Page 33 of A Hard Habit to Break

“Happy tears, Dad,” she called back, the lie flowing fast as her tears slowed. “Stay in the truck.”

“Noah,” Matt called.

“Sir?”

“If my daughter gets any happier, I’m kicking your hind parts like a football, up and down this field.”

“Rachel, dear, do you need me to come out there?” Bethany asked, her tone full mother-bear mode.

Rachel laughed. “No. I’m fine. And violence is unnecessary, Dad,” she said before whispering for Noah’s ears only, “I wish I were anywhere but here right now.”

He lowered his forehead to hers. “I know. I’ll take you home.” It burned to say the words, but this was Rachel. Her return to Service was a landmine of joy and pain, and he was ill-equipped to distinguish one from the other. But he’d do what he could to make her two-week stay better, even if it meant erasing himself from her blueprints.

“Classic Noah Calvary. Ready to rescue someone in need.”

It was his turn to offer a humorless chuckle. “Never imagined my sweetheart would want a rescue from my arms.”

He didn’t say high school because his feelings had lasted well past adolescent hormones and up-all-night text message chains.

She chuffed. “You wouldn’t. That’s your superpower. Always seeing the good.”

Noah held her body close, but his mind floated. Everyone had loved him, the straight B student, the star quarterback. Quiet and studious Rachel, with her wild red curls and cowgirl boots, had stood out. Could he use her assistance with the redevelopment committee? Yes. But the part of him prewired to protect this woman would do what he’d always done, even when they were kids. He’d protect her. “You review your notes. Make your recommendations. You won’t have to see me again.”

“After that speech about me and you working together, you’re letting me out of the hot seat?”

He said the words that revealed how close he was to losing control. “I’d do just about anything for you, Six.”

Heaven help him. Every part of her body softened againsthim. The scent of her skin blossomed, warmth flooded her cheeks, and the feel of her breath seemed to caress the hairs covering his chest. The nozzle he’d pinched off squeaked open, and what lay dormant was fully awake and hungry.

“Noah.”

“Yeah?”

“I can’t start anything with you. Two weeks, remember.”

Before he could respond, an ear-splitting scream cut through the air.

“Benji,” Rachel yelled. “Are you okay?”

Matt and Bethany were out of the truck, narrowing the distance between him and Rachel.

Flying like a blond-haired bat in a powder blue cardigan, Benji ran straight at them.

“FriendFriend, Gillian Begatta liked our post. She actually wrote, “Lawrence + Begatta Architects embrace small town America.”

Noah recognized the name of Rachel’s firm, but what did it mean?

Rachel snatched Benji’s iPhone, glaring. “Let me see that.”

“What does it mean, kiddo?”

Noah wondered the same. For the town of Service, Rachel had reached phenomenal woman status years ago.

Benji answered. “It means Rachel has been catapulted from Black girl magic to Black unicorn. She’s grabbed one of the partners’ attention! This is the project she’s been searching for to earn that corner office! Now all she has to do is deliver a fabulous plan for the redevelopment committee.”

“Urgh!” she bellowed, raising her head to glare at Noah. The fire blazing in her eyes could liquify steel. “It means I’m stuck with you. And the success—or failure—of our committee will impact my career.”

Noah’s eyes shot to Rachel’s. “Gee, Six, tell me how you really feel. Seems we have membership in the same club.”