It Started with a Crack by Piper James

Chapter Six

Noah

“Son of a bitch.”

I read the letter again, hoping I’d misinterpreted it the first time. My back teeth were grinding as my blood pressure spiked, the words and their meaning unchanging since the first time I read them.

There would be no new lease on this house. I had thirty days to vacate the premises.

There was a brief explanation, something about the homeowners’ son moving back to town and needing a place to live, but my eyes skipped over most of it. The why didn’t matter. What mattered was that I had to leave, and there was nowhere for me to go.

I knew I could stay with Ethan for a while. He wouldn’t mind the company. Hell, I could crash with either Ryder or Chase as both of them had guest rooms and would never turn me away.

But I didn’t like any of those options. I liked having my own space. And I didn’t want to impose on the lives they’d carved out for themselves here in Red River.

Most of all, I didn’t want to be the fuck up that needed to be saved. I was thirty-two years old, and of the four of us, only Chase was older than me. But despite that fact, I’d always been the one who never really grew up. I was the one who got into trouble, and my brothers were always there to rescue me whenever I needed help.

But I left all that behind me in Los Angeles, along with the expensive bachelor pad apartment, the sports cars, the all-night parties, and the endless line of one night stands. There was something about this place that soothed me, smoothed my rough edges, and made me want to actually grow up.

And seeing Ryder and Chase settle into family life only drove that point home even harder. I wanted what they had. I wanted stability. Maybe even a family, someday. I wanted a real home.

And now, I was out of time.

Shit. I knew from my constant internet searches that there was nothing out there that suited me. No houses to buy. Not even a decent apartment. I’d seen a new listing yesterday for a place on the edge of town, but the pictures of the complex sent a shiver of revulsion down my spine. It looked like something out of a horror movie. Like the bogeyman might live in apartment three.

“No, thank you,” I muttered, dropping the letter to the countertop.

Pulling my phone from my pocket with a sigh, I prepared myself to call Ethan and ask him if I could crash at his place for a while. I could spend my nights helping him renovate it as payment. Holding the phone in front of me, I scrubbed a hand down my face.

As much as I loved my brother and my job, I didn’t relish the thought. I liked having my space and the freedom to laze around in my underwear watching television if I wanted. I could listen to my music as loudly as I liked, leave the mess until I was ready to clean it up tomorrow, and read the trashy romance novels I enjoyed without hiding them in my room. God, I’d never hear the end of it if my brothers found out about that.

I set my phone down on the counter and stared at it. Maybe I didn’t need to call Ethan. Maybe I had another option.

The ranch was empty, and as of right now, we still owned it. But would we in thirty days, when I had to be out of this house? Did I really want to stay here, where I knew my time was limited, when I could be living in the ranch home we’d basically rebuilt from the foundation up?

I nodded to myself, excitement coursing through me as a plan developed. I could move to the ranch. Since there was no interest and definitely no offers, according to Dakota, we could take the damn thing off the market for a few months until I found a place that suited me better. It wasn’t like we needed the money. Thanks to our successful business and several genius investments Ethan made for us, we were worth millions. The only reason we were even trying to sell the damn place was because none of us wanted or needed it.

But as of today, I needed it.

A smile curved my lips for the first time all morning. It was the perfect solution. I would live out there until I found the perfect place for myself. I’d have my privacy, and I could start looking for the perfect companion…a tiny, fluffy dog.

With the decision made, I felt a weight lift from my shoulders. Picking up my phone and tucking it back into my pocket, I headed for my bedroom.

I wasn’t going to stay here another night. I’d pack up my things and be out of here in no time. I would call the guys tomorrow and tell them my plans. Now that I’d made the decision, I was excited to get out there and get settled.

It took me twenty minutes to pack my shit and get out the door, but as soon as I got into my truck, reality struck—the ranch was unfurnished. No couch, no television, no bed.

“Fuck,” I muttered, but started the engine, anyway.

At least we’d had the utilities turned on before putting the place on the market. I could make do for a few days until I managed to get some furniture delivered and the satellite hooked up.

I drove to Bull’s Eye, Red River’s only big box store, and pulled into an empty parking space. Running inside the place that claimed to have “Everything under the moo-oon,” I headed for the camping section with an empty grocery cart. I found what I was looking for—an air mattress with a pump—and tossed it into the basket.

The rental house had come furnished, but I had my own sheets, blankets, and pillows, so I didn’t need to buy any bedding. I walked to the small appliance section and grabbed a single serve coffee maker before heading to the grocery side of the store. I dumped several bags of chips, some microwavable popcorn, and some beef jerky into the cart before heading to the frozen food aisle. Burritos, taquitos, and a few pizzas made their way into the basket. Thank God we’d decked out the kitchen with a matching set of stainless steel appliances—including a large refrigerator with a huge freezer drawer underneath, a dishwasher, a range, a trash compactor, and a microwave.

I normally tried to balance my love of junk food out with healthier choices, but I skipped the produce aisle on my way to the drink section. I’d plan a more thorough shopping trip later. I grabbed a six-pack of beer, a flat of bottled water, and some coffee pods for the machine I’d picked up. I also picked up a pack of paper plates, some aluminum foil to cook the pizzas on, and some paper towels and toilet paper.

I was sure I was forgetting a lot, but I went to check out anyway. This would get me through the night, and I was eager to settle in at the ranch. My new, albeit temporary, home.

It was going to be awesome.

* * *

There were lights on inside.

I climbed down from the truck, staring at the sliver of light shining through the part in the curtains covering the front window. Leaving my purchases in the vehicle, I walked to the porch in the darkness, keeping my steps as light as possible as I climbed the stairs.

“Fucking squatters,” I grumbled under my breath as I slipped my key into the lock and disengaged it with a soft click.

I’d been so excited to get settled, and now I had to deal with this bullshit? Whoever was in there was about to get their asses handed to them.

I pushed the door inward a few inches and slipped through the narrow opening. Someone had killed the lights, so I couldn’t see shit. I heard a shout just before pain exploded in my temple. I stumbled, my back slamming into the doorjamb as my hands flew up to protect my face. A banshee’s scream pierced my eardrums as something hard cracked against my forearm.

I charged forward with a growl, wrapping my arms around my assailant in a tight bear hug. The squatter fought against the embrace, twisting this way and that before bringing a knee up and missing my groin by mere centimeters.

“Stop,” I growled. “Be still.”

The person froze, and my frazzled brain realized the small body I was holding was soft and curvy just before she spoke.

“Noah?”

I released her instantly, and stepped back. Running a hand along the wall, I found the light switch and flicked it on. My eyes widened before I schooled my features and crossed my arms over my chest.

“Dakota. What in the hell are you doing here?”