River’s End

run over.”
    “We got a problem here?”
    Noah merely glanced at security. The man’s shoulders were wide as a canyon and his big, sharp smile didn’t hold any humor. Before he could speak, Caryn had launched herself against the boulder of his chest, blinking until her eyes filled.
    “He wouldn’t leave me alone. He grabbed me.”
    “Oh, for Christ’s sake.”
    “That’s a damn lie.” This from Mike, who’d hopped to Noah’s side. “She started on him. She’s a lunatic, wrecked his house last week.”
    “I don’t know what they’re talking about.” Tears slid gracefully down her cheeks as she tipped her face back to the bouncer’s. “He hurt me.”
    “I saw what happened.” A brunette with amused eyes and a slight Southern drawl strolled up. “I was sitting right over there.” She gestured behind her, kept her voice low. “This guy was having a beer at this table, minding his own business. She came up to him, got in his face, started poking at him and yelling abuse. Then she slugged him.”
    The outrage had Caryn shrieking. She took a swipe at the brunette, missing by a mile as the bouncer nipped her around the waist. Her exit, kicking and screaming, caused quite a stir.
    “Thanks.” Noah dabbed the back of his hand on his lip.
    The brunette’s smile was slow and friendly. “Anytime.”
    “I’m going to get you a fresh beer. Sit, relax.” Mike fussed around him like a mother. “Man, that woman is over the edge and then some. I’ll get the beer and some ice.”
    “Your friend’s very sweet.” She offered Noah a hand. “I’m Dory.”
    “Noah.”
    “Yes, I got that from Mike already. He likes my friend.” She fluttered a hand toward the table where the blonde sat looking wide-eyed and prettily distressed. “She likes him. Why don’t you join us?”
    She had a voice like cream, and skin to match, intelligent interest in her eyes and a sympathetic smile. And he was just too damn tired to start the dance. “I appreciate it, but I’m going to take off. Go home, soak my head. I’m considering entering a monastery.”
    She laughed, and because he looked as if he could use it, touched a light kiss to his cheek. “Don’t do anything rash. Ten, twenty years from now, you’ll look back and smile at this little incident.”
    “Yeah, that’s about right. Thanks again, and tell Mike I’ll catch him later.”
    “Sure.” She watched him go with a little tug of regret.
    He was lost in the forest, the lovely, deep woods with the low glow of light edged with green. There was silence, such silence he could swear he heard the air breathing. He couldn’t find his way over the slick carpet of moss, through the tangle of dripping vines,-beyond the great columns of trees that rose like an ancient wall. He was looking for something ... someone. He had to hurry, but whichever direction he took, he remained cupped there, in the ripe and green darkness. He heard the faint murmur of water from a stream, the sigh of the air and the drumming inside his head that was the frantic beat of his own blood.
    Then, under it, like a whisper, came his name. Noah . . . Noah . . .
    “Noah.”
    He shot up in bed, fists raised, eyes still glazed and blinded by the dream, his heart cartwheeling madly in his chest.
    “And you used to wake up with a smile on your face.”
    “What? What?” He blinked his vision clear as the sharpest edge of the dream dulled and faded. “Mom?” He stared at her, then flopped back, buried his face in his pillow. “Jeez. Why don’t you just bash me over the head with a tire iron next time?”
    “Let’s just say I didn’t expect to find you still in bed at eleven o’clock in the morning.” She sat on the edge of the bed, then rattled the bakery box she carried. “I brought pastries.”
    His pulse had nearly leveled out, so he opened one eye—and it was full of suspicion.
    “Not that carob crap?”
    She sighed heavily. “All my hard work for nothing. You still have your father’s stomach. No, not carob. I brought my only son poisonous white sugar and fat.”
    The suspicion remained, but around it was greedy interest. “What do I have to do for them?”
    She leaned over, kissed the top of his head. “Get out of bed.”
    “That’s it?”
    “Get out of bed,” she said again. “I’ll go make coffee.”
    The idea of coffee and food thrilled him so much he was out of bed and pulling on his jeans before it struck him how weird it was to have his mother drop by with