Finding Abigail (30 page)

He wiggled his
eyebrows, looking from the water to me.

Understanding
hit me. “No,” I said, stifling a laugh.

“We said when
it warmed up.”

“No,
you
said we’d go when it warmed up, not me. And aren’t you trying to make me do
things I’ve never done?” He nodded, a lopsided grin crossing his face. “I
have
gone skinny-dipping before, haven’t I?”

He frowned, his
brow creased in thought, and then the grin returned; his eyes lit up. “You’ve
never
been
in warm water.”

He had me
there. “Fine, but same rules. Turn the light off and no peeking.”

“Okay, but we
can just go in with our suits and then take them off.”

My suit, which
was a black bikini, was still dry. Sam and Noah hadn’t been able to talk Kathy
and me into the lake tonight; we were too comfortable with our wine.

I waited until
he turned the porch light off and then followed him into the water. It was
dark, but the moon was out, creating some light. He walked toward the dock; the
water was up to his chest, just below his nipples before he bent down to take
off his bathing suit, throwing it onto the dock. I watched him, then took my
turn. Once I was naked, I felt so free. I wished I could float, but if I did
that, he’d see more than I wanted. “Much better,” I sighed, grabbing hold of
the dock and floating far from Noah where he couldn’t see.

“Why are you
way over there?”

A speed boat
raced passed, and I ducked behind the dock, hoping they wouldn’t notice I was
topless. Noah was unfazed, as waves rushed toward us flapping against the dock.

“You know why.”

He swam for a
while, his smooth strokes barely making the water ripple. His lower back showed
as he swam, and when he took longer strides, the top of his backside was
visible. My eyes widened and I turned around, glancing at the two cottages that
had changed my life, and made me so happy. Although I knew it wasn’t the
houses, but the people they belonged to. The sound of a splash drew my
attention back to the man. He was swimming toward me. I was leaning against the
dock for support, but now that he was so close, I stood up and ducked down,
hiding the girls.

“Aren’t you
going to swim?” he asked.

After seeing
what happened when he did it? “No, I’m good.”

He grinned, his
eyes staring into mine. “I’m really glad you moved here. I’ve had a really good
time with you.” He moved closer until his face hovered just above mine. Water
dripped off his nose and chin.

I took a step
back, feeling uncomfortable with his closeness. He ignored the movement. “I
feel the same way. I thought I’d be lonely here, and I was for a while without
my family, but now I feel like I have an extended one. It makes me miss them
less.”

“Tell me about
them.” He tilted his head in interest.

“Well, my
father died when I was twelve. We were devastated. He was such a great father
and husband. When you were in a room with him he made you feel special. It took
us a long time to get over, and I still don’t think we are.”

“Do you have
any siblings?”

“Yes, a sister,
she’s two years older. She’s one of my best friends.” I choked on the last
word, swallowing the lump in my throat.

Thankfully he
didn’t notice. He leaned his arm on the dock for support showing underarm hair.
“So it’s just you, your sister, and your mother?”

I nodded.
“Well, Brenda married a great guy named Jeff, and they have the sweetest kids
in the world, Haley and Justin, who I miss most of all.” I paused for a moment
looking up at the sky. “I’m afraid I won’t recognize them when I finally get to
see them again.”

“Why can’t you
see them?” His voice was soft.

Oops, I hadn’t
meant to let that slip. “I just meant, since I live so far away now, I can’t
see them as often.”

His lips pursed
as if he was fighting the urge to say something. And I was thankful. The old
Noah would be questioning me about my slip to find out what was really going
on. The new Noah hadn’t mentioned it in months. It just reinforced how much I
trusted him.

“It sounds like
you were close to them,” he said, instead of what was really on his mind.

