Chapter 15
NOEL
Hopper stood above me on a ladder, ass looking delicious in light blue jeans, as he used a staple gun to attach a string of lights to the edge of the barn.
We’d strung several lines from the barn to the nearest trees and back, creating a canopy of lights that would twinkle right above the fire pit, where customers could enjoy cocoa and s’mores.
Even in daylight, I could tell how much charm it would add. I patted Hopper’s ankle from where I steadied the ladder. “This is going to be beautiful for the wreath-making event Friday night.”
“This Friday?” He twisted to look down at me. “I didn’t know you’d still be here.”
Ouch. That hit home. My smile faltered. “Eager to be rid of me?”
“Of course not,” he said. “I just wasn’t sure…”
I nodded. That was fair. We both knew this was a short-term arrangement while I was here. Chicago wouldn’t wait forever.
“I haven’t decided yet when I’ll leave. I want to make sure the season is off to a strong start. Maybe next week, if things are going well.”
“Right. Okay…” He cleared his throat. “So, where were you planning to host the wreath-making?”
“The event space in the back of the store, like always?”
“Uh, about that…” He rubbed his neck, looking sheepish.
“Don’t tell me I can’t use it!” I said. “I already put up some fliers in town and made some social media posts for the farm online.”
His eyebrows shot up. “When the hell did you have time to do that?”
I shrugged. “I was shopping in town, anyway. I asked the Ellises if I could put something up at the Meat Market, and then since the Stag Pub was close, I popped in to talk to Maude, and then—”
He laughed. “Okay, I get the picture. But social media posts, too?”
“I still have admin privileges. I did it on my phone while the cookies were baking.”
“Of course you did.” He lifted the staple gun to secure the line, then came down the ladder. “I don’t think you even realize what a force of energy you are, do you?”
I didn’t know what that meant. When I saw something that needed done, I did it or found someone who could. I was more concerned about the event I’d already advertised.
“What’s going on with the event space, Hop? Stop beating around the bush.”
He sighed. “Probably best if I just show you.”
Hopper led me through the store to the door that led to the event space we’d used for countless years. Mom held wreath-making events there, but also ornament-decorating and gift-wrapping workshops, photos with Santa, and half a dozen other things over the years.
I opened the door and swore under my breath. The beautiful mahogany table my great-great-grandfather built by hand sat covered in boxes and old decorations that had been tossed haphazardly across its surface.
“What the fuck?”
“Well, your parents haven’t been using this room as much for the past couple of years. One day, Maggie stored a couple of boxes in here, just temporarily, and gradually…” He gestured to the clutter.
I spun toward him. “But I’ve already advertised this event. I thought Mom was just too busy to set it up. I didn’t realize things had gotten this bad. Do you guys do any events anymore?”
“Uh, well…” He tugged at his beard, which I was already beginning to recognize as a tell for stress. “Sure. Some. But it’s complicated, Noel. Events take time and energy, and it’s a lot to keep up with throughout the season.”
“They’re not up to it, are they?” I said, heart sinking.
“Maybe not as much as when you were a kid, but they do all right,” Hopper said, loyal to a fault. “They’ve got a great farm and a great store. I help as much as they’ll let me, too. I promise.”
“I don’t doubt that,” I said quietly.
But what did it mean that my family farm was dependent on Hopper? He wasn’t their son. I didn’t think that in anger, as when I’d first arrived, but with guilt. It might be easier if he were their son. They could hand over some of the burden.
But no, they were stuck with me, off in Chicago, oblivious to how they were struggling.
“We’ll get this room cleared out this week,” Hopper said. “Make it look good as new for your event, okay?”
I blew out a big breath as I took in all the boxes we’d have to haul to the storage shed on the other side of the property. I understood why Mom started shoving stuff in here. It was more convenient.
“That’ll be fun.”
“Well, you did say you liked using my muscle for manual labor. Now’s your chance.”
I chuckled, meeting his eyes with a searing look. “Oh, that’s not all I want to use it for.”
Hopper stepped closer, and I grabbed the front of his shirt, tugging him down for a kiss. He wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me up against all that delicious farm boy muscle, and fantasies about slipping to my knees in the dust and blowing him right here and now slipped into my mind.
“Hello?” a deep voice called from the store, making us startle apart. “Anyone here?”
Hopper smoothed his wrinkled shirt, and I swiped at my wet lips before following him out of the event/storage room.
A tall man in dark jeans, a gray T-shirt, and a battered black leather jacket stood just inside the store entrance. He had thick scruff verging on a beard, wavy hair that fell across his forehead, and piercing dark eyes that seemed familiar somehow.
