Free A Love Worth Waiting For and Heaven Knows by Jillian Hart Page B

doing what he wants to do. Nora won’t admit it, but it hurt her when he left. I can’t stand her hurting. I told him about it, but he didn’t apologize. Just told me I didn’t know a thing.”
    Julie bit her bottom lip. So, Noah had decided to keep his condition secret. What should she say now? She’d given her word to him. She couldn’t break it, but she couldn’t stand to see her grandfather hurting. “I think Noah had a good reason to leave, and he did return to the dance.”
    â€œShe forgives him for anything.”
    â€œThat reminds me of another grandparent I know. Let me think who it would be….”
    â€œNot me.” Granddad blushed a little, relaxing as he reached for the coffee mug. “That’s different. I don’t indulge you. I don’t look the other way or make excuses. You’re a good, responsible girl, nothing at all like…” Granddad sighed. “No, I’ve vowed not to say an unkind word. I shouldn’t be making judgments, but if he makes Nora sad one more time…”
    â€œThe trouble is when you really love someone, you hurt for them, too.” Julie knew something about that. “I know how you feel. You want to protect Nora. That’s wonderful. But you don’t know what happened last night.”
    â€œAnd you do? I noticed you were missing. Your friends made a few excuses, how you’d just ran out on an errand and whatnot. Don’t think I didn’t notice how you left about the same time he did. And came back, too.”
    â€œYou can say his name, Granddad. Noah’s different from what I expected. You should get to know him.”
    â€œWhen? He’s probably halfway to New York by now.”
    Julie glanced at the clock. Noah’s pain was so severe, what if there was something terribly wrong? No one else knew where he was or what he was going through. “I like Noah, Granddad. You might, too, if you gave him half a chance.”
    â€œI don’t need advice from you, missy.” He winked, to soften the impact of his words. “What I need is to finish this coffee so I can get back to work. He gave you that flower, did he?”
    â€œIf he did, that would make him a nice guy. Mean guys don’t go around giving corsages to women they don’t know.”
    â€œHe got one for Nora, too. Giving her flowers is my job.”
    Mystery solved. Julie reached across the table for her grandfather’s muffin. “Noah’s been looking after his grandmother for a long time. It’s probably going to be hard for him to step aside and let someone else take over. Even someone as wonderful as you.”
    â€œYou’re takin’ his side.”
    â€œNo way. I’m firmly on yours.” She grabbed the knife and buttered the muffin. “You can’t let anything stand in the way of your special love for your bride. It’s that simple. Noah adores his grandmother.”
    â€œAdores her, or her money?”
    â€œGranddad!”
    He looked fierce and protective and every bit a hard, seasoned cowboy. He looked ready for a fight. Her gentle granddad! He fisted his hands. “He’s the one who takes care of her finances. Nora has no idea of her net worth. She has to call him to transfer money if she needs it. He’s generous and says he takes care of her, but who knows if he’s taking advantage of her.”
    â€œNoah wouldn’t do that.” She was certain of it. The man who’d risked his life in an electrical storm and crossed a flooding creek to save a child, had to have a good heart. A man who’d suffer pain and fear alone, so he wouldn’t worry his grandmother, had to be protecting her, not out to hurt her. “Noah wouldn’t, Granddad. Trust me.”
    â€œI’d sure like to, but the truth is, you don’t know Noah Ashton any more than I do. Thought I could get to know him last night. Talk to him a bit, but then he