Charming Hannah (Big Sky #1)(13)

I head back through the older residential section of town, and past Hannah’s house. I slow down because her front door is standing open, but I don’t see a car in her driveway.

“Stay,” I tell Sadie and walk to the door, my hand on my weapon. “Hannah?”

There’s no answer. I walk around to the side of the house and look in a window, but I don’t see anyone. I don’t want to go in the house if she’s there.

“Hannah,” I call out again.

“Yeah?”

I spin around, caught off guard by the redhead herself who is sweaty and wearing little shorts and a tank top.

“Your front door is open.”

“I know,” she says and leans over to brace herself on her knees. “Good God, I hate to run.”

“Why were you running?”

“I’m trying to get into summer shape,” she says. “I’m super lazy in the winter.” She swallows hard. “I mean, it’s cold and I don’t like that.”

“Yes, you mentioned that last night.”

She nods, still catching her breath. “But I love to be active in the summer, and I’m trying to get in shape for it.”

“Why was your door open?”

“Because I forgot to shut it,” she says with a shrug. “I ran in really fast to use the bathroom because all that running made me have to go.”

I grin and cross my arms over my chest.

“You look really intimidating with that whole cop stance you have going on there.”

“I’m on duty,” I remind her.

“Yeah. It’s hot.” She grins. “Am I allowed to flirt with you when you’re on duty, or is that too cliché?”

“You can flirt with me any time you like.”

She laughs and wipes the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand. Sadie lets out a bark and whimper, reminding me that she’s there.

“Who’s this?”

“Sadie,” I reply and walk ahead of Hannah so I can let Sadie out of the vehicle.

“Can I pet her?”

“She’ll be disappointed if you don’t.”

“Hi, Sadie,” Hannah says and holds her hand out for the dog to smell. “You’re so pretty. What a good girl you are. You’re so brave, too.”

And just like that, Sadie is nuzzling Hannah’s leg and soaking up the attention.

“I didn’t know you have a police dog.”

“She’s a retired police dog. I bring her with me when I’m going to be in my office most of the day.”

“What brought you by my house?” she asks.

“I needed to get out of the office for awhile, so I thought I’d drive by here to make sure everything was okay.”

“And my door was open.”

I nod and watch as she continues to pet Sadie’s head, putting the dog into a happiness coma.

“Thanks for checking on me. It was a bathroom emergency.”

“Why aren’t you in the office today?”

“I had morning appointments,” she says with a smile. “I take one afternoon and two mornings off during the week because I inevitably end up working several evenings and weekends throughout the month. It all comes out in the wash, and I can catch up on sleep if I need it.”

“I see. Well, we’ll let you get back to your workout.”

“Oh, I’m done. I’ll be good until Saturday.” She sits on the ground and lets Sadie fall into her lap. “This is the sweetest dog ever.”

“And she knows it.” I check the time, and then hear my radio go off in the car. “Hold on.”

I jog over and listen to a report of an accident just south of town. Multiple cars, injuries.

“I have to go. There’s been an accident.” I stare at Sadie. “Damn it, I shouldn’t have brought her along.”

“Leave her with me,” Hannah offers. “We’ll hang out for a couple of hours.”

“You don’t have to—”

“Go,” Hannah says. “I have this. Be safe.”

I nod and hurry away, my head already in the accident scene I’m rushing to.





Chapter Four


Hannah

I DIDN’T SLEEP. NOT much, anyway. One of my colleagues was out of town yesterday, and of course that’s when two of his patients decided to go into labor. I was at the hospital late into the night.

I should call Brad and tell him that I’ll have to take a rain check on the hike today. That’s the responsible thing to do. I should sleep. If a bear runs out onto the trail and tries to kill me, I’m way too tired to run away.

I’m just trying to save my own life here.

I roll my eyes and stare at myself in the mirror.

“You don’t want to cancel. You like him. Not to mention, his dog is the cutest ever.”

Sadie is maybe the sweetest dog I’ve ever met. She hung out with me all afternoon the other day, following me around the house and then jumping up on the bed with me and sleeping until Brad came to pick her up.

Maybe I should get a dog.

My doorbell rings just as I finish tying my hiking shoes, and I rush out to open the door, only to stop dead in my tracks and stare in the rudest way possible at the man standing in front of me.