Charming Hannah (Big Sky #1)(28)

But I can’t help but continue to murmur to the dog in my arms.

“Your daddy is pretty great. I’m sure you already know that. You’re quite loyal to him. I think we have that in common already. Can I tell you a secret, Sadie?”

She just snores, oblivious to the serious conversation we’re having.

“I’m falling in love with him. Grace is right.” I pet her belly, my mind on the man across town. “I don’t know how he’s stayed single all this time. And the anxiety in me wants to tear that thought apart, pondering if he has mother issues, or daddy issues, or any other issues that have sabotaged all of his relationships before me.

“But I don’t think I’m going to do that this time. I trust him, Sadie, and that’s big for me. I admire him. And my God, I love him.”

I kiss her head and close my eyes, letting the heavy blanket and snoring Sadie lull me to sleep.





Chapter Eight


Brad

THE KEY IS WHERE she said it would be, under the planter in the corner of her porch. I should talk to her about the dangers of having a key in such an obvious place. It’s not safe.

I have lasagna from Ciao in my hands, along with a bag of food for the dog, which I’ll leave here.

I have a feeling Sadie will be spending a bit of time here.

And frankly, that’s okay with me. She may seem like a big teddy bear, but if there’s danger nearby, Sadie is a fierce protector. If I can’t be here with Hannah, it makes me feel better knowing that Sadie is.

The house is quiet as I walk through. I set the pan of lasagna in the oven and set it to low to keep it warm, then go in search of my girls.

The bedroom is dark, even though it’s still perfectly sunny outside. The light from the hall casts on Hannah’s sweet face. Sadie immediately sees me and jumps off the bed to greet me. I kneel to pet her and kiss her head, then point for her to go to the living room, which she does without hesitation.

I step to the bed and look down at Hannah. I should leave her be. She has only been asleep for about four hours, and I know she needs more. And I will leave her alone, but first I want to feel her.

I slide into the bed with her and pull her to me. Her eyes open, and she blinks in confusion.

“Brad?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“I’m sorry, I’ll wake up.”

“No,” I scoot onto my back and she snuggles up to me, her head resting on my chest. She wraps her slender arm around my midsection, holding on tightly. “Stay asleep, beautiful girl. I just want to hold you for a while.”

She sighs and drifts immediately back to sleep. I kiss her forehead and hold her to me for a long moment. I haven’t seen her in a few days, and I missed her. Her laugh, her voice, her body.

Everything.

It hasn’t been long, but she’s wiggled her way into my life and now I don’t know what it would look like without her in it.

I don’t want to know.

I can hear Sadie getting restless, so I slip out from under Hannah and smile when she snuggles up to her pillow, burying her face in it. I pad out to the kitchen and pour Sadie’s dinner for her, then let her outside to do her business. While she’s out in Hannah’s fenced backyard, I run out to my truck and fetch my computer and cell phone.

Sadie joins me back inside, and she gives me the side eye when I won’t let her lay on the couch, insisting she lay on the floor.

“Hannah is spoiling you.”

She huffs in disapproval, but before long she’s snoring. I turn the TV on and let a baseball game play in the background while I work for a while. There’s always paperwork to do, calls to make, things to follow up on. If I’d still had Sadie with me, I would have stayed at the office well into the evening.

But this was a great excuse to leave. I can work from here just as well, and I want to be here when Hannah wakes up.

The reports from the electric company are in regarding the Reardon accident. That’s exactly what it was, an accident. No foul play and no one’s fault. A power line had surfaced at the bottom of the lake and Kendall paid the price.

We’re lucky more weren’t killed.

The funeral was yesterday, and I stood by my friend as he buried another person he loved more than anything. I can’t imagine the pain of losing a child, and I hope to God I never do.

But I was honest when I told Hannah that she calms me. She clears the demons away, and brings lightness to my heavy heart that I haven’t felt in a very long time.

Maybe never.

Sadie yawns and turns over on the floor, exposing her belly. I’m tired myself, my eyes heavy from hours of computer work. I close the computer, intending to just take a small break.

***

“Hey.”

Someone is running their hands through my hair, scratching their nails against my scalp.

It feels fucking amazing.

I open one eye to find Hannah standing next to me, smile down at me. I’m surprised I didn’t hear her approach. I’m a light sleeper, hearing every noise around me.

“Hi.” I drag my hand down my face and frown at the time. “I must have fallen asleep.”

“Looks like it.”

I reach out, wrap my arm around her waist, and pull her into my lap, nuzzling her neck. “You smell so fucking good.” She’s citrus and a touch of something else that I can’t put my finger on.