by Hart, Emma
“You know that means spending time with my friends, right? And my brother? And probably my family, too.”
He shrugged a shoulder. “I don’t have family here. Not a lot of friends, and I happen to get along with your brother. Turns out we’re the same age and support the same football team.”
“You support the Panthers?”
“Yes…”
“Why?”
He smirked, tilting my head up. “Because I want to.”
That was as good an answer as any, I suppose. “All right. So what are we doing, then?”
“With us?”
“No, for dinner,” I said dryly. “Yes, with us. If we both agree it’s too early for us to be in a relationship, but we both have feelings for each other… Now what?”
“Pretty simple, isn’t it? We date. We don’t see anyone else.”
“Do you think I look like the kind of people who dates more than one person at a time?”
Noah narrowed his eyes. “That sounds like a question I shouldn’t answer.”
“Ah, he learns fast.”
“You’re insane.” He slipped his hands down to my neck and over my shoulders where his thumbs brushed my collarbone. “Reagan, I don’t want to even think about seeing anyone else. And if you do, I’ll lock you in my room with me until you change your mind.”
I rested my hands on his side and peered up into his eyes. My heart was skipping inside my chest, beating just a little faster than before. “I don’t want to date anyone else either.”
“Good.”
Then, he kissed me.
Full-on, firmly, perfectly, in a kiss that was so much more than a promise of what was to come.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
* * *
REAGAN
Family Is Forever… Apparently
“Do you think this is a good idea?” Preston flattened his hands on the counter.
I sighed and put a rose in the bouquet I was making. I’d taken Noah’s advice and gotten a full check from my doctor. I was a-okay, so my mom had finally handed me back the keys to The Wright Bouquet and I was officially back to work full-time.
“I don’t know,” I replied, securing the bouquet together with an elastic band. “All I know is that it’s the next logical step while we figure this out.”
“Reagan. You do know Aunt Bethel will be there, don’t you?”
“Yes. It’s just a good thing that Margaret won’t be.”
“Do you want me to invite Halley?”
“No. I mean, I don’t mean to be rude,” I said. “She’s my best friend, I love her, but if we’re going to do this, it has to be just us.”
Preston sighed and shook his head. “Noah has no fucking idea what he’s letting himself in for.”
“Ugh.” I dropped my head back after I secured the wrapping on the bouquet. “It’s taken us five days to reach this point where he doesn’t have to work overtime. We’re going through with this family dinner, and you’re going to be there to give me moral support.”
My brother took the bouquet. “Of course I’m going to be there. Noah’s a great guy, and if you’re going to date someone, I’m glad it’s him and not one of the assholes around here.”
“I also want you to spend time with him,” I admitted. “He told me he only really knows the guys he works with, and I hate that. He’s been here for six months. He should know more people.”
Preston chuckled. “We exchanged numbers when we were babysitting you three. We’ve talked some over the last few days. Mostly about football. He’s coming over to watch the game this weekend.”
Oh.
“Oh.”
“Don’t look so surprised, Reagan. I’m a nice person.”
“Yeah, if you say so.” I wiped down the counter then squeezed the cloth in the sink. “I know tonight is going to be insane, but we agreed to take things slow.”
“Didn’t you stay at his place again last night? Isn’t that the third time in a week or so?”
“You can shove that tone where the sun doesn’t shine. I’m a grown woman. If I want to sleep out, I will.”
“It doesn’t really count as taking things slow.”
“I said we were taking it slow emotionally. Physical compatibility counts.”
“I don’t want to know about your physical compatibility with anything except a treadmill, and even then I’m not sure I care.”
I smiled. “Oh, so you don’t want to know that he’s so good in bed he quite literally blows my mind every single time?”
“I can’t think of anything I want to know less,” Preston said dryly. “And now I don’t think I’ll ever be able to look him in the eye again.”
“You’re welcome.” I blew him a kiss. “So what’s this about Leo coming home?”
