Soaring with Fallon (Big Sky 4)

“My brother,” Sam replies. “He’s great. I’ll tell him you said hi.”

“Sounds good, man.” I turn to Fallon and slip my hand into hers. “Shall we go get that dinner?”

“Yes, I’m starving,” she says and turns to Sam. “See you in class.”

“See you,” Sam says and waves before walking into the crowd of the market.

“What are you in the mood for?” she asks as we approach the line of trucks. “I have to say, this may be a small town, but this is an impressive choice of food. Italian, Mexican, burgers—”

“Are you fucking Sam?” I blurt, and we stop on the sidewalk, twenty yards from the food.

Without a word, Fallon drops my hand and faces me head-on, her hands on her slim hips, her face tipped up to look at me. She pushes her glasses up on her head again, and her green eyes are hot with anger.

“Did you just ask me that?”

“I did.”

I shove my hands into my pockets, unwilling to back down.

Fallon steps closer, narrowing her eyes. She’s a pint-sized ball of fury.

It’s fascinating and not a little arousing.

“You know what, Noah? Fuck you. You don’t get to ask me that, in public, after the past few days we’ve had together. If you have to ask, you’re not the kind of man I want to be involved with.”

And with that, she stomps away and gets in the pizza line.

I’m left on the sidewalk, feeling ashamed and turned on all at the same time. I take a deep breath and join her.

“I owe you a hell of an apology.”

“Huge,” she agrees and steps forward when the line moves. “Jealousy isn’t sexy, Noah. And, honestly, I thought you were better than that.”

“Me, too,” I reply and rub the back of my neck in agitation. “It doesn’t feel good.”

“I’m allowed to know people,” she continues, her voice soft so she doesn’t get attention from the people around us. “Men people. And if you don’t like that, we can stop this right now.”

“No,” I say, shaking my head. “I’m a dick.”

“Big time.”

“I should be punished.”

“Do you have a bullwhip?”

I stare down at her in surprise. “You’re violent.”

Her lips quirk into an evil smile. “I’m totally kidding.”

“Uh-huh.” We reach the front of the line, and she orders a slice of vegetarian pizza and an order of breadsticks. I order two slices of pepperoni and more breadsticks.

To go.

“Let’s go home to eat,” I say after I pay and we move to the end of the truck to gather our food. “I’d rather not be whipped in public.”

Chapter Six

~Fallon~

I’m pissed.

Beyond pissed.

I’m also hurt and frustrated and concerned that this side of Noah that he showed me at the market will become a habit. Because I won’t tolerate that.

No way, no how.

After eating in silence, I toss my pizza containers in the garbage, and start cleaning the vegetables and fruits I bought, putting them away in the fridge. Just as I’m finishing up, Noah comes into the kitchen.

“I’m going for a walk,” I announce, not looking him in the face. I need some exercise to clear my head.

“Mind if I join you?” he asks softly.

I turn away and cringe. I’m not sure that I want his company right now, but maybe this will be a good time to have a frank conversation with him.

“I don’t mind,” I reply. Noah grabs a can of bear spray, hooks it to his belt, and we set off down the gravel road.

He’s quiet as we walk along, watching birds fly and listening to the sounds the woods make. It used to scare me, but now I find it peaceful.

I take a deep breath, already starting to feel better.

“You’re quiet,” he says softly.

“I’m not really sure what to say,” I admit. “Here’s the thing. You didn’t ask me if I had feelings for Sam or if I had ever dated him. You asked me if I’d fucked him. No, check that, you asked if I am fucking him.”

I shake my head, getting mad all over again.

“So, I have some concerns about that. Either you assume I’m a slut who will flirt with and come on to a man—you—while simultaneously pursuing Sam, or you’re a controlling dick, and this is the first sign of that. Because, frankly, my grandma always said, when someone shows you who they are, believe them.”

“She was a smart woman,” Noah says with a sigh.

“Very,” I agree and nod. “And neither of those two options sits well with me, Noah.”

“They don’t sit well with me, either,” he says, shaking his head. “And I’ll apologize again. I was wrong to ask you that, and I don’t believe you’re a slut. I’m also not a dick who tries to control women.”

“Then what the hell?”

“I saw him smiling at you, and you smiling back, and I instantly saw green.”

“Yeah, I can see where smiling must be quite threatening,” I reply, rolling my eyes.