I grinned at
him, thankful for his discretion. “Not as much lately. Before I left I was a
workaholic. Even so, my mother made me take Sundays off to have dinner with the
family. It was always loud, filled with laughter. My niece and nephew whined
about what they had to eat, and constantly fought with each other. I usually
left thankful that I could go home to an empty apartment. But now...” I let my
voice trail away as my throat burned. I glanced at Noah and saw his face was
full of sadness for me. He leaned in and brushed a tear from my cheek with his
thumb. I didn’t even realize I was crying.

“Anna,” he
whispered, his face inches from mine. His warm breath heated my cool cheeks,
his eyes filled with emotion. He moved closer, as though his lips were drawn to
mine. The urge to let him kiss me was strong, but I knew I couldn’t let that
happen.

I pulled back.
“Well, I think we’ve been in here long enough, don’t you?” I asked, striding
through the water toward the beach, my toes sinking into the sand as I moved.

“Anna wait—” he
started to protest, but I whirled around holding up my hand.

“Noah, I just
told you how much this friendship means to me. I don’t want to ruin it.”

He thought for
a moment, and nodded. His lips that had been so close to touching mine were
tight. “Fine, you’re right, lets get out of here before I wreck what we have.”

Relief washed
over me as I stepped onto the dock to get dressed, no longer concerned if he
saw me. I just wanted to get home and away from this uncomfortable situation.

A Night Out

One Friday
night in early September, I was finishing a chapter of my book when I heard a
knock at the door. I opened it and saw Noah standing in the doorway. He was
wearing faded jeans and a light brown work jacket. His pale blond hair was
askew, falling into his eyes. His lips were parted, and tilted upward into a
smirk.

“Wow, what’s
with you, you actually knocked?” I couldn’t keep the surprise out of my voice.
Ever since we became friends, despite my protests, he always let himself in
with his key.

“I was in a
good mood. Come with me.” He took my hand; his callused fingers gripped mine
tightly, giving me no choice but to do what he said as he led me out the door.
The door clicked shut behind us. The crisp air swirled around us as he dragged
me outside and beyond his house.

He pulled me to
his shop, and in through the big double-boarded doors. I had never been in here
before. It was his work place and if he had wanted me in here, he’d have
invited me.

It was huge, of
course, having been a barn at one time. Instead of the cement floors being
covered in hay, and rooms separated with stalls at the end like Wade’s barn,
this room was one massive open structure. The oversized walls were covered in
shelves, which were filled with finished cabinets and supplies. Different sizes
of machines cluttered the center of the room, all focused around a large table
saw. On the center wall housed a long workbench. In the back corner under a
window was a small desk, holding a computer and phone. Although the barn had
been lacking of animals and hay for some time, the pungent smell of animal
still hovered in the air.

Noah led me
past all the machines to an area that was filled with cabinets. In the center
was the kitchen island. It was beautiful, made of oak. The design around the
edges was amazing. Hundreds of tiny roses and vines twisted their way up the
wood. It was so detailed it must have taken forever to carve.

The countertop
was a gray marble that was so shiny I could almost see my reflection. Scattered
on the floor beyond it were the matching cupboards with the same rose design. The
smell of varnish almost overpowered the smell of animal, but not quite.

I turned to
Noah, who was standing beside me quietly, letting me take everything in. “Noah,
it’s beautiful. The design on the doors is so intricate, it must have taken
forever.” I touched a rose; the wood was so smooth, the petals carved
perfectly. My finger brushed a leaf next to it and ran over the veins. I
couldn’t believe he did this, it was so detailed. He really was an artist.

“It felt like
it, but I’m happy with the way it came out. It took me months, now I’m finally
done. And I wanted to show you my work.” His eyes were shining with pride as he
watched me.

I wandered
around the shop, stopping at different pieces that were scattered on shelves.
There were all different sizes of cupboards with a variety of designs on each
one. I leaned down to get a closer look at one that caught my attention. The
center of the doors had been carved with the images of deer, bear, and I think
a moose. The edges were bordered with a leaf pattern. I spun around to gape at
him, shocked by his ability. I was sure he was a good carpenter—the cottage was
evidence of that—but I had no idea he had this kind of talent. “These are
amazing. You take pride in your work and it shows.” My voice held the awe that
I felt.

