Noah (7 Brides for 7 Soldiers Book 6)(24)

She could show up throwing spitballs and dropping stink bombs, and Noah  wouldn't send her packing. "You don't have to bring coffee. But I won't  say no."

"Sweet! I'll see you later."

They said their goodbyes, and he hung up. He tossed the phone onto his  desk amid the spreadsheets and orders that he needed to catalog. He  hadn't ever been this excited to sit at his desk and do nothing.  Considering their topic of conversation, though, it would take effort to  behave like a gentleman. Hell, who'd said anything in their agreement  about gentlemanly behavior? Maybe he could be the type of friend who  could bounce an ex-husband out of town on his ass.

Didn't every woman need that kind of man in her life? Yeah, Noah was  pretty sure they did, and that was who he was going to be. The  ass-kicking acquaintance of the beautiful Teagan Shaw.





CHAPTER NINETEEN



The pitter-patter of Teagan's heart drummed louder than the bass on the  radio. Her stomach was in knots, and her pulse jumped erratically at the  recall of Noah's baritone voice pressed against her ear.

Her excitement level was at an all-time high, buzzing from the second  she hung up with him and growing to the point that when she stopped for  their coffees, she ordered hers as decaf.

Nuts and Bolts loomed closer, and the simple act of signaling to turn made her smile. "Stop it."

Especially given the topic. It wasn't as if Teagan could bounce into  Noah's office, glowing as she was now, and expect to discuss Spencer.  Noah would think …  Who knew what he would think? She didn't know what to  think.

Spencer had terrified her and broken her heart all over again by how he  acted toward Will. Not that she wanted him near her son. But she was  giddy to see Noah.

She turned in to the parking lot and let the Subaru idle before shifting  into Park and shutting off the engine. "He's your friend."

Teagan checked the rearview mirror for the hundredth time then grabbed  her purse and the two coffees before sliding out the car door.

Noah was at the front door, an arm overhead and propped against the  doorjamb as he leaned his long frame against the wall. Teagan's  confident first step slowed. She didn't expect him there. Didn't expect  anyone who looked like that, with long arms and thick muscles, to stare  at her. Then he smiled, and her heart tried to also, expanding in her  chest before her lips got with the program.         

     



 

"Hey, need a hand?" He pushed off the wall, letting the door swing closed.

"Sure."

He took the coffee from her and rested a hand on the small of her back,  guiding her toward the door, then he held it open as a cold wind  blustered.

Inside the warm office, Teagan finger combed her hair back and he set  the coffees down, offering to take her jacket. They took their drinks to  his office.

Noah's office was just like the rest of the shop, kind of quirky. A sign behind his desk read:



Ratta-Tat-Tat $10

Ka-Plunk Ka-Plunk $20

Ping-Ping Thud-Thud $30



And the wrench clock and license plate light shades didn't look his  style, but he was smart enough to keep the place the way that it had  been. Eagle's Ridge loved it.

"I've heard business has been doing well," she said.

"It's picking up." He leaned back in his chair. "Are you going to tell  me, or do I begin my list of what-happened-with-Spencer questions?"

Teagan groaned. "I hate that man. Or maybe not. You have to love to hate."

Noah took a sip of his coffee.

"He showed up and wanted to come on in and chat. The nerve of him.  Didn't even say hi to Will. Not like that's how I'd want to introduce  him to his father, but he wasn't interested."

"He was interested in you?" Noah bobbed his brows.

Teagan thought back on it. "No. I don't know what his deal was. He just wanted to come in."

"Did he?"

"No."

"Do you feel safe?" Noah asked.

"From Spencer? Sure. He just makes me so …  angry."

"Because of Will."

Her eyes burned, and she focused on her coffee. "Because it's not fair  that I was so stupid. He's such an amazing kid." Tears slipped free. I  want him to have a dad. It wasn't like I thought that Spencer would be  gone. Never like this." Teagan wiped her cheeks then realized who she  was talking to. "God, I must sound so selfish. Here you are when Bella's  lost both her parents. You've given up your career."