“Why do you care about Leo?”
“Is he bringing Ethan?”
“And it all makes sense.”
I held up my hands. “Sue me. I’m a nosy bitch.”
“You won’t get an argument from me.” Preston pulled a stool beneath him and sat down. “Him and Ethan are on temp contracts in the garage they’re in, and apparently it’s already getting fucking cold in Chicago. They’re coming back just before Halloween in a few weeks.”
“Wow. No wonder Ava was a hot mess yesterday. I tried asking her at lunch and she bit my head off.” I pulled a bag of Sour Patch Kids from under the counter and opened it. “I just figured she was on her period.”
“You’re sharing way too much information today.” He shook his head and turned the bag of candy toward him to steal some. “All right. So your non-boyfriend is having dinner with us tonight, Leo and Ethan are coming home, and Ava is about to lose her shit. Is that about it?”
“Unless Halley has any new developments since she started feeding the raccoons a varied diet, yep.”
“Can’t wait,” he drawled. “Nothing can possibly go wrong in this town, can it?”
***
“So you’re a firefighter,” Aunt Bethel said, staring at Noah across the table.
This was a terrible idea. Preston had tried to warn me, but had I listened?
No. No, I had not.
I wanted Noah to spend time with my family. I wanted him to feel comfortable in Creek Falls and like he wasn’t alone anymore.
I probably shouldn’t have done that with Aunt Bethel around.
“Yes, ma’am,” Noah said.
“And you have all those things on your arm,” she continued, staring at his tattoos.
“Aunt Bethel,” Dad said. “Don’t be rude.”
She turned to him, pursing her bright red lips. “I’m not being rude. I was about to ask him what they were.”
“So where are we watching the game this weekend?” Preston interrupted before she could go any further. “You watched one at the bar yet?”
Noah shook his head. “I haven’t been out much. I usually catch the game at home with a few guys from work or by myself.”
“You a Panthers fan?” Dad asked him.
“Yes, sir.”
“Then we have to go to the bar,” Dad continued, putting an end to it. “They’re pretty much the town team, and the owners are big fans, too. They show all the games. You’ll love it.”
Noah glanced at me, and I smiled. “He’s not wrong. I’ve watched a few there when I’ve been dragged along. Everyone gets drunk and coach-coaches the team.”
“All right. I get off work before the game starts, so that sounds good.”
“Perfect.” Mom beamed at everyone. “So, Noah, how did you end up in Creek Falls?”
He told the same story he’d told me, including how he’d acquired Poosh. “I think Poosh likes Reagan more than she ever liked me, though. She doesn’t listen to me when she’s around.”
I hid my smile behind my wine glass. “It’s not my fault.”
“Mmm.” He peered over at me with a smile playing on his lips.
Aunt Bethel cleared her throat. “So. Are you two banging?”
> I choked on my wine. Noah froze, and Preston dropped his fork with a clatter. Mom’s jaw dropped open, but it was Dad who moved.
“You’re done.” His chair screeched against the wooden flooring in the dining room, and he walked to her and yanked her chair out. “Let’s go. You need a nap.”
“I most certainly do not need a nap!” Aunt Bethel protested.
Dad gave Preston a pointed look. My brother shot out of his seat like Mom had pinched him—and there was every chance she had.
“You were invited to this dinner on the proviso you behaved yourself. You’re not behaving yourself, so you’re uninvited.”
Noah opened his mouth, but I put my hand on his leg and shook his head. “Aunt Bethel is like a child,” I whispered, leaning right into him. “If you let her get away with it now, she’ll always be rude when she sees you.”
“Now I understand why Preston warned me about her.”
I laughed, sitting up straight as Dad and Preston all but dragged Aunt Bethel out of her chair.
“You’ll be hearing from my lawyers!” she hollered as she was taken upstairs.
“No, we won’t,” Mom muttered. “We pay for the lawyer.”