He smiled
shyly, something I didn’t think was possible. There wasn’t a shy bone in his
body. “Thank you.” He glanced down at his worn work boots, obviously
uncomfortable with my praise. He dug at a crack in the cement floor. Suddenly,
he looked up at me and grinned. “Since I am finally finished, let’s celebrate.
I’m taking you out.”

“Where?” I
leaned my back against his workbench, a tiny bit of apprehension lurking in my
veins. It was one thing to hang out around here or at Kathy’s, it was something
else entirely to go out. There were more chances of me being recognized and I
feared he would think of this as a date. I pushed that thought away; he hadn’t
hinted of anything more since that night in the water when we went
skinny-dipping and had decided that nothing was worth ruining our friendship.

His hands were
shoved in the pocket of his jeans, as he took a step closer, closing a cupboard
door that was left open on the island. “We’re going to dinner at my favorite
restaurant in Martin, and a hockey game afterward.”

My face
scrunched up in disgust. “Um, a hockey game sounds kind of boring.”

“Have you been
to one?” He cocked a brow, his eyes searching.

“No, but hockey
doesn’t interest me.”

“Remember, I’m
making you do things you don’t normally do. So go change, I’ll be by to pick
you up in half an hour.” I stared at him, unsure if it was worth the fight. I
didn’t want to go for obvious reasons, but he looked so excited, I didn’t have
the heart to disappoint him. He gently pushed me out of the door, ordering me
to get ready. Despite the slight drop in temperature, I was wearing a pale blue
tank top under a green hoodie, and instead of pants I was wearing jogging
shorts. When I work, I go for comfort.

“Fine,” I
grumbled, stepping through the door, knowing that it was impossible to argue
with him.

He took me to a
restaurant called Stripes. I had changed out of the shorts and was wearing my
stretchy black jeans and a long plum blouse. It was cool, so I was thankful
that I thought to bring a thick black coat. The restaurant was noisy and seemed
more of a sports bar. Everyone there appeared to be going to the game. Hockey
jerseys as far as the eye could see; even Noah was wearing one. I felt a little
left out.

It was the
Cougars against the Martin Mallards. We sat at the bar, between a bunch of
noisy guys wearing blue and yellow; the colors of the Mallards. I ate my burger
listening to Noah and the guys arguing about who made the team, the defense
players or the forwards. “So how long have you two been an item?” a man named
Ed asked. He was sitting across from us with a plateful of fries and a frosty
mug of beer in front of him.

Noah smiled
over his own beer. “About four months.”

Surprised by
his words, I kicked him. “Actually, we’re not dating. We’re just friends.”

Ed’s forehead
creased, causing the dark patch of hair on his head to fall forward. He was a
big burly man, with dark brown eyes and a goatee. “Really? Are you sure,
because I’m sensing a vibe between the two of you?” Which sounded humorous
coming from a guy as manly looking as he was. The hockey jersey he was wearing
only added to the look.

Noah wrapped
his arm around my shoulder. “She’s only kidding, she’s mad about me.”

Ed smiled.
“That’s what I thought.”

I spun around
in my stool, sneering at Noah, who raised his beer in the air giving me a wink.
Sometimes he was really aggravating.

The drive to
the arena was interesting. I was behind the wheel, and I didn’t have a clue
where I was going. Noah was a little tipsy so his directions were somewhat
confusing.

It felt like
hours, but we finally pulled into the full lot and squeezed through the crowd
to our seats. We were about halfway up in the bleachers, so we had a pretty
good view. The arena was crowded and noisy. Music was blaring, people were
shouting, popcorn and beer was been sold by peddlers coming to people at their
seats. I had to admit that it was very exciting.