Page 75 of A Hard Habit to Break

“Noah,” she squawked, swatting at his chest. “Enough. Enough.”

“I’m the happiest man on earth. I’m not stopping. Just give in.”

“Not without nourishment.”

He reared to place one last kiss on her nose. “Got it. Got it. I’ll whip up some grub.”

“I hope it’s better than it sounds.”

“You know I’ll do your body right.” He winked.

Rachel rolled her eyes and then shifted to collapse beside him on the mattress. Noah quickly scooped her up until her legs tangled with his.

“Move in with me today,” he blurted.Real smooth, Calvary. Really eased into that bombshell.Why not tack on a marriage proposal? Maybe ask her to bear his children before coffee?

Rachel’s expression blanked. “Come again?” she stammered.

“You heard me good.” Noah knew he’d unloaded everything he’d been thinking since her return all at once, but this next step, he wanted her to be sure. The Johnson family land would be hers one day. She and her father had plans for constructing Rachel’s house there, but he wanted her here in the house he’d promised.

“Noah,” she stammered.

“After last night, can you blame me for not wanting to let you go home?”

She ran her fingers through his hair. “Let me go home—as if you can stop me. Are you trying to start an argument?”

“I’m not. Don’t you dare try it, you know what I mean. We’ve lost years. Why wait when we want to be together?”

“Noah, this… what you’re asking… is happening fast.”

“Not for me. I’ve got plans for us. I always have.”

“Maybe share your plans with your partner who has a job on another coast.”

He ran one hand down her spine. She arched, a soft sigh escaping her parted lips. “Now”—he kissed her—“that”—he kissed her again—“you’re here, you’re all mine, and—”

She kissed him before he could continue. “We can talk about how we’ll make it work, but not before the wedding. I don’t want the heaviness of us deciding our future before my dad and Bethany’s happy day. I’m home to celebrate them.”

She ran a slender finger down his chest. “Making fireworks with you is a bonus.”

Boy, he loved a considerate woman with a quick mind. “You win. I can’t resist these adorable red curls and this mouth.” He reared up, hungry to taste her once more.

“Oh”—she kissed his lips—“you do make it hard on a girl. I need to keep my wits.”

“I’ll admit to being a tiny bit afraid of the little voice telling you there’s more adventure out there”—he pointed out the slider door—“than here… with me. When you run, from now until forever, you run to me. I got your six. You had mine. You don’t have to run anymore. This is your home.”

“Anyone ever tell you you’re over the top?”

“Get used to it, sweetheart. ’Cause this house, me, you, and ClamClam are home.” At the mention of the cat’s name, their fur baby hopped up on the bed, curled into Noah’s other side, circled a few times, sat, and then began to knead at the sheets.

“Really, ClamClam Johnson?” Rachel chided.

“See, even the cat agrees there’s room for you both here.”

“It’s not a question of room, Noah. It’s a question of sound reasoning.”

“Insanity is us apart.”

“Dude, literally, I live next door. You can see me every day… when I’m home.”