NOAH: A Childhood Nemesis Sweet Romantic Comedy (Waco Wranglers Reid Brothers Book 2)

  Noah

  A Childhood Nemesis Sweet Romantic Comedy

  Heather Horrocks

  Contents

  Description of Noah

  Happy Ending at 91%

  Half Title

  1. Searching for Fire Ants

  2. A Chauvinistic Neanderthal

  3. Half Mouse and Half Tasmanian Devil

  4. A Hundred-and-Sixteen Pounds of Crazy

  5. Make That Fourteen Million and One

  6. Kind of Like Your Innocent-Looking Princess Devil Dog

  7. Poleaxed

  8. This I’ve Got to Try

  9. My Dream Camera

  10. Take the Head Start

  11. Must. Have. Brains

  12. Kiss This Face — if You Dare

  13. Dogs Are Less Complicated Than People

  14. She’s Pretty Persuasive

  15. Be Sure to Text Me Some Pictures

  16. I’ll Take That as a Yes

  17. Epilogue - A Fire Ant Farm?

  Thank you!

  Author’s Note

  About the Author

  Series by Heather Horrocks

  Acknowledgments

  Rights & Copyrights

  Book Club Questions

  Thanks again!

  Description of Noah

  Stuck on a tropical island with her childhood nemesis? Bring it!

  Noah Reid Kapuni Sullivan — former Waco Wranglers player and current action movie star — and his big dog are about to be taken down a peg or two by his childhood nemesis. Cute little Emma Archer, who once demanded to be allowed in the boys’ clubhouse, is now storming the island with her tiny dog. Who knew an 80-pound Boxer would be afraid of a 12-pound Chihuahua? Or that big Noah Sullivan would be attracted to his best friend’s little sister? Can a relationship that started with The Fire Ant Incident take a turn for the better on the beach?

  Noah is the second book in USA Today bestselling author Heather Horrocks’ Waco Wranglers Reid Brothers series of sweet romantic comedies. If you like the humor and romance of Emma St. Clair and Molly Harper, then you'll love a series that combines laughter with sweet romance.

  Waco Wranglers Reid Brothers: Rough-and-tumble football players and the sassy women who capture their hearts.

  Originally published as The Guy Next Door Billionaire.

  Dedicated to my beautiful daughter-in-law, Stella Horrocks. I love your billion-dollar smile and the way you take such good care of your family. You rock!

  And to Mark, who is my preferred travel buddy. Maybe an island trip is in our future.

  Happy Ending at 91%

  THE HAPPY ENDING IS AT ABOUT 91% ~ ENJOY!

  In case you’re like me and want to know how close you are to the end of a book, and because there are pages that come after the end of a book (copyright, book club questions, about the author, excerpts, and — in some boxed sets — more novellas), I just wanted to let you know where ‘The End’ of this book is. Enjoy.

  Noah

  © 2019 Heather Horrocks

  1

  Searching for Fire Ants

  A Beautiful Summer Day Twenty Years Before

  “Let us in!”

  The angry girls’ voices from below interrupted the ghost story Noah Sullivan had been telling his buddy, Preston Archer, and his cousin, Knox Reid. And he was just getting to the good part, too, because Preston’s eyes and Knox’s mouth had been growing wider and wider.

  Noah jumped up to look out the window of their boys-only clubhouse located in the tall oak tree of Preston’s yard. To make the membership requirements crystal-clear, they’d nailed a sign to the bottom of the tree: NO GIRLS ALLOWED. Preston and Knox pushed Noah partially aside so they could see through the window, too.

  Below them, two stupid girls stood glaring up at the tree house, and he knew for sure they were old enough to read the sign.

  Preston’s seven-year-old sister, Emma Archer, and her friend, Ashley Fredrickson.

  Good thing he and Preston had pulled up the rope ladder so no one could come up during this important meeting. Noah, especially, wasn’t about to let any girls come up, even if Emma was kind of cute — not that he would ever say that. Even at ten years old, he knew you didn’t think your buddy’s little sister was cute. Besides, she was a stupid girl.

  He leaned out the window and taunted them. “You need special permission to come in.”

  “We do not, Noah Sullivan. Let us in.” Emma shook her head, and the sun glinted in her red ponytail as it swung from side to side. “My mom said you can’t keep us out.”

  “Whatever.” Preston laughed. “Mom said we could have our meetings up here, just Noah and Knox and me. So go away.”

  Moving closer into the shade of the tree, Emma put her hands on her hips and narrowed her green eyes up at them. Scowling, she yelled, “I hate you all, Stinky Butts.”

  That didn’t make him feel good, but when he saw Preston laugh again, Noah laughed, too.

  Ashley pointed up at them. “If you don’t let us in, you’ll be sorry. Really sorry.”

  Emma nodded. “We’ll go find a bunch of girl fire ants and put them in your beds. Then you’ll be sorry and wish you’d let us come up and join your stupid meeting.”

  Noah laughed in earnest then. “Where are you going to find girl fire ants?”