I snorted wine up my nose, and even Noah stifled a laugh at that.
“I’m real sorry about her,” Mom said to Noah. “I think her age is catching up with her.”
“Nothing is catching up with her,” I replied. “She’s using her age as an excuse. She’s as sharp as a needle, that one.”
Preston huffed as he came back into the dining room. “This is the last time I come for dinner.”
“Don’t be so grumpy,” Mom said, picking up her wine. “She made it through the food part, at least.”
“Only because nobody let her talk,” I pointed out. “The second she saw an in, she took it.”
“It’s fine,” Noah said quickly. “Honestly, I’m used to old people without filters. You’d be surprised how many cats we rescue and then get asked why the hell it took us so long.”
Mom’s eyebrows raised. “Really? You climb a tree for their cats and they’re rude?”
Noah shrugged. “There are rude people everywhere, Mrs. Wright.”
“Joanna, please.”
Yep. Mom loved him. I’d once dated a guy for a year during college and he’d never been allowed to call her Joanna.
Preston shared a look with me and wiggled his eyebrows.
“Stop being childish, Preston,” Mom snapped. “Where’s the strangest place you’ve ever rescued a cat from?”
“Me?” Preston asked.
“Not you.” Mom tutted. “Noah.”
I shot Noah an apologetic look. The crazy wasn’t just confined to my great-aunt.
“Probably a chimney,” he said slowly. “We had to get an actual chimney sweep in to help coax it out.”
“How the hell does a cat get stuck in a chimney?” I asked.
“They’re cats, dear,” Mom replied. “They’d get stuck in a cardboard box if they felt like it.”
Noah nodded in agreement. “We have a repeat customer here in town. We’re not actually sure if her cat really does get stuck or not, because she calls every Thursday at two-fifteen to report him stuck up a tree.”
“Why do you go?” Preston questioned. “If it’s not stuck.”
“Chief says she’s old and alone and none of her family live nearby, so he thinks she calls to have someone to talk to for ten minutes.”
I frowned. “That’s sad.”
“Some people are like that.” Mom pushed her dark hair from her face. “They like their own company, but she probably also gets her food delivered and other visits through the week. Wait—is that Mrs. Kensington?”
Preston snapped his fingers. “Yep. I deliver her flowers every Friday morning, and she’s always got a story about her cat getting stuck somewhere.”
Noah grinned. “Yep. And he’s always stuck in a tree, no matter what else she says.”
Mom finished her wine with a smile. “Right, if we’re all done, I’ll clear the table.”
“I’ll help,” I said, standing up.
“Is there anything I can do?” Noah asked.
“Yes,” Mom said. “Sit there and look pretty.”
I met his eyes and bit down onto my lower lip to fight a smile. It was a good effort, but my mom never accepted help. She was only taking mine now because I knew she wanted to talk about Noah in the kitchen while we loaded the dishwasher.
It took us two trips to get all the dishes from the banquet she’d cooked into the kitchen and onto the side. Preston joined us briefly to shovel another bite of green bean casserole into his mouth straight from the casserole dish and grab two beers from the fridge.
Mom stopped and looked at me when we were alone. “Noah’s nice.”
“Get a pole, Mom, it’ll be easier for you to fish with.” I couldn’t stop my smile, though. “He is nice. I really like him.”
She reached over and squeezed my hand. “Me, too, honey. He seems to get along well with Preston and your father.”
“Yeah. Football does tend to be a good thing to bond over for men.” I shrugged and removed the cutlery basket from the dishwasher so I could load it. “I just want him to feel at home in Creek Falls.”
“You afraid he’ll leave?”
“No,” I answered too quickly. “He just hasn’t been here long, that’s all, and—”
Mom stepped in front of me and pried the wooden spoon from my hand. She rested her warm hands on my upper arms and looked down at me. “Sweetheart, you can admit that you’re afraid he’ll leave. His family are all in Maine, and even buying a house isn’t putting down roots these days. I can see that you really like him, more than I think you’ve liked anyone else you’ve ever brought home.”
