He heard the man curse before slamming his office door shut.

"Well, that worked out just dandy."

Noah was kicking himself by the time he left work and headed home. But his lips tingled in remembrance of that explosive kiss.

He wanted more.

Parking his car outside his trailer, Noah made sure he had his cell phone before he glanced around. Devil was nowhere in sight.

When Noah stepped into his home, he felt his world shift sideways. The place was in shambles. Things were knocked over, broken, and torn apart.

A foreboding shiver raced down his spine. In all the years he'd lived here, never once had he come home to anything close to this chaotic mess. Was this a warning? Was Devil trying to tell him something? It couldn't be anyone other than the drug dealer. As far as he knew, no one else held a grudge against him.

Walking through the wreckage, Noah felt his stomach twist into knots. He wasn't sure who had done this, Devil or one of his lackey's, but the meaning was loud and clear.

Keep your mouth shut about what you saw.

Chapter Three.

Jed leaned against the wall, sipping his morning cup of coffee as he watched Markey wander around downstairs, calling for his dad. It was something the toddler did on a regular basis and everyone had grown used to the habit.

Dresden walked out of the kitchen, Austin tucked in his arms. "I have no clue why he does that," Dresden said.

Jed glanced at the bundle in the man's arms and a deep yearning took hold of him, shaking him in ways he never expected. Suddenly, he had a picture in his head of Noah doing the same thing, holding their child.

Taking another sip of his coffee, Jed tried to erase the image in his mind, but it wouldn't be so easily dismissed. Maybe he shouldn't fight this. There was a possibility that Noah wouldn't crush his heart. But just the thought of going through that shit again made Jed curl his lip.

Harland walked down the stairs and enveloped Dresden in a gentle hug, kissing his mate on the temple. Jed had to get out of here. He didn't want to see what he would never have. The love he felt coming from these two was a just too much to bear.

Markey turned and spotted Jed first. The bright smile was enough to melt Jed's heart. He loved little Markey. The kid had a way of growing on you. He ruffled Markey's blond strands as he headed out the door. Once outside on the porch, Jed hesitated.

He thought about the kiss he'd shared with Noah. It had been the most toe-curling kiss he'd ever had. Everything in him had wanted to strip the human naked and fuck the man until he couldn't walk straight.

But his old fear had reared its head and Jed had backed off. He would never tell anyone that he'd jacked off to the image last night. It was the hottest fantasy he'd had in a long time.

Which was going to make his day too damn long. Being around Noah was proving harder than he'd anticipated. The man appealed to him on so many different levels that it was hard to concentrate at work.

But he had a business to run.

Jed drove to the gas station, reminding himself once again that Noah was nothing more than an employee. When he pulled into the station, Jed's lips parted as his stomach clenched.

There, on the outside wall of the building, was the word snitch spray-painted in dark red. He came to a stop and just stared at the word. He couldn't understand why someone would do something like this. Especially after he'd spent all that money to have someone come out and give the place a facelift. The new paint job was ruined.

Jed slammed the gearshift into park and got out, glancing around as if the hoodlum would still be around, paint can in hand. As he walked closer, his anger mounted.

He turned when Noah pulled into the station, parking next to Jed's truck. The man gaped out his windshield at the scrawling on the building. He could see that Noah was just as shocked to see the vandalism.

"Who the hell would do something like this?" Jed asked when Noah got out of his car. Jed removed his Stetson, scratching at his head. He knew one thing for sure. He was calling the cops.

He was going to get cameras for his station, too. The damage proved that he needed them.

"Stay out here while I check inside," he said to Noah before entering the station. Everything looked to be in order. No one had gotten inside. Jed pulled his cell phone free and called the sheriff.

"I'm already out your way. I shouldn't be but a few minutes," Sheriff Zackary Sparrow said. "Don't touch anything until I have a look at things."

Jed slid his phone back into his pocket before joining Noah outside. The human was just standing there, looking a bit pale as he gazed at the single word. Jed wondered if Noah's recent mood change had anything to do with this.

"I'll get some scrub brushes." Noah began to walk toward the building, but Jed stopped him. He gazed into the man's pale-blue eyes, trying to get some kind of read on the guy.

"Do you know who did this?"

Noah wouldn't look at Jed. His eyes bounced everywhere and Jed got the feeling that Noah knew something. "Do you?"

"I didn't tell anyone," Noah whispered.

