Page 98 of A Hard Habit to Break

“Six,” he said softly, coming to stand beside her. “I saw your truck pull off the road from my mom’s front porch. I… I know we have a lot to work through, but I was hoping… I could give you something before you leave town.”

“What?” she asked, using the back of her hand to wipe away her tears.

Noah angled his head, that gorgeous mane of lustrous chocolate waves shining in the light. “The townsfolk cast votes today. Your proposal… as designed won full support.”

He’d done it. Worked his Calvary magic for good, rallying the people to harness their voting power. No, she hadn’t responded to his messages, but she’d seen the IG reels—Gracie Lou, Penelope, Stroker and his pregnant wife—all advocating for her plans.

“Thanks, Noah. I know you motivated the people behind the scenes… talked up the benefits with the business owners who’d considered Pete’s plan.”

He tucked his head, as if her acknowledging his efforts embarrassed him.

“That’s not all, Six.”

She searched his gorgeous eyes, for a clue to what else he could possibly do. Hopefully, her bosses would see the final results, considering each video had the SmallTownArchitect and ThisIsServiceWV hashtags. “What else could there be?”

“The life we deserve.”

Rachel’s heart skipped a beat, her mother’s sunbeam still warming her skin. She looked up at Noah, seeing the boy she fell in love with and the man he’d become, and felt a flicker of hope ignite in her chest.

“Are you for real?” She gawked as if he were a dream that might disappear. “What about Service?”

“I want all my adventures—with you. By your side.”

She sighed, “Noah… how will you… how will we…”

He extended his hand, brushing a loose curl off her cheek, stuffing it back into her messy ponytail. Gosh, she loved the scrape of his calloused fingertips against her skin. Noah worked hard, and his dedication had shaped every part of him. Rachelwalled off the swell of arousal building inside. “I love you, Rachel Lydia Johnson. From this moment, no one will come between us. For you, I’ll topple any obstacle. I promise.”

Rachel placed her hand in his, allowing him to draw her up. He pulled her into his arms, holding on as if he couldn’t let go.

“I adore you, Noah Calvary. Always have. Always will.”

“My biggest fan,” he whispered. She felt him smile, knew he thought of that day at the plunge pool when they were six. For once, they were on the same team.Thank you, Mom.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

NOAH’S HEART RACEDas he and Rachel walked hand in hand up the hillside toward the gravel lot. The familiar scent of freshly cut hay and blooming wildflowers filled his nostrils. Noah smoothed down his crisp plaid shirt. One last deep breath, and he climbed the steps, polished boots thudding on the flagstone.

“Noah,” she breathed, her voice soft and filled with wonder. “I can’t believe we’re trying this.”

As their eyes met, Noah saw the same girl he’d fallen for in high school—her amber eyes sparkling with excitement, and bold freckles were twinkling across her nose, cheeks, and chin. Noah hoped this was one of many firsts together. He stepped forward, taking her hand in his. The softness of her skin against his palm sent a jolt through him. “You deserve it, Rachel. You always have.”

Noah couldn’t take his eyes off her, drinking in every detail—the way the sunlight caught the golden flecks in her eyes, the subtle vanilla scent of her perfume, the soft curve of her smile. And she was his. He’d spend the rest of his life on this earth proving she belonged on a pedestal that he’d build as a testament of their love, brick by brick.

Finally, Noah led Rachel to her truck. “Let’s take yours. I’ll walk back for mine later.”

“Alright.”

“Mind if I drive?”

“No, but why?”

Noah grabbed her hand and, drawing her palm to his mouth, he placed a single kiss on it, then lowered her hand to her lap. “Don’t be nervous. I want to drop by my place, then I’ll take you home.”

She swallowed, her teeth nibbling her lips. “Okay.”

The mountains flanked them, forming twin columns of familiar beauty illuminated by vibrant oranges and pinks as they jostled across the Cattail Creek bridge toward Calvary land. The tree-lined side roads of Service passed by, stirring memories of their shared youth. Noah’s hand found Rachel’s, their fingers intertwining naturally.

As they pulled onto his property and parked at the plunge pool, undetected, he slid one hand in his pocket and then depressed the tiny remote. Delicate fairy lights wrapped around the pine tree trunks flickered and danced in a coordinated pattern. The lighted pathway drew her gaze toward the water. Rachel gasped, her eyes widening in surprise. The deck had been transformed into a storybook wonderland. Strings of rice-grain sized lights crisscrossed the rails, with LED lights outlining the structure. Overhead, LED bulbs suspended from flexible copper wires created a canopy of twinkling stars.