Page 101 of A Hard Habit to Break

Rachel slipped back into the barn as guests picked their seats. One last moment to catch her breath before joining the processional. She heard the soft melody of a guitar drifting in through the open doors. Closing her eyes, she let the music wash over her. A pang of wistfulness ushered in a vision of Noah, dapper in a tuxedo and polished boots, for their own commitment day.

Just then, the sound of footsteps caught her attention, and she turned to see the man himself, thick mane swept back, face clean-shaven, eyes piercing her in appreciation, standing in the doorway. A slow smile, more sexy than saint, parted his lips.

“Hey, Six,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper, but potent with promise.

Rachel felt her heart skip a beat, and she had to force herself to meet his gaze.

“Hi,” she replied, her voice trembling slightly.

“I… I just wanted to make sure you were okay,” Noah said, taking a step closer. “I missed you. I know this must be a lot to take in, and I don’t want to make things harder for you.”

Rachel felt a wave of desire crash over her. “Yeah. But I’m fine,” she said, mustering a smile. “I’m just… a little nervous, is all.” Gosh, not her Appalachian accent rebounding today of all days.

Noah nodded, his eyes searching her face. “I figured. You’re a perfectionist. This is a big day for the whole town.” Even after all these years, he knew her better than anyone. She played it cool, never having expectations of anyone, but she did with Noah.

Rachel sighed, her gaze drifting toward his mystical eyes. “I just… want everyone to be happy, you know?”

Noah reached out, gently taking her hand in his. “I feel the same about you… I just want you happy, Six.”

Rachel felt a lump rise in her throat and squeezed Noah’s hand for support. “I am, when I’m with you,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

Noah pulled her flush with his body until her curves softened and molded to him. With his thumb, he tilted her chin up until their eyes locked. “It’s your parents’ wedding day… but I’m the luckiest fella on the farm today. You feel me, right? We’ll figure it out together.”

Rachel felt a surge of passion so strong for this man that she swayed in his arms. There was no comparison in how he pulled a response from her body when he shared his genuine emotions, not the persona.

“I love you, Noah,” she breathed. “I love you so much.”

Noah’s eyes widened, then seemed to glow with satisfaction. “Sweetest four words in the English language.”

She shook her head at his antics. “You’re a distraction.”

“Says the most beautiful girl in the world. You look absolutely edible.” He grinned, a confident smile spreading across his face.

Before Rachel could respond, the sound of the band from the Black Bear playing, swelling to life outside, caught their attention, and they both glanced toward the open doorway.

“It’s time,” Noah said, planting a kiss on her lips, slipping her a taste of his tongue before stepping back.

Rachel took a deep breath. “Hey, I wasn’t done.”

Noah winked. “Just a sample of what’s to come, Six.” He proffered his elbow.

She slipped her arm through his just as Amarie and Eli entered the barn.

“Oh, hey, you two. Glad to see the goats without Noah’s name on their sandwich boards for a change,” her sister saidwhile Eli gave a knowing smile. “Now let’s get this wedding started and the afterparty popping.”

“Yes,” Rachel agreed. Together, the Johnson and Calvary families would stand side-by-side, celebrating what mattered most.

The ceremony was a beautiful affair of the community coming together to celebrate two of their own. The newly married couple shared their first Holy Communion, and Pastor Harris introduced them as “Mr. Matthew Johnson and his lovely bride, Mrs. Bethany Walker Johnson.” Benji’s cheering could be heard above the clapping. Rachel was sure his videos would require a ton of audio editing. She hugged her father and Bethany, tears of joy streaming down her face. She forgot about her own fears, the excuses she’d cemented in stone to justify leaving Noah and Service behind. As her friends erupted into cheers and applause, authentic happiness radiating a palpable energy, Rachel realized just how content she felt in Service. She’d always been enough to receive and give love. This was what mattered most about home—belonging. There was nothing to prove to herself or anyone else. In the distance, a robin started to sing, and Rachel thought she heard her mother’s voice humming along. Right then, she made a promise. No matter what happened, she wouldn’t let anything keep her away from home again.

“Hey, you.”

Rachel felt that familiar sensation of anticipation and desire sing through her. She spun on her heels to find Noah standing there. Rachel drank him in—tall, devilishly handsome, and hers. Rachel felt her heart skip a beat and gallop off without her. “Hey, yourself,” she said, swallowing.

Noah slid his arm around her waist. With the other, he lifted her hand and placed it on his shoulder. “What time do we leave?”

As she stared into his eyes, she no longer saw shadows of the past, only windows into their future. They would build a stable relationship from a rocky past.

Rising up on her tiptoes, Rachel pressed her forehead to his. “I’ll help you pack.” She felt him relax, so she said the rest in a rush. “The next adventure is to be ours—together.”