A Buckhorn Bachelor

But it was also the way he carried himself, with pride and dignity, the way he pitched in to help others, the easy way he smiled.

Those dark bedroom eyes... She shivered, and admitted to herself that his body was pretty darned fine too.

But it was mostly his character, she assured herself. Sure he was great to look at, but she wouldn’t love a man for his looks alone.

Realizing she’d gone too quiet, too long, Isabella stammered, “I, um...Why would you say such a thing?”

Noel stopped, faced her. “I saw you with him, and I’m not a dummy, either. Amber can play all the games she wants, but in the end, Adam has to know the real you. What it is you want or need, what you care about.” He squeezed her shoulder. “Who you are.”

Not knowing what else to do, Isabella nodded.

“So for now, if you want to follow Amber, go ahead. Just don’t play so long that Adam mistakes your sincerity for an amusing pastime.”

Wow. Who knew Noel was so attentive and discerning?

Well, obviously Amber did. “She said I couldn’t be easy. That I had to make him work for it.”

It surprised her when Noel flushed.

Now wait a minute... Suspicion lifted her brows. “Is that what you’re doin’ to Amber?” When he looked even guiltier, a grin made her cheeks ache. “You are! You’re makin’ her work for it, aren’t you?”

Noel walked on.

Delighted, Isabella hustled to catch up to him. “That is so funny.”

“No it’s not,” he said.

“But this is great. Amber, caught in a game of her own makin’.” She clapped her hands. “Totally great.”

Pivoting to face her, Noel opened his mouth, hesitated, and clamped it shut again. “Just think about what I said, okay?”

“Oh, I definitely will. And thank you.” This time as they started off, Isabella hugged his arm and even put her head on his biceps. A nice, solid biceps, she noticed. “You’re a good man, Noel Poet. Whatever you do to catch Amber, I hope you catch her right and tight.”

Little by little, Noel smiled and relaxed. “That’s the plan.” They turned the corner and there were three men drinking beers, playing horseshoes, and laughing loudly. One wore a firefighter’s T-shirt, one was an EMT, and the other was Tucker Turley, the sheriff. She knew him well since he’d done plenty of community outreach programs at the school library. Turley was the handsomest of the three, which was saying something since they were all pretty fine. But Isabella knew Amber’s cousin Kady was already sweet on him, and besides, he’d never, not once, looked at her with interest, and vice versa.

The men hadn’t yet noticed them, and suddenly Isabella wanted to run.

“Cold feet?” Noel asked.

She bit her lip and nodded. “Would it be terrible if I just ducked away before they saw me?”

“No. But I doubt that’d work because Amber will probably bring you right back around to them. You’re already here so you might as well talk a minute, right? No harm in that.”

Just then Turley said, “Noel, get on over here. We need a fourth to even the teams.”

“I have a better idea.” Noel gently nudged her forward. “Get Isabella to play.” And with that, Noel-the-traitor abandoned her.

“She’s on my team,” Turley said fast, drawing her in with a long muscled arm.