But to tell Mack that was a problem would mean opening up about just how much money he had and the double life he’d been leading. He snapped his mouth shut and looked at his hands. “You make it sound so easy.”
“It is easy.”
Noah snorted. “No, it’s not.”
“No, it’s not,” Mack conceded. “It’s scary as all get out, but it’s worth it. You’ve got a clear shot, though. So don’t mess it up.” He clapped his hand on Noah’s shoulder. “By the way, Lacey wanted to do some sort of outing with the family tonight. She wants to take some horses out to the creek and have a picnic or something. Maybe look at the stars?”
“Have fun,” Noah murmured.
“You’re coming.”
“What? I can’t. I didn’t get enough work done today, and?—”
“I already talked to Bo about it. He’s pretty much agreed that today was a wash, and you can catch up with some of that stuff tomorrow. Mom and Dad will be there. So will Caleb and Sammie. It’s gonna be fun.”
Noah groaned. Looked like he was going to be the seventh wheel on this family outing.
Pulling on the strap,Noah muttered, “If you really wanted me to go for it, then why am I here instead of going to her place?”
“What was that?” Mack asked, his head popping up after he’d secured the saddle for his own horse.
“Nothing,” Noah ground out. “Just… nothing.” He straightened and twisted around, stretching out his spine. Eight horses were ready to go. Mack had volunteered himself and Noah to get them saddled for their ride, and once again, Noah had been volunteered for something he hadn’t wanted to do. He nodded to the horses. “Bridger gets his own horse now? How did you convince Lacey to let that happen?”
Mack’s eyes shot to where Noah had motioned. “No, Bridger is riding with me. I’m not risking him getting lost on the way home. Who knows how late it will be when we leave.”
Noah looked from Mack to the horses and back. Before he had a chance to ask Mack what they were doing with another horse, Jane materialized as if out of nowhere.
“Hey, guys,” she said brightly, her hands in her back pockets as she moved toward them. “I hope I’m not late.”
“Nope. Right on time,” Mack grinned, holding out his arms and giving her a quick hug. “Glad you could make it.”
She smiled back, but then her eyes locked on Noah, and something passed between them. Had it only been a few hours since they’d kissed? It felt like lifetimes ago. His focus inadvertently dropped to her mouth then lifted to her eyes.
Mack nudged him. “I figured you could use a friend to hang out with on our little outing. Hope you don’t mind.”
Jane glanced from Mack to Noah, and her faint smile seemed to be plastered to her face. She waited until Mack left, then she sidled up to him. “Did you tell him?” she demanded in a whisper.
Noah shook his head. “What would I have told him? That you pretended I was your boyfriend to appease your mother, and she made us kiss under mistletoe that was six months old?” He could feel his defensiveness rising to the surface. He hadn’t asked for any of this.
She blinked, then a blush crept across her skin, and she let out an exhale followed by a nervous laugh. “Sorry.”
“You seem to be saying that a lot.”
This time she frowned. “Yeah, I guess I am.”
He cleared his throat, and the two of them hovered there in silence for longer than what felt necessary. What was he supposed to do? Make small talk? That didn’t feel right. They couldn’t talk about the kiss without her apologizing for what she’d done. How on earth was he supposed to do what Mack toldhim to? He couldn’t tell Jane he had feelings for her. Not right now.
Could he?
Noah glanced at her out of the corner of his eye as she looked around at anything but him. He opened his mouth, not certain what to say, but his intentions were cut off when his family arrived.
Jane didn’t look in his direction again. Not while they mounted their horses, not while they rode to parts unknown, and not when they’d finally stopped to set up blankets and snacks. While everyone had seemed to find someone to chat with, Jane had opted for what appeared to be quiet reflection. Unfortunately, Noah’s mother wasn’t having that.
“So, Jane, Mack tells me you’re involved with that charity. What was it? Something about heroes?” Noah’s mother always knew how to drag people into conversation, whether they liked it or not.
Jane nodded, her polite smile not giving away that she’d been more interested in her own thoughts. “Yes. It’s called The Wounded Heroes Project. We help veterans who don’t have family support systems in place. Food, clothing, job opportunities… you name it.”
His mother’s eyes widened. “That sounds wonderful. I wasn’t even aware there was such a charity, especially one here.”
