Page 80 of A Hard Habit to Break

“And,” Bethany said warmly, “you get to be close to family.”

Matt nodded toward the renderings. “These designs could be a model for rural development across the country, RJ. You’re not scaling back. You’re scaling up in a different way.”

Exactly.She wasn’t choosing Noah or her life in San Diego. She was choosing a version of herself that got to experience it all—love, a career, and community.But how?Therein lay the challenge. Could she build a successful career right here in Service with Noah? This version of Rachel worked in the barn, designed in her home, swam in the plunge pool, and made love outside under the stars.

“We should head back, Matt. I need to finalize those floral arrangements,” Bethany said eventually, but her tone revealed her reluctance to leave.

“And I need to review the electrical specifications with the county inspector,” Benji added.

“Yeah,” Leah said. “Amarie and I were at the farm. Weneed to get back and then meet Eli at the vet clinic. I have a full day of grooming on my schedule.”

“Thanks for coming over.” Rachel hugged them goodbye, one by one. “Give me a minute to get my tablet, and I’ll walk back with you to grab my stuff.”

As they began to file out, Rachel lingered. Alone again in the space Noah had created for her, she returned to the renderings spread across the custom table. The afternoon light caught the details of each building transformation, and she could see her future together with Noah more clearly than any architectural plan she’d ever drawn.

This was their home. This was the life she never knew she wanted until she had the courage to reach for it.

The walk back reminded her of three kids trailing behind their parents. Her father, Bethany, and Leah laughed about tomorrow’s committee meeting while Rachel, Amarie, and Benji joked about sex.

No sooner had she exited the house with her essentials stuffed in a shoulder duffel than Noah exited his truck and headed for where they all stood on the front porch, her dad and Bethany cuddled up in the swing.

Rachel’s eyes widened. “You’re back.”

“What’s up, fellas? Afternoon, ladies. Mama,” Noah said, his long strides bringing them face to face. Here he stood, the man of her dreams, his broad shoulders wrapped in sunlight. The image warmed her insides. Rachel searched his eyes. Though he wore his usual cocky grin, he could never fool her. Something hadn’t gone his way.

“Rachel invited us over to see her in-house studio,” Amarie teased. “Nice work, Noah.”

Noah nodded in acknowledgement, not the usual gloating Rachel had come to expect. “Thanks, lil’ sis. Mind if I steal my lady away?”

“Not at all” was followed by a chorus of giggles andawws.

Noah took her bag, grabbed her hand, and led Rachel away. The large barn doors split open, and sunlight spilled into the wide entryway, built to shelter two John Deere tractors during inclement weather. Noah bypassed the entry, instead leading them behind the barn. How many summer nights had they spent exploring second base away from watchful eyes?

A shrieking “Paaa caw” had her grasping his hand tighter, ready to retreat.

Pretty Ricky stood there, his crown jerking robotic movement as if he questioned her presence. “Dang it, Ricky. Can you warn me next time?”

Noah frowned. “I think that was it.”

“So, what are we doing again?”

When her back hit the wood, she immediately wrapped her arms around his neck. His relying on her, needing her touch, was another turning point for them. For Noah to seek her out for comfort, showing her that they were partners, meant more than the wordsI love you.

“It’s been a minute since I’ve played doctor behind the barn, mister.” A reference to them exploring each other as teens.

Noah didn’t laugh. Instead, he wrapped her up in his arms and held on. The depth of emotion, the raw honesty on display, this was the Noah she adored. Real. No audience. Just the two of them.

“Noah,” she whispered, genuine concern, amping up her emotions.

“Shh,” he said, “just let me hold you.”

So she did. She held on tight for both of them, afraid to let go.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

NOAH STARED, EYESunseeing, at Rachel’s computer tablet, the renderings of a state-of-the-art fire station in brilliant color detail. Her creation. His vision. The spacious bays, equipment storage, the on-site training facilities they desperately wanted—all on the page. His chest should have been puffed up with pride in their shared accomplishment. Instead, Captain Novak’s gravelly voice echoed in his head. “Your priority is ensuring this department is allocated the funding it needs, first. Getting romantically involved with a woman working with your committee is the opposite of propriety. End it, Calvary. End it now or kiss your recommendation for promotion goodbye.”

“Noah, this is what you envisioned, yes?” Rachel’s voice sparkled with excitement as she pointed to the clinic’s entrance. Through sheer genius, she’d created a buildable plan within guidelines that could work for him, for Bethany, for the town.“See how the urgent care wing leads directly to an ambulance bay? And there’s room for a permanent helicopter landing pad one day. For now, it’s a nice and flat landing zone for winter storms and water emergencies.”