Conceal, Protect - By Carol Ericson Page 0,11
earlier—” he spread his hands “—I thought I’d check it out.”
Noelle released her breath in short wisps, so J.D. wouldn’t realize she’d been holding it waiting for his answer.
Sounded plausible. Or he was a great liar.
“Checking it out is one thing. Tackling a guy and pummeling the life out of him is something else.” Ted lifted the ice from his nose to aim a scowl at J.D.
“Your actions were suspicious. Why didn’t you just walk up to the door and knock? Why were you creeping up the porch and peering through the window like some sort of Peeping Tom?”
Ted placed the ice pack back on his face and answered in a muffled voice, “Just wanted to make sure Noelle was here. I’d heard you were back in town, sis. Wanted to see if it was really you first.”
“Who else would be here?” She slid a glass of water toward J.D. and rolled her eyes. Then she clinked the can of soda on the coffee table in front of Ted.
“How the hell would I know? You don’t keep me apprised of your property.”
Noelle pressed her lips together. It could’ve been your property, too, bro, if you hadn’t traveled a path of drug addiction, gambling and petty crime. At least that’s what she’d told herself over the years. Maybe she should have shared the ranch with him.
“Sounds like someone’s keeping you apprised since you came out here to see me.” She folded her arms and wedged a hip against the kitchen island. “Spill.”
Ted buried his face farther into the ice pack. “I still have a few connections here. Word gets out.”
“Tara? Have you been in touch with Tara?”
“Now and again.”
“Her mom’s going to be real happy about that.”
“Maybe she will. I’ve changed, Noelle.”
“Actions speak louder than words. What are you doing back in Buck Ridge? Are you planning to stay here at the ranch?”
J.D. knocked over his water glass, and the clear liquid spread across the tile. “Oops. I’ll get that.”
He hoisted his tall, rangy frame off the stool and swiped a kitchen cloth from the oven door handle.
Ted dropped the ice pack from his face and straightened his shoulders. “I was hoping I could stay here or even in the guesthouse. I’ll get a job and pay some rent, of course.”
“Of course.”
“Or...I could do some work around the ranch in exchange for room and board. God knows, the old place could use some sprucing up.”
Bam. Noelle knew that was coming. Ted would camp out here free of charge, eating, hanging around the house and not doing one lick of work. In fact, the old place would end up looking a lot worse than it did now.
Her gaze settled on J.D.’s strong hands mopping up the water on the counter. She sucked in her bottom lip and raised her eyes to his. She gave him a wink.
“That’s not necessary, Ted. J.D.’s going to stay in the guesthouse in exchange for sprucing up the ranch.”
* * *
J.D.’S HAND ALMOST slid off the counter. Getting close to Noelle Dupree had been easier than he’d expected. He’d figured he’d have an uphill battle, and here she was inviting him to stay with her.
Her brother—half brother—looked him over from head to toe with his shifty eyes. His and Noelle’s eyes obviously didn’t share the same half. J.D. could get lost in Noelle’s deep blue, almost-violet eyes. Dreamy. Soulful. Her half brother’s brown eyes had a hard edge. They measured, assessed.
J.D. didn’t completely believe Ted didn’t have a hand in the break-in. He’d like to believe that instead of the alternative, anyway. Something about the guy was off. J.D. had taken him for a thief the minute he’d seen him skulking around Noelle’s porch.
Noelle nudged him with her foot, and he swept the dishcloth from the counter and tossed it into the sink. “That’s right. Noelle hired me on today. I’m moving into the guesthouse tomorrow.”
Hell, he hadn’t even known this ranch had a guesthouse.
Ted narrowed his eyes. “Weren’t you just looking at a place to rent up the road?”
The guy might be a former druggie, but he didn’t miss a thing. “For a friend.”
“Right.” Ted pushed off the couch, gathering the bloody paper towels in his hands. “My other offer still stands, Noelle. I can get a job at the ski resort and pay you rent in exchange for a room in the house...maybe even my old room.”
She snorted. “Come off it, Ted. You never really had a room here. You lived with your mom in