Page 14 of A Hard Habit to Break

“Definitely not bologna. Or beer, but no less intoxicating,” Benji said waving piano fingers in Rachel’s direction.

Noah glanced at Rachel, with awhat the heck just happened?look. Her cheeks bloomed a soft pink color that made his pulse kick into high gear. He decided right then and there, the what and why of it didn’t make a difference. So, she talked about him. That was something.

“Noah,” Bethany interrupted, mercifully ending the exchange. “You should know, we’ve talked with Rachel about adding her perspective to the redevelopment committee.”

“I’m not interested,” Rachel protested immediately. “I specifically said I couldn’t help.”

Noah felt his jaw tighten. “The committee already has all the perspectives it needs.”

“Think again,” Bethany challenged, folding her arms. “Because last I checked, the citizens need to be informed on designs and plans before a final decision is made.”

“And you think bringing in a fancy city architect will solve that?” Noah gestured toward Rachel with more force thannecessary. “Someone who hasn’t lived here in over a decade? Who doesn’t understand what Service needs?”

Rachel stepped forward, the color in her cheeks deepening. “First of all, I grew up here. Just like you. Second, I design public spaces for a living. Unlike you. And third, I have no intention of joining your little committee, so you can relax your cowboy boots.”

“Little committee?” Noah’s voice rose despite his best efforts. “That ‘little committee’ is deciding the future of this town. A town you couldn’t wait to leave behind.”

“Children,” Matthew interrupted, placing a hand on his daughter’s arm. “Maybe we could continue this discussion after everyone’s had a chance to settle in?”

But Noah was just getting started. Thirteen years of bottled words were bubbling to the surface.

“You know what, Matt? I’ll make this clear.” He turned back to Rachel. “We don’t need Rachel showing up for all of two seconds and taking over. She left. Didn’t look back. Why change now?”

Rachel’s expression faltered. “Leaving for college—for a career, isn’t a crime, Noah.”

“Never said that.” But he felt betrayed at the ease with which she closed the door on him. “Service stopped existing for you the minute you crossed the county line.” The words were unfair. He knew it, but he couldn’t seem to stop. “Now you show up”—he paused—“fancy truck with big city ideas, and you think what?”

“MRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAOWWWWWWW!”

The unholy screech preceded a flash of fur that shot from the truck window and landed directly on Noah’s left boot. Before he could react, ten pounds of feline fury dug its claws into his uniform pants and began climbing his leg like he was a tree.

“That—that hurts!” he bellowed.

“Oh shoot!” Benji yelped.

“ClamClam!” Rachel yelled, lunging forward. “Let go right now.”

Noah stood frozen, torn between his dignity and the very real danger of sudden movement. The cat had reached his thigh and stared into his face with what could only be described as malevolent judgment.

“A little help here?” he managed through gritted teeth. Was Benji recording this?

“Don’t move,” Rachel instructed, approaching slowly. “She’s only got a loose grip.”

“I know a lie when I hear it, Six.”

“Don’t call me that. We don’t have each other’s backs anymore.” Rachel moved closer, close enough that he could smell her perfume—something citrusy and expensive that made his head swim. “ClamClam,” she cooed in a gentle voice that seemed to belong to another woman entirely. “That’s Mama’s sweet girl.”

Why did that sound like praise for a job well done? To Noah’s astonishment, the cat released his leg and leapt gracefully into Rachel’s waiting arms, immediately transforming into a purring machine.

“Good kitty,” Rachel murmured, scratching behind the cat’s ears. Then she looked up at Noah, those bright amber eyes dancing with barely suppressed laughter. “Sorry.”

“Your remorse is overwhelming,” Noah deadpanned. He glanced down at his uniform, now sporting several runs where claws had snagged the fabric. “What is wrong with your cat?”

She tilted her head, just enough to raise that stubborn chin. “You left her for me to find. So answer your own question.”

Five years ago, when she’d returned, he’d wanted her to have a reminder of Service, the folks who were always in her corner. Him. An online post had mentioned a building permit backlogon one of her projects in California. Though her interest in being his biggest fan had waned, he still cheered her on. Duty had kept him shackled to the station, but Noah had left the cute kitten gift-wrapped in a giant basket with a red bow on the farmhouse’s porch before the start of his shift. It had been his way of delivering on a long ago promise. Back then he’d held out hope. She’d commented on a few of his social media posts. Mainly emojis. After all the false starts, he’d thought that time could be different… until the bachelor auction fundraiser to save Eli’s veterinary clinic. She’d placed the winning online bid for a date, then ghosted him. No explanation. No communication. Nothing. Humiliated. He’d ended all contact. “Your knack for destruction rubbed off,” he muttered.

“Excuse me?” Rachel’s voice sharpened.