HELP! Combine ARCed object to another without carrying over the ARC effect to 2nd object?

So I have text that I added and ARC to with an offset path that I want to combine with a rectangular shape above it. If I unite them the ARC effect is added to the rectangle which I dont want and if I pull the offset path from the ARCed group to unite them outside of that group well I lose the ARC on the offset path. How can I combine the ARCed offset path with the rectangle above that it slightly overlays therefore creating one bit offset stroke behind the artwork, without it adding the ARC effect to the rectangle.