“Are you guys open? Sorry I just barged in.”
“We’re open,” Hopper said. “We were just sorting something out in the back room.”
“Great. Well, we were hoping to pick out a tree. Em is outside, looking for—” He stopped short, cocking his head at me. “I know you, don’t I?”
Hopper chuckled. “I’d hope so. You all were friends, weren’t you? Back in high school.”
I blinked, recognition hitting hard and fast. “Gray? Oh my god, I thought you were long gone!”
Gray stepped forward, enveloping me in a big hug. “Holy shit, Noel.” He gave me a once-over. “You grew up nice.”
“Ha! You’re one to talk. What are you doing these days? Modeling for romance covers? You’re gorgeous!”
Hopper cleared his throat. “Did you want a tree or not?”
“That’s why I’m here,” Gray agreed evenly, even as his eyebrow inched up at Hopper’s tone.
I turned, noting the faint scowl on Hopper’s face. Was somebody jealous? I probably shouldn’t enjoy that. My lips tugged into a smile. Ugh, I was petty and vain, and I loved that Hopper wanted me all to himself, even if it was just for a few days.
Mom came through the door, chattering happily with a slim blond guy dressed in jeans and an expensive-looking wool coat.
“Hey, babe, I found someone to help us.” He paused when he saw us. “Oh, I guess you did, too.”
Gray held out an arm, and the guy—the missing Em, who I’d just assumed was a woman, how hetero-normative of me—stepped in close and leaned against his side. They fit together like two people very comfortable in each other’s space.
“Hey, Hopper,” he said. “Long time, no see.”
“It has been a while,” Hopper admitted. “I should get back over to Riverton for a visit.”
Gray nodded toward me. “Em, this is my old friend Noel from high school. I don’t know if you remember him?”
“Of course I do,” he said. “You were quiet but scary smart. We did a science project together once, junior year, I think?”
“Right, you’re Emory Gold,” I said, stunned, glancing between them. “How did this happen? I thought you were going to marry Allison Prince?”
He groaned. “Yeah, you and everyone else.” He shrugged. “It’s a long story, but Gray opened my eyes to what I really wanted.” He winked. “Now he’s stuck with me.”
“Aw, isn’t that sweet,” Mom said. “You two make a beautiful couple.”
They really did. They were the stuff fantasies were made of. If I weren’t obsessed with what I might do to Hopper the next time we were alone, I might picture myself between these two. Not that I’d ever been into Gray in high school.
He’d never let on he was into boys—and he wasn’t the one who starred in most of my fantasies, anyway. Back then, he was skinnier, more shaggy, and pale. Just a ghost of the strong, very fit man he was now.
“Well, we should probably go find that tree,” Hopper said. “You can catch up with Noel more after we get you loaded up.”
“Oh, I can cover the store,” Mom said. “Why don’t you go with them, Noel? You can pick out our tree while you’re at it. If you don’t do it today, your father is likely to get antsy and try to do it himself.”
“If you’re sure you don’t mind?”
“No, not at all.”
“Okay, sure. We can catch up while we look.”
“Great,” Hopper said, sounding less than thrilled.
We followed him out the door, and he started across the grounds. Emory, Gray, and I chatted as we walked among the trees, catching up on what each of us had done since high school.
Hopper didn’t join in, but then he’d lived here all the years I’d been away. He probably knew all this stuff. I took hold of his arm, pulling him off to the side.
“You okay? You’re quiet.”
“Just doing my job.”
His face was unreadable. I nudged him. “What’s the problem?”
He cast a glance at Gray and grimaced. “You were so happy to see him. Did you two ever…”
I stared at him, waiting for him to finish, then burst out laughing when I realized what he was getting at. Gray and Emory glanced at us curiously, but they stayed put close to a massive fir tree.
“Relax, Hopper,” I teased. “I left a virgin. You can pretend you’re the only man to get a piece of this.”
He swept his gaze over me, top to bottom. “Good.”
To my shock, he grabbed the back of my neck and reeled me into a kiss right in front of Gray and Emory.
Gray gave a wolf whistle, and Emory laughed.
I pulled back, cheeks hot. “Feel better now that you’ve staked your claim?”
Hopper’s dark eyes met mine, intense enough to make my cock twitch in my pants. “You know, I think I do.”
He returned to Gray and Emory, talking about fir trees, as if he hadn’t just rocked my world.
Damn it. With a man who kissed me like that, it was getting harder to remember why I needed to leave so soon.