  Texas did have fire ants, but Noah was pretty sure Emma wouldn’t go to that much trouble to get back at them. Just in case, though, he was going to ask his mother to put a lock on his bedroom door.

  He called down, “I’m glad I don’t have any sisters.”

  Emma smiled up at him. “And I bet all girls are sure glad they went to another family so they don’t have you as a stinky brother.”

  Well, that was just mean.

  “Come on, Ashley,” Emma said, tugging on her friend’s arm.

  “Okay,” Ashley said with another scowl up at them.

  “Let’s go searching for” — Emma turned her face up again and smiled sweetly as she raised her voice to make sure she was heard — “fire ants.”

  2

  A Chauvinistic Neanderthal

  A Beautiful Wintry L.A. Day, February 9

  Noah Reid Kapuni Sullivan lifted an eyebrow. “Say again?”

  Jerry Thompson grinned. “I’m serious. We have a chance to do this, get some good publicity, help out some islanders, and did I mention get some good publicity?”

  “Ten million dollars,” Noah repeated the words of the wildly successful business coach.

  “Yes.” Thompson motioned to the four of them present. “All five of us have prospered immensely and I think it’s time to give some back. Pay it forward. Do something for a good cause.”

  The four sat in chairs around the fireplace in the den of Thompson’s fancy L.A. home.

  “Where is this island?” asked Orrin Knight. He sported a lightweight black T-shirt with his own rock star image on it and black jeans. The relatively cool 68-degree weather meant the T-shirt had long sleeves.

  “Mango Island is just a few miles off Fiji. Consider it a working vacation in paradise.”

  Harlan Owens leaned back in the outdoor chair, locked his hands behind his head, and crossed an ankle over his knee. The man created popular apps that techies couldn’t seem to get enough of. “Ten million is pretty steep.”

  They could all afford it, but Thompson would need to do a lot more convincing for any of them to toss in that kind of coin.

  Noah laughed and told him, “Add mere to it for more effect. I need
a mere ten million from each of you. Like that.”

  “A mere ten million.” Thompson said with a grin. “I’m also asking for a week of your time over the next six months.”

  Intrigued, Noah said, “A week to do what?”

  “A week on the island. Stay at the resort. Use your fame to bring people there to pay big bucks for your expertise and entertainment. All for charity. All the money we raise will go to help rebuild the island that got hit so hard by the cyclone. And it will help the island folk who live and work there.”

  Thompson continued. “We all have talents and skills we’ve made lots of money on. We can share those with others and help the island at the same time. You’d be a huge draw to get people to invest money that you donate to the island rehab.”

  They were all silent for a few moments, and Thompson grinned. “Did I mention that, in exchange for your generous donations and time, you’ll receive a one-tenth ownership in the island?”

  Preston Archer, Noah’s friend and business partner, chuckled. “Is that so we’re invested in helping out in the future, too?”

  Thompson grinned and shrugged. “It doesn’t hurt.”

  The other men chuckled.

  Thompson pointed to Knight, the rock star, next. “If you plan a concert there, people will flock to come, especially if they have the run of the island for a week included in the high cost of the concert. They’re happy, you’re happy, you help the island people.”

  “Why not?” Knight laughed. “I’m all about helping people, especially if I can meet some beautiful island ladies at the same time.”

  Owens shrugged. “I can get some techies onboard for this. Maybe in July. And I bet I can get more money than the rest of you. What say we do a side wager?”

  Thompson held up a hand. “That would be a little unfair, Owens, because it would be two against one. As in you two will be spending a week on your own, while Noah and Preston will be doing the same week together. They could do both acting and movie-making workshops, as well as have a few auditions for extras thrown in.” He grinned at Noah. “What do you say? Are you in?”

  Noah had played professional football for the Waco Wranglers until he’d injured his shoulder, and he’d fallen into acting in Preston’s speculative Max Booker action franchise that had taken off into the stratosphere. People would come to the island just to be with him and Preston, something Noah was still getting used to. Preston seemed to have the Midas touch for making movies, and had even named his company Midas Movies.

  And since Noah had just had one of those big birthdays ending with zero — how could he be thirty already? — that made a person rethink things, he wanted to make sure his life counted for something. He no longer had a wife and didn’t have children, so he wanted to help these families on this island.

  Noah made his decision. “Our movie starts auditions for cast soon. We could maybe give some roles as extras away as prizes while we do movie-related workshops on acting, directing, and producing. Maybe even a speaking part. Maybe pictures with me.” He grinned. “Women love pictures with me.”

  Knight shrugged. “I could do June.”

  Thompson laughed at having convinced the four of them. He pulled up his calendar. “Then it's perfect. Noah and I will go in May. Knight in June. Owens in July. Thanks, gentlemen.” He shook hands with each of them. “I appreciate your help.”

  “Who owns this island, anyway?” Knight asked.

  Thompson grinned. “I do. And it really did get damaged in the cyclone.”

  Preston said, “I think it would be a great place to film movies. Maybe we can work that into the deal.”

  “Done.” Thompson nodded.

