Page 85 of The Way Back Home
“Yeah. Good night, Teagan.”
“Good night, Noah.”
As he stepped back out into the cold, he couldn’tshake the image of her in the firelight. Of the way she’d leaned forward, her eyes lingering on his lips—right before he decided to be noble and do the right thing by walking away.
It was enough to keep him awake the rest of the night.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
TEAGAN
Teagan hobbled slowly along the path, breathing in the scents of wet earth and pine. The sun was shining brightly. The temperature was warmer than it had been, and the biting wind was still. It was as if winter had paused for a moment, offering a temporary thaw before January grabbed the region in another tight, icy grip.
Bear trotted along beside her, occasionally running off to investigate a squirrel or a tasty stick, but he never went far.
The sound of a snowmobile in the distance brought back memories of riding with Noah on Christmas Day. Had it only been a week since she’d felt such freedom? Such joy? It seemed like a lifetime ago.
She almost wished she’d never agreed to come here. That he hadn’t shown her a proper Christmas or givenher a perfect day. Losing something precious hurt worse than never having it in the first place.
The sound of the engine grew closer. Teagan hesitated as she approached the clearing, her heart picking up speed when she saw the sleek snowmobile and figure wrapped up in black.
Noah.
He hadn’t come back to the cabin last night, or if he did, he’d left again early this morning. It didn’t take a genius to figure out he was avoiding her, or to see that things had changed between them. There was a tension there that hadn’t been there before.
She supposed it was inevitable. Even the most golden-hearted protector types were bound to grow weary after a while. Those words he’d spoken in the hospital about her never having to be alone again echoed in the back of her mind. It seemed like he’d been putting distance between them since they’d left the hospital, even though he had been so insistent that she stay at his place.
Maybe, now that Donal had made himself known, Noah no longer felt compelled to look out for her.
The thought hurt, even if she was in no position to offer him anything.
Noah pulled close, then shut off the engine and removed his helmet, revealing tousled hair and golden-amber eyes.
“Checking on me?” she said. “As you can see, we’re fine.”
He reached into an inner pocket and withdrew a sealed envelope. “Actually, I came to deliver this.”
“What is it?”
“I don’t know. It arrived this morning.”
She accepted the envelope, her fingers shaking slightly, and removed a sheet of heavy linen paper. Her eyes roamed over the bold handwriting twice before she folded the paper and put it back in the envelope.
“It’s from Donal,” she said, unable to refer to the man as her father. “An invitation to lunch at his hotel. He says there are some things he’d like to tell me in person before he returns to Ireland.”
Noah frowned, but he didn’t look surprised. “Will you go?”
Teagan was torn. On the one hand, she was curious about the man who claimed to be her father. On the other, she felt no obligation to a stranger. But if she didn’t get answers now, she might never have another chance.
“I think I have to, for my own peace of mind. To be able to move on.”
He made no attempt to convince her not to go or to tell her it wasn’t a good idea. He simply nodded, his expression carefully blank.
“Want a ride back?”
“I’d like that, thanks.”
She climbed on behind him with care, silently appreciating the feel of his strong back. In a short but intense time, Noah had become her anchor. The touchstone by which she would compare all others going forward.