Noah stood from his chair, walked to her side of the desk, and sat on  the edge. He took her coffee cup from her and wrapped his arms around  her back, hugging her to his chest. "Don't do that."

She couldn't help it. Teagan never let her guard down or knew she needed  to. But with Noah she could. "I just wish my baby had a life without  the threat of heartache. Isn't that what every mom wants for her  children?" She sniffed. "And his father was so close. He was there. He  heard Will and just didn't care."

The tears fell, and Noah hugged her until she stopped. Her thoughts  cleared. His unhesitating hand rubbed her back slowly until she dabbed  at her eyes again.

"Sorry about that." Teagan straightened in her seat as he handed over  her coffee. "I didn't think I was coming here to fall apart."

"You're fine."

She chuckled. "That's my job. Listening while others unbottle their problems. I think you have better things to do."

"Than make sure you feel better?" His forehead bunched. "Shit, no." The  front door of Nuts and Bolts jingled. "Hang on a second. I wasn't  expecting anyone right now."

Noah stepped into the reception area, and Teagan peeked out as he  greeted Augie Kensington. They spoke for a moment then disappeared after  Noah grabbed a set of keys off the wall and went outside.

Teagan used the time alone to open her purse and take out a compact,  check her smeared eye makeup, and fix it as best she could. She heard  the men come back and a transaction finalize before Noah came back in.

"Before you know it, this place will be slammed." She put her compact back in her purse and dropped it on the floor.

"That guy has a nice ride," Noah said. "So far I've tuned up pickup trucks and minivans."

"Well, pencil in a Subaru in the next couple weeks."

"As long as Will can come by and help. I promised him he could work on your car."

Every ounce of her wanted to hug him. Forget the sexy man and all his  muscles that leaned against the door like the Diet Coke man from the  long-ago commercial. Noah was so much more than she could ever have  hoped for …  in a friend. She just wanted to hold onto him and never let  go. "Thank you, Noah. I'm not sure of everything I'm thanking you for. I  just know it's a lot."





CHAPTER TWENTY



There was a distinct difference between Halloweens of years past and  this one. Suddenly Noah had a whole new appreciation for costumes, and  it wasn't for the better as Bella dragged him through the front doors of  the general store. The realization that Halloween had become a  grown-up, hyped-up holiday of oversexualization and nothing to do with  kids' fun was a boot in the chest. He waved to the cashier he went to  grade school with and followed Bella down the first aisle.         

     



 

He took a deep breath when witches and warlocks greeted them. There were  no sexy vampires or pirates who wanted to show off their booties.  Instead, there was row after row of colorful princesses, muscled and  padded heroes, and storybook villains. A quick swell of relief rolled  through him as some of the more recognizable characters caught his eye.  This might even be easy.

Bella skipped and stopped, stared at her options, then started her  process again as Noah donned a mask then mimicked her inspection.

"Hey, ladybug." He readjusted his face mask to see out of the two small  eyeholes. "Are you thinking a fairy princess or superhero?"

With shiny-stringed wands in each hand, she spun on her toe. "Not sure."

When in Rome …  He picked up his own magical princess wands with the shiny  strings- which he had to admit had an instant fun factor-and waved them  side to side like handheld flags. "I think this is my costume. Scary  mask, cute hands. What do you think?"

"It suits you."

It suits you. What five-year-old spoke like that? But she was right. It  did suit him, so who was he to question. There were far too many options  that looked eerily the same. If he didn't want to be here all night,  Noah needed a plan. He decided that narrowing his options for her would  be the best course of action. "Were you thinking a color scheme? Or  characters?"

Bella's wand-swirling arms fell as if they'd been tied to anchors in the river.

"What?" he asked.

"You want me to choose by color?" Her sweet face skewed.

"Kidding. Kinda." Who knew he would be happy to be hiding behind a  ghoul's mask from a five-year-old's displeasure. "Then character it is.  Are we filtering by powers or favorite movie-"