“Oh, for the love of God.” Faith rolled her eyes. “We’ve been through this. Not everyone is like Samantha and will miscarry. Willow is going to be fine.”
“She is, Noah. What Faith said is true.” It was instinctive for her to walk around the counter and place a hand on his arm. She needed to comfort him, and before she would have held back, but not now, not with what lay between them.
“You’re right. I know you’re right.” His hand rested on hers. “Thanks.” His phone chose that moment to ring. “Just excuse me for a minute, will you.”
“So, you’re looking after this place for Buster?” Faith looked at her, but there was no smile.
“I am.”
She shot a look behind her to where her twin now stood outside the door on the street.
“Don’t hurt him, Lani. He’s suffered enough, so if this is a game for you, finish it now and leave.”
Looking into the eyes identical to Noah’s, Lani knew that if she had a brother who’d suffered like Noah, she would be saying these things, but it still hurt.
“I would never hurt him.”
“Maybe not intentionally, but we both know your life is transient and Noah’s is here. He’s not leaving for you, so if you are serious about him you need to understand that.”
“I didn’t ask him to leave for me and never would, Faith. Lake Howling is his home. We’re just friends.”
“I have eyes, Lani. This is more than friendship. I thought at first a few dates would be good for him, but this is turning into so much more.”
Faith looked behind her again and saw Noah had finished his call.
“I like you but know nothing about you or your past, and that scares me.”
“Faith—”
“I’m protective of my brother, and I have a feeling you could hurt him badly, so keep your distance or leave town if you are not serious.”
“You drive that coffee monster?” Noah said as he returned.
“Sure. Two coffees coming up.”
She headed for the machine with Faith’s words ringing in her ears. Lani couldn’t deny that she’d had every right to speak them, and she knew that was because they were the truth.
Looking at Noah, she met his eyes and he smiled. It was a gentle smile, and Lani knew right then that what she felt for this man was deep and probably started with the letter L. But the problem now was, what the hell was she going to do about it?
Chapter Thirty-Two
“Where’s your woman, Buddy?”
Noah dropped down beside the dog who was lying outside the back door of the Howler. Lani had been avoiding him. Every time he talked to her, she said it was because she was busy. Which she was. Working in the Hoot and the Howlery was demanding. But the nights she’d spent with him were no longer happening, and he missed her. Really missed her.
Last night she’d said she had a headache. The night before, she had a sore tummy and didn’t want him to get whatever she had. She’d been using different excuses since the day Willow had gone into labor. The day he found Lani in the Hoot.
Faith.
Why the hell hadn’t he added things up sooner? He’d left the two women alone while he took that phone call. Had his sister said something to Lani to make her back away?
Walking back into the Howler, he found Faith upstairs cleaning one of their rooms for the next round of guests. She was bundling sheets into the laundry bag. Hair piled on top of her head, she looked beautiful like she always did.
“What did you say to Lani?”
She turned, and he saw the guilt before she’d had time to hide it. One thing about twins was that there was rarely anywhere to hide, and especially not what they were feeling.
She closed the bag, then started making the bed with clean sheets. “Mary Lou is off today sick, so I’m making the beds. I’d forgotten how much I hate doing this.”
