Page 9 of The Marriage Mission

In the darkness, she imagined his expression, certain she would find no hint of opportunism in his gaze. Jacqui's emotions were a whirlwind, caught between gratitude for his immediate solution and the dread of future expenses.

"I'll be done with the wiring ahead of schedule, so I can take on that unneeded day to do the fix. No extra charge," he added, as if reading her mind.

The roller coaster of her emotions dipped once more, the relief of saving some pennies now overshadowed by the realization that payment for his services was looming closer.

As the lights flickered to life, casting a dim glow over the office, Jacqui stepped back from Noah's embrace, the spell of the darkness broken. The return to visibility felt like a return to their respective roles—chef and electrician, employer and contractor—yet something had shifted.

"Thank you, Mr. Henry. I appreciate your efficiency."

"Call me Noah."

Jacqui bit her lip.

Noah's hooded gaze latched on to the movement. "You let me know if you need anything else."

Jacqui got the impression he'd give her whatever she needed. "Just efficiency in your work."

He gave her a smirk and then backed out of her office. But he didn't get far. Jules was behind him.

"My power just went out. Jacks, my pastries will melt."

Jacqui pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Sounds like your circuits are overloaded," said Noah.

"Who are you?" Jules eyed him with interest.

"He's—" Jacqui began, but Noah cut her off to introduce himself to her younger, pretty sister.

Jules' jet black hair was chopped into a playful pixie cut, while her pale, almost ethereal eyes were a haunting echo of their mother. She was small and petite, her delicate frame moving with a grace that belied a certain fragility, an almost damsel-like quality that seemed to draw protective instincts from those around her. Especially men.

There was an almost instinctive desire to shelter her, to shield her from the world’s harsher edges. This was in sharp contrast to Jacqui herself, who stood tall and robust, her presence commanding and sturdy, shaped by years of leading a busy kitchen and managing a business. Where Jacqui was a pillar of strength, Jules seemed like a whisper of silk.

"I'll come over and take a look," said Noah.

Before Jacqui could say anything, like she didn't have the money to pay him for it, or Jules had bad breath in the morning, Noah was gone. He walked calmly, capably as though the problem was already solved.

ChapterSeven

Noah crouched beside the hulking form of the bakery's malfunctioning refrigerator, his tools spread out on the floor like a surgeon's array beside an operating table. The sweet aroma of baking pastries mingled with the tang of electrical work. As he peeled back the access panel, his eyes quickly took in the condition of the wiring within. It was pristine, nothing like the tangled mess he had encountered in Chow Town. However, as his trained gaze swept over the neatly arranged wires, he spotted several telltale signs of corner-cutting.

Cheap, mismatched wire nuts, a few overly stripped wires, and sloppy electrical tape wraps that spoke of haste rather than heed. It was clear that while the outward appearance had been polished, the essential, underlying work was fraught with compromises. He made a mental list of the materials he would need and the adjustments that had to be made.

Fish stood next to him, thoughstoodwas a generous term for the way the other man's attention drifted from the fridge to the front of the shop, where Jules, the pretty baker and Jacqui's sister, flitted between customers like a fairy doling out ambrosia.

"You know, I'm starting to think I should charge by the hour for distraction as well as electrical work."

"What?" Fish cocked his head toward Noah but didn't take his eyes off Jules.

That was until Jules turned. When she did, Fish's gaze hit the floor, and he busied himself inside Noah's tool box. Jules smiled brightly, her features reminding Noah of her sister. The younger woman was pretty, to be sure. Jules sparkled, but Jacqui was a bright flare Noah didn't want to shield his eyes from.

"How's it going in there?" Jules asked. "Will you be able to save me?"

"Yes. Absolutely. Definitely." All these assertions came from Fish, who was holding a hammer, which would do nothing for all the wires.

"Just let me know what you need and my sister will get it for you."

Noah frowned at that. He'd seen the worry lines around Jacqui's eyes. He'd heard the catch in her voice when she'd spoken with her other sister about money.

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