I swallowed because she’d hit the nail on the head. It was a fear I hadn’t even recognized—the fear of Noah deciding he didn’t like Creek Falls after all and going home to Maine.
He wasn’t from here. It wasn’t his home. He didn’t have anyone here who would give him a reason to stay. It wasn’t even like he had a job that was exclusive to the area. There were always stations who needed firefighters, weren’t there? Even volunteers?
“Stop it.” Mom tapped my cheek. “You’re overthinking. I can see it in your eyes, Reagan.”
I sighed and picked up the wooden spoon she’d just taken from me. “I’m not used to feeling like this, Mom.”
“Have you told him how you feel?”
“About him? Or this?”
“This. He’s here and he’s being nice about your crotchety old aunt, so I’m assuming he knows you like him.”
I smiled. “Yeah, we already discussed that. We’re not putting any labels on it until we’ve spent more time together.”
“Sweetheart, I don’t mean to be rude, but you’ve stayed at his house several times in the last two weeks.”
“Three times,” I said. “And yes, thank you, your darling son already pointed that out.”
She laughed, hauling the big casserole dish into the dishwasher. “I understand. There’s so much pressure now to label things. I like that you’re taking your time with it and getting to know each other. That shows real maturity from the both of you.”
Always a bonus, I guess.
“What are you doing tonight?”
I shrugged one shoulder and handed her the cutlery basket. “I’m not sure. He’s on the early shift tomorrow, so probably just take a walk and chat.”
“Sometimes that’s the best thing to do.” Mom winked and bumped the dishwasher closed with her hip. “Just spend time together. Your heart will tell you everything you already need to know. But by the looks of you, it already did.” She stroked my hair, and I leaned into her touch.
“Thank you. You might be right. I don’t know. We’ll go wherever our road takes us, but I’d really like to see where that is.”
“And you will.” She smiled. “Why don’t you go and get your young man? Your brother
can do the rest of the kitchen.”
I pulled her into a tight hug and kissed her cheek, then went in the direction of the living room. I could hear Dad’s deep voice making a joke about the last season of football, followed by the rich sound of Noah’s laugh mingling with my brother’s deep one.
I leaned against the wall out of sight. I wanted to listen, just for a while. My dad and brother had always been protective of me, and as much as I ribbed on my brother and fought with him, his approval mattered to me.
Our family gatherings were bad enough with Aunt Bethel around without me marrying someone that nobody liked.
Not that I was saying I’d marry Noah. That was… way in the future. We weren’t even an official couple on paper yet.
My point, though…
They were friends.
I could hear it. They were all genuinely happy in each other’s company, and it made my heart swell. I could stand here all night and listen to them talking, but I also knew I needed to grab him and spend time with him before we both worked all weekend.
He had overtime and I had an engagement party. I’d be setting up flowers for hours.
I pushed myself off the wall and poked my head in the doorway. “Hey.”
All three men turned with a smile. “Hey, honey,” Dad said. “Are you coming to steal Noah from us?”
“You’re getting him on Sunday. Don’t be greedy.”
Noah laughed and put his beer down. “Let me know about Sunday.”
Preston saluted him. “I promise this trip to Lucky’s won’t end in you feeding raccoons.”
“I’m holding you to that,” Noah warned him before he shook my dad’s hand. “It was a pleasure to meet you, sir.”
“Son, I’ve told you. If you call me sir one more time, I’m going to forbid you from dating my daughter.”
“Good luck with that,” I said wryly.
Noah laughed. “Noted. And I’ll make sure I chase up the fire report tomorrow. They said it would be in in the morning.”
Dad nodded. “Good job. You kids have fun and be safe.”
“Thanks, Dad.” I waved and lead Noah to the front door. He doubled back into the kitchen to bid my mom goodbye before he came back and grinned at me.