The Bad Boy Theory by Elodia Strain

Author:Elodia Strain [Strain, Elodia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Brighton Books LLC
Published: 2022-09-01T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

essie

Gabriel was outside, arms folded, waiting at the auto shop when we pulled into the garage area.

“Um…” I frowned as I opened the door. “How did you know we were coming right at this moment?”

“GPS,” Gabriel said. “I’ve been watching your every move. Now get out so I can inspect.”

Luckily, we had stopped at the same convenience store on the way back and spent half an hour cleaning and trying to make the Bronco look as pristine as possible. There, I had also very reluctantly given Noah his hoodie back.

After circling it at least six times, touching the tire treads, the tailpipe, and the door panels, Gabriel put on his binocular headband magnifiers and went to work on the interior.

“It’s a bit hot out here, Gabriel,” I said. “Mind if we wait inside?”

“Fine, fine,” he responded before lifting up the passenger floor mat.

I led the way toward the waiting room.

“Hey, before I forget,” Noah said. “I wanted to give you this.”

He handed me a postcard I recognized as one from the festival.

“Oh, my goodness.” I held it to my chest. “Thank you, Noah!”

“Read it later. Today was great.”

I opened the door to the waiting room.

And there, sitting on one of the mismatched chairs, reading an Elle magazine was none other than Kate Castleton. She looked up from her magazine for a second, then quickly did a double take and slapped it on the chair beside her.

“Noah?” There was so much weight behind the way she said his name.

“Kate?” Noah’s mouth dropped open. He shoved past me and picked her up in a long embrace. “Sweetheart, I am so glad to see you,” he said.

Kate pulled back. “What are you doing here?” She folded her tan arms across her white tank top.

“I came after a girl.” There was an ache in his voice. An ache I only recognized because I’d felt it before. “And then I ran into some car trouble. But the locals have been as great as you said they were.” Noah looked at me over his shoulder.

“Just… doing what I can.” I said in my best don’t-mind-me voice. “Hi, Kate,” I said in the most awkward way.

“Essie. It’s great to see you.”

“You guys know each other?” Noah asked.

Kate looked at the ground.

“Different lifetime,” I answered, before shuffling away and pretending to study a dusty 1967 Mustang sketch hanging on the wall.

“I heard you came to town looking for me,” Kate told Noah with pain in her voice. “I wasn’t sure I was ready to see you.”

“Ready or not.” Noah reached for both of her hands and weaved his fingers through hers pushing his body out and in towards her, respecting her space in the sexiest way I had ever seen it be done.

His touch seemed to soften her. “You look so good. I can’t believe you drove all the way out to Florida.”

“Why?” he asked. “I walked two miles in a snowstorm to meet you for our second date.”

She laughed. That guy-mesmerizing-laugh of hers.

“Go with me to Diamond Cove Freedom Fest,” Noah said.

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