Page 60 of Shattered Oaths

p.s. you look beautiful when you’re sleeping.

Noah xo

I read the note three times, my attention coming back to the final sentence over and over. A warmth floods my cheeks, and I gnaw my bottom lip to control the smile wanting to break free.

He could’ve left me a text message and it would have served the same purpose, but I’ve come to learn that leaving little notes is Noah’s thing.

With a happy sigh, I stand from the mess of blankets and cushions on the living room floor and begin tidying it all away.

When I’m done, I head to the guest room I’ve been residing in and take a shower. Usually, I would be in and out, leaving my longer showers to the evenings, but I don’t have to be at the café until lunch time, so I take my time as I run a razor over every inch of my skin and wash my hair.

Climbing out of the shower, I wrap a towel around my body and wipe the condensation from the mirror before reaching for the hairdryer and curl products.

Once my hair is dry and falling in loose waves down back, I open my makeup bag. I apply my usual amount of daily makeup, keeping it light and natural but add a little extra blush to my cheeks and shimmer to my lips.

Moving to my temporary wardrobe, I stand there, shoulders slumping at the meager choice of clothing staring back at me. Most of my belongings are still at Justin’s house. Or not. He might have thrown them out by now for all I know. And I haven’t been shopping for anything new since I left with only the stuff I could grab.

I glare into my wardrobe for much longer than necessary before choosing a pastel-yellow sundress and white sandals for my outfit.

When I’m dressed, I turn to the full-length mirror on the back of the wardrobe door and look at myself. For the first time in years, I feel confident in my own skin. My eyes are alive and lack the dark circles they had only a month ago, my muscles relaxed after so long being tense as I awaited the inevitable berating I would get for my choice of outfit.

And I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that Noah is the oneresponsible for that change.

CHAPTER 27

NOAH

Wind whips at my face as I twist the throttle of the ATV back, sending it careening over the expanse fields surrounding me. Trees, greenery and paddocks pass me in a blur as I crest the hill to the main ranch and finally breathe a sigh of relief when the big house comes into view.

I’ve been out since four this morning tending to emergency repairs to the fence-line in one of the south paddocks. Grayson couldn’t get out there because Rueben is sick with a cold and he didn’t want to leave Liv to man the fort alone, which is totally understandable. That left just Hunter and me.

Hunter left to return to the ranch once we had repaired the fence, while I lapped the perimeter of surrounding paddocks to check for any other faults. Luckily, it was only that one, but now I’m exhausted, hungry and dirty.

As I pass my parents’ house and approach the small garage, we store the ATV in, a familiar vehicle comes into view and my stomach sinks.

Killian leans against his truck, his legs crossed at the ankles, a backward hat atop his head and dark shades covering his eyes. From this distance I can’t gauge the look on his face, but his body language is relaxed, settling a little of the panic that reared its ugly head at the sight of him.

Schooling my features and sending up a quick prayer that I don’t look guilty of touching his sister in almost every way I promised not to, I pull up beside him and turn off the engine.

I remove my hat, wiping a hand over my sweat covered brows. “What’re you doing here?” The question comes out a little harsher than intended and I wince at the way his head rears back slightly.

“Sorry. It’s been a long day,” I say, trying again.

Killian pushes off his truck, shaking his head. “No worries. Hunter told me y’all have been out there since four. You get it fixed?”

“Yeah.” I nod, offering nothing more. I’m afraid that if I say too much, I might end up slipping up about Bella living with me. Or worse.

Killian watches me curiously for a moment and I swallow under the heat of his gaze. Can he see that I’m hiding something – many somethings – from him? Am I completely transparent?

I brace myself for his questions, every single muscle in my body tensing with every millisecond of silence between us.

His dark brows furrow. “You okay, man?”

Dipping my chin, I clear my throat. “Yeah. Sorry, man. I’m just exhausted.”

His head bobs in understanding. “I just came to see Daisy, so thought I’d swing by and see if you felt like going to The Boot later? I’m outnumbered by women at home and if I don’t get out of there soon, I’m afraid they might convince me to join in on one of their pamper nights.”

I laugh at that, my body relaxing for the first time since I pulled up. Despite the guilt that is eating me alive, it’s been a long time since Killian suggested a night out at The Boot. The last one was my idea and let’s face it, none of them wanted to be there. Hopefully, this night out will be different. And even if it’s not, there is one thing that most definitely will be. Because this time, I won’t be returning home to a quiet, empty house. I’ll be returning to her.