  The men talked animatedly for two hours about the workshops they could host. For twenty minutes or so, Preston excused himself to make a phone call, then rejoined them and brainstormed with Noah what they could present.

  Thompson walked them to the door and thanked them again.

  As they walked toward their vehicles, Noah had a thought. Turning to Preston, he said. “Wait a minute. You’re getting married on May first. What is Min going to say if you do this island thing a week later?”

  “I called her and she loved the idea.”

  “What if we just go another time? Thompson’s not going to hold us to that date as thought it’s written in stone.”

  “Noah, it’s okay. Min wants to go with us.”

  “Of course she does.” Noah shook his head. “You guys are crazy.”

  When Noah finally said goodbye to his childhood friend and current co-owner of Midas Movies, Inc, he climbed into one of his three sports cars. He usually preferred to drive his custom-built Ford F-150 pickup because it fit his large frame, but it was in the shop right now. Instead he slid into his black Audi R8, a car he’d chosen because it also had enough leg room and headroom for a big guy.

  He pulled out of Thompson’s exclusive neighborhood and headed toward the freeway to drive them back to Waco. He pushed the button on his Bluetooth. “Call Gramps.”

  A moment later, the old man answered. “Hey, Noah, what’s up?”

  Noah spent the drive home explaining the crazy deal he’d just agreed to.

  Gramps whistled. “That’s a lot of money. Do you know what I could do with ten million dollars?” Noah knew Gramps was teasing. He had the ranch with everything he needed. Noah had made sure of that after he’d started making big money. He’d taken care of both his grandfather and his mother.

  “You’d probably just eat a gazillion donuts or drown yourself in Texas chili.”

  “Chili sounds good. Hurry home and I’ll fix up a pot for us. Bring your mother over to the ranch.”

  “I will as soon as my next movie shoot is over. I’ll plan on staying a few weeks.”

  “We can celebrate your birthday.”

  “Gramps, that was two weeks ago.”

  “And you were in L.A. Plan on coming over. I want to see you now that you’ve gotten so famous — and so old.”

  “Looks who’s talking.” Noah laughed.

  “Gotta go. It’s time for us oldsters to go to bed.”

  “You never go to bed this early, you faker.”

  Gramps chuckled.

  Noah shook his head. “Love you, Gramps.”

  Next he needed to check in with his cousin and second best friend. Ending the call, he said, “Call Knox.”

  “Dude,” his cousin said when he answered. “What’s up?”

  “Have I got such a deal for you.”

  “Yeah, yeah, I’ve heard that before. What’s the deal?”

  “Want to come to a tropical island?”

  “Is this a trick question?”

  “It’s for a week in early May.”

  “Ah, man, I can’t. I’ve got a team thing I’m in charge of.”

  “Oh, well. I’ll send you photos of the waves.”

  “Thanks, dude. You’re so thoughtful.”

  “I’ll even mail you a little beach sand.”

  Laughing, Knox said goodbye.

  “It’s good to see you eating again.” Emma Archer stared across the dinner table at her best friend, Ashley Fredericks Daniels. “Without throwing up afterward, I mean.”

  Four months pregnant, Ashley looked up from the gourmet vegetarian pizza she was enjoying and smiled. “Believe me, it is very nice to be past the morning sickness. That’s the one part of pregnancy I detest.”

  “Yeah, I haven’t been too fond of it, either, and I’ve just been hanging around with you.”

  Ashley had invited Emma over for dinner while her husband was out of town on a rare business trip, so it was just the two of them plus Charlie and Chloe. Ashley’s children would go to bed in a couple of hours, and then the two friends could watch a movie and have fun. Almost like old times, except she’d crash in Ashley’s spare room much earlier than they used to when they were both footloose and fancy free.

  Four-year-old Charlie reached out and poked his little sister, and two-year-old Chloe dramatically
earned an Oscar with her tearful wail.

  Ashley shook her head. “Charlie, no poking your sister. Chloe, enough with the waterworks. Mommy has had a long day.”

  Emma and Ashley were only twenty-seven, but her friend had married her sweetheart right out of high school. She and Gary were so cute together. Sometimes Emma wished she’d had a childhood sweetheart. A childhood sweetheart who’d also had a crush on her. Instead, she’d married a guy in college and come to regret it. The divorce was a year old now, but her ex wouldn’t leave her alone. She was still getting texts and calls.

  Emma’s phone rang. It was her brother. “Excuse me, Ashley.”

  “Sure thing,” Ashley said, pulling Charlie back into his seat.

  “Hi, Preston.”

  “Hey, Emma. I have the perfect job for you. It’s a photography gig and it will be lucrative. Some other tasks like social media posting. The stuff you’re great at.”

  “I’m kind of busy right now.”

  “No problem. This won’t be until mid-May. Can you free up a week or maybe two to go to a tropical island to take photos and maybe help out a little with some movie-related workshops? Look at it as an all-expenses-paid vacay.”

  “Wait a minute. You’re getting married on the first day in May.”

  “I know, and I’m willing to bring my bride back from my honeymoon to do this gig.”