t place it. “I have good days and bad days.”
“But you felt ready to come home, right?”
“It’s one thing to feel ready, another to actually follow through. Keeping busy helps.”
She watched him closely. The smallest hint of a frown. The way he wasn’t making eye contact.
There was something bothering him. Was he struggling with his transition into civilian life? Or was it something else?
