She studies me a beat. “You’re welcome.”
“You…ah…you wanna come in for a cup of—”What the hell am I doing inviting her in?
Her eyes flash panic. “No, thank you.”
I glance at the house, and it lands—that’s the house where she and Landon….
I’m still processing when tires crunch up the drive.
Noelle Dunn slides out of her shiny Tesla like she’s on a runway—glossed lips, too-tight jeans.
Fuck me sideways. I don’t got time for this!
“There you are,” she calls. “Daddy said your Angus is having trouble. I told him I’d check in.” Sweet as fake honey.
Check in?Like she knows anything about cattle. I was a fool to let her into my life. I’d rather be celibate than be with her.
Before I can shut it down, she spots Sarah climbing into her truck. “Well, well.” Noelle folds her arms, smile sharp. “Didn’t know you were hiring disgraced vets, Cade. How desperate are you?”
“I’ll have the samples to the lab first thing and will call as soon as I know anything,” Sarah says evenly. Then she starts her truck and drives off.
Her dignity, in contrast to Noelle’s lack of decency, makes me ache.
“Noelle,” I snap. “That was uncalled for.”
She blinks, all innocence. “What? I was just?—”
“You were being nasty. Don’t talk to her—or anyone—like that.” My tone brooks no argument.
It’s hypocritical as hell. I’ve said plenty to Sarah, like I’ve got some special right to be cruel while no one else does.
“She’s poison, Cade. Everybody knows it.”
Christ. I’m the reason people think that. My fault. Even if she’d lied, I could’ve ended things like a man. Instead, I climbed on a high horse and trampled her. And now…if she told the truth? What does that make me?
“Cade,” Noelle purrs.
My patience snaps like old, barbed wire.
“I’m done.”
“Done with what?” she asks, bewildered.
“Us.”
Her painted nails skim up my shirt. “You don’t mean that. You’ve been lonely. I can fix that.” She leans in. “You know I can.”
Maybe the old me would’ve let her, taken the easy way out. But the second she touches me, my stomach turns. I can’t be with her. Not with Sarah under my skin since the minute she came back.
I step out of Noelle’s reach. “Don’t. We are done.”
“Why?” Anger brims in her eyes.
Hell, she isn’t hurt…well, her ego is, but that’s all.
“Daddy will be so disappointed. He thought we were?—”
“Lyle knows I’ll still help him out. That’s what we do around here. But, Noelle, you and me? We’re not right.”
