Home to Whiskey Creek (Whiskey Creek #4)(39)
Author: Brenda Novak

He nodded. “Derek lives in one of those.”

Of the five who’d raped her, Tom had been the only one to show any reluctance. She remembered the others coaxing him. She also remembered that he’d apologized and tried to cover her with his jacket when he was done. “What do you drive, Tom?”

He seemed surprised by the question, but he answered it. “A red Kia.”

“SUV?”

“Sedan.”

She definitely would’ve been able to tell if her abductor had shoved her into an economy car. “Do you own a truck?”

“No. My wife has an old VW Bug but she can’t drive it far. It’s not trustworthy.”

Addy nibbled on her bottom lip. “And you work at the post office.”

She could see the fear in his eyes when he answered. “I do. We’re not rich, but I have a good life, one I’m terrified of losing.”

“Is that why you came here?”

“I came because I wanted to apologize, to—to tell you how sorry I am, how much I wish I could take back what I did.”

Rubbing a hand over her face, she tossed her phone on the dresser. “What made you do it?”

“I wish I knew. Group mentality? Peer pressure? Cody could be so persuasive. If he’d told me to jump off the mountain, into the river, I probably would’ve done that, too.” His chest rose as he drew a deep breath. “Do you…do you want me to go to Chief Stacy and confess? Is that why you’re back—to speak up? For retribution?”

Retribution? Not after this long. “No. Let it go,” she said, and closed the door.

* * *

Gail had lent them the cabin. And Lisa had brought a friend, as promised. Yvonne whatever-her-last-name-was—Noah couldn’t remember—was even prettier than Lisa. She seemed to like Baxter, too, which was why Noah couldn’t understand why Baxter remained so impassive. He’d barely spoken during dinner, had drunk much more than he’d eaten and seemed remote as they were sitting on the elaborate deck, making s’mores over a fire pit.

“The view here is amazing.” Yvonne smiled at Baxter; she’d been attempting to win him over all night. Not that it had done her any good. “What river is that?”

When she pointed at the gorge below, Noah felt obliged to answer, since Baxter didn’t. “It’s the North Fork of the Stanislaus. It eventually empties into New Melones Lake down by Angels Camp.”

“I love that area.” She leaned forward to check the marshmallow on the end of her roasting fork, giving him and Baxter a generous view of cle**age. Noah felt his body react, but Baxter grimaced as if he resented her attempts to interest him.

What the heck, Bax? Noah thought when Baxter made no attempt to keep the conversation going. They’d brought these girls up here hoping to have a good time. But Baxter didn’t seem to be enjoying himself, and that was ruining everyone else’s fun.

“It’s nice,” Noah said.

“Is this really Simon O’Neal’s cabin?” Lisa stood and gazed up at the giant home, which was cut into the side of the mountain. She’d already removed her shoes and had been brushing up against Noah at every opportunity. Now she came over and climbed into his lap.

“Hey, I was making you a marshmallow,” he complained when he could no longer see what he was doing.

She claimed the roasting fork—apparently rich people didn’t use hangers—and took over. “I’d rather have you than a marshmallow.”

“Chocolate was going to be involved,” he teased.

She twisted around and started kissing him. “This is better than chocolate, isn’t it?”

Noah might’ve let himself get swept away. He had no strong feelings for Lisa. Until this very second, she hadn’t even particularly excited him. But he thought he could get excited. Lord knew he didn’t want to think about the things that had been on his mind since he’d stood on that platform last night, crying in front of the whole town. Sex had been the perfect antidote to his pain in college. He didn’t see why it wouldn’t work for him tonight. He hadn’t been with a woman since he’d ended his racing tour.

“You’re on fire,” Baxter said.

“I am,” she admitted, and kissed Noah more deeply.

Baxter cleared his throat. “No, I mean you’re really on fire.”

With a curse, Lisa broke off the kiss so Noah could extinguish her flaming marshmallow. “That’s how hot I am,” she said to Bax with a laugh.

Noah expected Bax to make some sort of witty comeback. He had the personality for it. But while his best friend responded, he sounded petulant, not funny. “That’s a matter of opinion.”

Before things could get any worse, Noah decided to pull him aside.

“Uh, could you excuse us?” He handed the roasting fork to Lisa. “Make one for me, okay? I like it warm and gooey.” He winked to soften Baxter’s reaction. “I’ll be back.”

“Baxter, would you like one, too?” Yvonne called after them.

“Hell, no,” he grumbled before Noah could drag him into the kitchen.

“What’s wrong with you?” Noah whispered as soon as the French doors were closed. Lisa and Yvonne could see them through the glass but wouldn’t be able to hear.

Baxter motioned to the women sitting out on the deck. “This is what you want? Some…cheap piece of ass?”

“I haven’t had sex in ages. What’s wrong with getting some tonight? Everyone understands the rules. We’re just having fun.”

“Maybe you’re having fun, but I’m not.”

“Why? That’s the question. Yvonne’s beautiful. What’s not to like about her? Or is it that you don’t like women at all?”

Noah knew he’d had too much to drink when that question popped out.

Baxter looked startled, but he quickly rallied. “It’s about time you had the balls to ask me. Maybe I should finally tell you the truth.”

“Stop it.” They were going too far. Noah wanted to reel that question back in before Baxter could answer, before it was too late to retract it. “If you aren’t having fun, we’ll leave. Not that big a deal. I’m not invested either way.”

“No. I’m tired of hiding, Noah. Don’t you see? I can’t do it anymore. It’s killing me to sit back and watch you, to keep pretending I don’t ache every time you touch someone else.”

A strange desperation took hold of Noah. He squeezed Baxter’s arm. “Think about what you’re saying—”