Page 31 of Shattered Oaths

Noah throws a dirty look over his shoulder before quickly continuing to rinse and spit.

“Was it the chicken or the pig?” I ask, my head getting hotter the longer I try to control my hysterics.

Noah mumbles something incoherent as water spills from the side of his mouth and I lean over the counter. “What was that?”

Reaching for a kitchen towel, Noah wipes his face and spins around, his eyes narrowed in my direction. The redness in his cheeks only makes me laugh harder as he points a finger in my direction. “Stop laughing.”

“I-I’m sorry,” I stutter. “But how did you think that was going to taste good?”

Noah scratches at the light scruff dusting his jaw and shrugs. “Well, Bells. When you live alone, you don’t make breakfast all that often.”

I scoff and roll my eyes. “Oh, please. You probably have a different breakfast guest to cook for every morning.”

Noah’s face goes from offended from my teasing to smug in a second as he swaggers over to the island. “Oh, honey. When I have early morning guests, the last thing I’m doing is cooking for them.”

The switch between the friendly Noah I’ve known my whole life to flirty Noah I’ve only ever seen firsthand once before causes my head to spin and my throat to dry up. I quickly push back in my chair and stand, flustered by his comment in a way that a woman less than twenty-four hours out of a relationship has no business being. “You’re disgusting. I’m going to get dressed.”

The chuckle that follows me out of the room lets me know that he knew exactly what he was doing in that moment.

He was getting payback.

CHAPTER 13

NOAH

The drive from my house to the barn is filled with loaded silence. Bella hasn’t made eye contact with me since breakfast and I’m not sure if it’s because of my playful comeback or if it’s because something else is bothering her.

The moment those words left my lips, I knew I had fucked up. I have this terrible habit of speaking before I think it through. It’s like my mouth rebels against my brain and just runs away with itself.

I don’t know what I was thinking, making a comment like that to not only my best friend’s little sister, but someone as vulnerable as she is right now.

She must think I’m a fucking asshole.

I continue to mentally berate myself as I pull my truck alongside the barn and park. I have every intention of climbing out and opening the door for Bella, but before I even get the chance to unbuckle my seatbelt, she’s out the door and all-but running into the barn.

I shake my head with a disbelieving laugh and scrub a hand down my face.

Climbing out of the truck, I follow her into the barn and down the alley to the stall where Chance, my beautiful chestnut stallion, lives. Bella stands on her tiptoes, her chin resting on top of the stall door as she runs a gentle hand up and down Chance’s muzzle.

I push my hands into my pockets, standing beside her awkwardly. “Would you like to ride him?”

Bella blinks up at me, making eye contact for the first time since we left the house and chews on her bottom lip. “Isn’t he yours?”

I nod. “He is.”

“So, aren’t you going to ride him?” She asks, resuming her petting.

“I can take another horse. Besides, I trust Chance with my life, so I know you’ll be safe with him.”

Bella nods thoughtfully. “Okay.”

With her agreement, I turn for the tack room and collect all the equipment we need before returning to Bella.

I saddle Chance while Bella watches me with quiet curiosity and every inch of my skin burns under the heat of her gaze. My hands are damp with sweat as I secure the final buckle, and I find myself having to triple check something I can usually do with my eyes closed.

I wipe my hands down my jeans and clear my throat, turning to Bella. “You good to take him out front while I get Nugget ready?”

“Sure. You’re taking your Mama’s horse?” Bella asks, taking the reins from me and slowly leading Chance from his stall.