Before Jed could ask what Noah was talking about, the sheriff pulled in by the pumps. Noah curled his fingers around Jed's wrist. "Please, don't say anything to the sheriff."

"We're not done talking about this." Jed pulled out of Noah's grasp before meeting the sheriff at his car. He didn't want to lie to the sheriff, but he couldn't get the panicked look in Noah's eyes out of his mind.

As soon as he filed the report, Jed was going to get some answers.

This didn't make any sense. Noah hadn't said a word to anyone about what he'd seen. As he paced Jed's office, all sorts of terrifying things went through his mind. Why would Devil do this if Noah hadn't told anyone? Would Noah end up in the man's trunk as well?

His nerves were drawn tight by the time Jed walked in. The man looked seven kinds of pissed and Noah didn't blame him one bit. But this wasn't Noah's fault either. He hadn't done anything wrong except witness what Devil was capable of.

Jed tossed his hat onto the desk and took a seat, running his hand over his jaw before sitting back. He stared at Noah with that tenebrous expression he sometimes wore. Noah had an insane urge to throw himself at Jed's feet and beg for mercy.

"Okay, the sheriff is taken care of. Now, would you mind telling me what's going on?"

Noah opened his mouth and then closed it, unsure of what to say. He worried that if he said a word, Devil would hunt him down and do unspeakable things to him. He knew it was ridiculous. There was no way Devil could see or hear him right now, but the fear had him panicking. "I don't know."

Jed's fist slammed on the desk, making things jump-including Noah. "Goddamn it, Noah! I want to know why someone spray-painted the word snitch on my station."

If he didn't tell Jed, Noah had a feeling he'd be fired. But if he did, what Devil would do was a lot worse. Noah felt trapped. He wished he could go back to that fateful night and just go inside instead of being nosy. "I can't tell you."

Jed stood, pressing the palms of his hands into the desk. "Is someone threatening you?"

In a roundabout way. His place had been broken into and destroyed and now this. There was no doubt in Noah's mind that Devil was going to eventually come after him and stuff him in a trunk. He swallowed hard, his body shaking slightly as he glanced down at his shoes. "Can I just go out there and clean the mess up?"

"It's going to take more than scrubbing, Noah. I'm going to have to have that area repainted."

"You can deduct the cost from my pay." Noah was praying like hell that Jed didn't fire him. He not only needed this job, but for some strange reason, he felt safe around the cowboy. Noah couldn't explain why, but he did.

"That's not the point, Noah. I want to know what's going on with you. For the past few days you haven't been acting like yourself. If someone is messing with you, just tell me."

Noah suddenly had an image of Devil shoving Jed in a trunk and it was enough to make an ice-cold chill run down his spine. He didn't want to get Jed involved in this. What if Devil killed the guy? Noah fisted his hands under his armpits, wishing he'd stayed in bed this morning.

"Noah."

"If I tell you, then that person might come after you," he finally answered. "I can't live with that, Jed."

Jed frowned as he walked around the desk, stopping right in front of Noah. "Don't worry about me. I can handle myself. It's you I'm worried about."

Under any other circumstances, those words would have thrilled Noah. He'd been looking for some sort of sign that Jed was interested in him. This might not be a declaration that Jed wanted to date, but it was something. "I'll be fine."

"Why are you being so damn stubborn?" Jed demanded.

"I could ask you the same thing," Noah retorted.

"What?"

Noah ran his hand through his hair as he took a step back, needing the space. "I've been interested in you for a very long time, Jedediah Gibbs. But you've ignored my flirting and turned a blind eye to me. I don't get you. One minute you're distant, the next, we're kissing like-"

"That was a mistake."

The man might as well have slapped Noah. The breath left his lungs as he took another step back, the need to run from the office overwhelming. The rejection shouldn't have stung so deeply, but it did. Noah wanted to lash out, to hurt Jed just as much as the man had just hurt him.

But he couldn't bring himself to do that. Noah never wanted to hurt the man. The emotions surging through him confused Noah, but he wasn't going to purposely wound the guy. "It won't happen again."

"That's not what I meant," Jed said. "It's just that-" Jed blew out a long breath before turning away, giving Noah his back. Noah stood there, waiting to hear what else the man had to say, but Jed remained quiet.

"What is it?" Noah asked. "I like you and I'm pretty sure you like me. I don't get why you keep pushing me away."

"It's complicated," Jed said.

