Her Texas Lawman by Addison Fox

Her Texas Lawman by Addison Fox

Author:Addison Fox
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2022-11-01T15:38:10+00:00


Chapter 11

Noah heard the water stop running in the en suite bathroom and diligently fought to ignore the strange sense of intimacy that hung over him like a blanket. He and Shayne had been given a spare room in one of the wings of the large Reynolds ranch house, and he’d already set up several sheets and pillows on the couch that dominated one wall of the bedroom’s outer sitting room while she got ready for bed.

He could do this.

He’d spent last night at Shayne’s home, and there was nothing about tonight that was any different.

Even if they had spent the long day together, another test of their internal fortitude, physical strength and emotional strain.

But there had been ice cream, Shayne had reminded him as he’d tried to talk over the day with her. Tried being the operative word since she’d seemed unwilling to discuss anything beyond the new baby, the vast quantities of ice cream in the Reynolds freezer or a few jokes Tate had made over dinner.

Was she simply processing it all? Or did she just need a break from the mental strain?

He wanted to give her the space she needed but ignoring the day they’d both experienced wasn’t necessarily healthy, either.

Maybe because you need to talk about it, too.

That thought struck out, whip-quick as a snake, and Noah recognized it. And in the recognition, realized it was time to own it.

Shayne came out of the bathroom, clad in a T-shirt and shorts, her hair pulled up. She was fresh-faced from her evening ministrations in the bathroom, and he couldn’t deny how good she looked.

Or how deeply appealing he found her.

“The Reynolds family are an amazing group of people,” Shayne said as she took a seat on the couch opposite him. “Warm, welcoming and really funny. I know Arden well, but before tonight didn’t know much of her family beyond passing hellos. They’re quite a bunch.”

“I feel the same. I got to know Belle last year during the Russ Grantham case but not her family. And then I was transferred out of The Pass quickly after that. They’re good people. They’ve been through a lot the past year but have clearly come out the other side.”

“Reese talked about that when we were in the kitchen with the baby. Or maybe better said, she offered a soft suggestion that, in her way, was as indomitable as a shout from the rooftops.”

“What’s that?”

“She talked about taking joy. And about how we’re not responsible for the bad actions of others, even when they hurt us.”

“You’re not, you know.”

Shayne frowned before her back straightened, her shoulders stiffening.

“What’s the matter?” he asked.

“Right there. That, Noah. You want to make me feel better with your whole talk track about how I’m not to blame or how I shouldn’t feel responsible, yet you can’t do the same for yourself.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You most certainly have. You’ve said it in your actions and in all you won’t say. Your focus on every comment I make when it comes to how I feel about Rick and the time I spent with him being the root of enormous guilt.



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