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“Fair. I’m an architect.”

“That explains so much about you.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“Why you fix everything.”

“It’s not just because it’s my job. It’s who I am. I notice details and I fix things. But maybe it’s why I’m good at my job. Maybe that’s why I chose it.”

Before Claire could say anything, Noah yawned. He was getting tired. “You know you can leave, right?” she asked.

“I know.”

Neither of them moved. Noah glanced at Biscuit asleep at Claire’s feet. For someone who insisted she was not a dog person, she had adapted remarkably quickly to having him on her furniture.

Claire followed his gaze to the dog at her feet. “So, your niece named him Biscuit. What was her name, Ainsley?”

“Yeah. I’m surprised you remembered that.”

“I can remember things too,” she said. “And you just accepted that? The name?”

“You weren’t there. She looked me in the eyes and said, ‘His name is Biscuit because he looks like one.’”

“She’s not wrong.”

“I’m offended.”

“A cute biscuit.”

“Can a biscuit be cute?” he questioned. Realization dawned on his face. “Wait! Did you just call my dog you supposedly don’t like and are not forming an attachment to cute?”

“No,” she replied too fast, “absolutely not.”

“Do you ever take a day off?” he asked out of nowhere.

“Of course.”

“When?”

Claire was silent for a minute. “I just don’t want to mess this up,” she admitted.

That was the first time she had let him see that she was afraid. It felt big.

“You won’t,” he said softly. Her shoulders loosened slightly, and Noah hoped she believed him.

That night, as Noah was getting into bed, he couldn’t help but smile to himself. He had spent years fixing things for people.

But this was different. This wasn’t someone asking for help. Claire Bennett was letting him be part of her life.

And somehow, that felt like a much bigger deal.

She didn’t only let him finish the bookshelf. She let him order a pizza. She let him stay and eat with her. She let him sit on the couch with her and talk. She let Biscuit sleep at her feet.

She had let him stay.

And Noah had the feeling that, with Claire Bennett, staying was the part that mattered.

CHAPTER 6