"Then un-complicate it." Noah started to approach Jed, but stayed where he stood. If Jed was working things out in his head, Noah didn't want to stop the man from thinking through what he wanted to say. But the silence was killing him.

"What do you want me to do?" Jed asked as he turned. "Stand here and have a heart-to-heart talk with you?" The man asked like it was the worst thought in the world, like he'd rather chew glass.

"No," Noah replied. "I just want to know if there's a chance of us being together."

"There's not." Jed grabbed his hat off of the desk and headed toward the door. Noah just stood there. At least now he didn't have to tell Jed about Devil. But the man's departure left Noah with even more questions about why Jed kept pushing him away.

Noah was determined to crack that shell and unearth the many layers of Jedediah Gibbs. Even if he had to beat the man over the head in the process.

Noah wasn't ready to go home, so he took Clayton up on his offer of wing night. He parked his car in the lot and strode inside the tavern to loud music and a large crowd. It seemed everyone wanted some wings.

He made his way to the bar, wiggling past the packed patrons who stood there. How good were these wings? He waved his hand repeatedly to get Clayton's attention but the man was too busy at the other end.

"Do you mind?" a stranger next to him asked, shoving Noah away from the bar and back into the crowd. Noah gave a small growl and tried to get back up to the counter. He used his arm to make a hole, but the same guy was standing there, as if waiting for Noah to do just that.

"I only want some wings," Noah said.

"I don't give a shit what you want," the guy slurred and shoved Noah so hard that Noah landed on his ass. Before he could get up and show that bully that he wasn't one to mess with, a strong hand pulled him to his feet.

Noah's heart started beating faster when he realized it was Jed who was helping him. He hadn't expected the man to be here, but damn if he didn't look good.

"What are you doing on the floor?"

Noah brushed himself off. "It's not like I was lying down there on purpose." He shoved a finger at the drunk guy who had put him there. "All I want is some wings but that asshole thinks he owns the place."

The drunk guy turned as Jed approached and Noah could see the stranger had been expecting him instead of a muscular cowboy. The stranger blinked a few times and then moved aside. Noah snarled at the bastard.

Jed reached behind and grabbed Noah's arm, pulling him up to the bar. The cowboy shoved his fingers into his mouth and let go of an ear-piercing whistle.

Clayton turned and smiled.

At least now Noah knew how to get Clayton's attention. Except he couldn't whistle like that. Maybe next time he'd bring an air horn with him. "Thanks."

Jed nodded as Clayton approached. "You came on a busy-ass night," Clayton said as he winked at Noah. "Looking for those wings?"

Noah nodded. "I'll take a dozen and a Coke."

Clayton chuckled. "Coming right up. Go find a seat and I'll bring them to you."

Noah turned to see there was nowhere to sit.

"Bring them outside," Jed said before pulling Noah's hand and leading him through the crowd. When they stepped outside, Noah could finally hear again. The coolness was a relief after the stifling heat from the packed bodies inside. He kept walking, following behind Jed until they reached the man's truck.

Jed pulled the tailgate down and Noah hopped up on it, settling as he gazed at the road in front of the Ugly Broad. The night was quiet out here with just a small disruption from the bar inside. But it was a hell of a lot more peaceful and he wasn't sandwiched in by so many people.

"I didn't know you were coming," Noah said as he swung his legs back and forth, wondering what he and Jed should talk about. He wasn't going to tell the man about Devil and he knew Jed wasn't going to tell him why he kept pushing Noah away.

"I saw you heading this way," Jed said. The admission stunned Noah. He had thought Jed would find some lame excuse for being here, but the man had been honest. Points for the cowboy.

"Wanted to steal my wings," Noah teased as he smiled at the rugged man. "Not going to happen. I fought sharks and choppy waters to secure those things."

Noah frowned when Jed leaned in and inhaled deeply. Did he stink? Noah lifted his arm and sniffed, but he didn't have an offending odor.

"Don't want your wings."

"Then what do you want?" Noah licked his lips, praying he got another one of those toe-curling kisses. He could feel the tension between them and wondered why Jed had come after him.

"Nothing complicated," Jed said.

"It doesn't have to be complicated," Noah replied. "Just two guys having some fun." Although Noah wanted more than just fun. He'd been after Jed for so long that his feelings were changing and he'd started fantasizing about what it would be like to belong to this man. But Jed didn't want to hear that. The cowboy was looking for a good time, no strings attached. He could tell by the way the guy was looking at him.