Jules fought not to shrug him off. Then she fought not to enjoy his touch.
“So, all that...” Melissa drew a little circle in the air. “All that song and dance about only using the date to change your mind?”
“She’s in denial,” he said.
“You know, I thought that had to be it,” Melissa said.
Jules shot Caleb a look of frustration. He was unnecessarily complicating things.
“But I’m an optimist,” he said.
She did shrug her way from his arms.
“About Noah,” Caleb said, moving on. “I learned something about him that I think you two have a right to know.”
“You mean his criminal record?” Melissa asked.
Jules couldn’t contain her surprise. “Noah has a criminal record?”
“It’s nothing serious,” Melissa answered.
“What did he tell you?” Caleb asked.
“That he got into a fight.”
“What happened?” Jules asked them both, trying to wrap her head around the revelation. “Was someone hurt?”
Caleb’s attention was on Melissa. “You knew but you didn’t tell Jules?”
“It wasn’t serious,” Melissa said, dusting her hands together and contemplating the barstool. “He told me about it when he applied for the contract.”
Jules wasn’t sure what it took to have a criminal record. “Did he assault someone? Was there a trial? Did he actually go to jail?”
“Not serious?” Caleb challenged Melissa. Then he turned to Jules. “Yes, he went to jail. The other guy died, and Noah went to jail.”
Jules’s stomach clenched with anxiety. “Noah is a killer?”
“It was self-defense,” Melissa said staunchly. “It was self-defense, and it was an accident. I looked up the newspaper articles.”
Jules didn’t know how to react. She was confident Melissa had done her research, and she was sure Melissa thought Noah was harmless. But Melissa always saw the best in people. No matter how it had happened, Noah had killed someone.
Jules moved toward her sister. “You should have told me.”
Melissa looked contrite. “I know. I know I should have. But, well, you know what you’re like.”
Jules didn’t follow. “What am I like?”
Melissa’s gaze flicked to Caleb. “You don’t trust anyone.”
“And you trust everyone. Not trusting killers is just common sense.”
“He’s not a killer,” Melissa repeated. “He’s a decent guy who was in a bad situation, and he deserves a second chance. Besides, his prices are half of anyone else’s.”
“Because he’s a convicted killer,” Jules felt the need to point out. “I would imagine they all charge less than their competition.”
Noah’s flat tone echoed across the room. “Don’t worry. I’ll clear out.”
Jules turned, and her stomach sank. She instantly realized how judgmental her words had sounded. Seeing him in front of her, she found it impossible to believe he was dangerous. She’d been working with him for days on end, and he’d been nothing but respectful and kind.
“I’m sorry,” she began.
“I’m the one who’s sorry,” he said. “I didn’t realize Melissa had kept it to herself.”
“Because it doesn’t matter,” Melissa said.
“It does matter,” Noah said.
“You can’t blame her for asking questions,” Caleb said.
Noah glared at Caleb. “Who said I blamed her? I just said I’d clear out.”
“We need you.” Melissa rushed to Noah and grasped his arm, as if she could hold him there with her one good hand.
When Noah looked at her, his emotion was stark. It was obvious he liked Melissa. He clearly liked her very much.
“Stay,” Jules said. “If it was an accident. If you were in a bad position. If it’s behind you, well, Melissa is right. You deserve a second chance.”
Noah seemed to hesitate.
“We do need you,” Jules added. “We don’t have much money, and—” She couldn’t help glancing at Caleb.
His expression was taut and unreadable.
She finished her thought. “And we’ve run into some unexpected complications.”
“Please stay,” Melissa implored.
Noah stared at her as if he was mentally weighing his options. But then his expression softened and his shoulder dropped with what looked like relief. “Okay,” he finally uttered.
Melissa emitted a heartfelt sigh. “Thank you.”
“Thank you.” His hand moved slowly to cover hers.
“You’re sure about this?” Caleb asked Jules in an undertone.