Chapter 22

Once they’d started on their seconds, Ewan asked, “Are you planning on spending the rest of your life here?”

“Probably. I’m a small-town kid at heart. I like the simple life. Beside which, I never went to college so…” Noah shrugged.

“You’re what, twenty-two, twenty-three?” When Noah nodded, Ewan asked, “Have you ever been anywhere but here?”

“Yeah. As soon as I graduated high school I got a car so I could go to New York on the weekends. I still do sometimes.”

Ewan cocked an eyebrow. “Sowing your wild oats?”

“For sure I couldn’t do it here.”

“Well, I’ll be damned. Why did I think you were as innocent as you look?”

Noah replied with feigned seriousness, after taking a deep drink of his beer. “It’s a fa?ade I cultivate so no one will suspect I’m really a sex-fiend at heart.”

“Are you?” Ewan cocked his head in question, an amused smile tipping his lips up.

“No.” Noah laughed. “Not a fiend.” He shuddered suddenly.

“What’s wrong,” Ewan asked, putting his hand on Noah’s arm.