Charming Hannah (Big Sky #1)(45)

“I agree. I didn’t really consider him at all, until the accident. I didn’t think of him as dangerous. He was more of a pain in the ass.

“My mom was pretty great. She was soft spoken. I have her hair and eyes, and I’m grateful for that. I don’t know what it would be like to look in the mirror and see him.”

“I’m sure she was beautiful.”

“She was.” She smiles sweetly. “And she made the best cookies. She was a great cook. I didn’t inherit that ability.”

“Too bad.”

She wrinkles her nose in that adorable way she does. “Yeah, too bad. Her name was Vivienne, and she wasn’t even forty when she died.”

“Did she often ride with your dad after he’d been drinking?”

“Not that I know of. They didn’t do much of anything together. I wasn’t home that day. I decided to spend most of the winter break with Abby, and we were having a New Year’s Eve party at her house with some of our friends. Mom had called earlier in the day to say hello and to check in, like she usually did. That’s the last time I spoke to her. I was impatient to get off the phone so I could help decorate for the party.

“At about three in the morning, a few cops came to my aunt and uncle’s house, and they sat us all down and told me that my mom was gone.”

“I’ve had to go on too many of those calls.”

She nods. “It must suck.”

“It does.”

“I miss her. She would have been proud of me, and she probably would have moved to Montana with me.”

“And you never heard from your father after that?”

“Why would I? He never paid attention to me before, there’s no reason that I would after. I didn’t go to the trial. He plead no contest, so his sentence would be more lenient.”

“Thank you for sharing all of this with me.”

“You’re welcome. And now we don’t have to talk about it again.”

She yawns and snuggles into me, burying her face in my neck. Before long, she’s breathing with the even, steady breaths of sleep, and I’m still turning the story over in my head. I don’t feel bad for her; she wouldn’t want that. But I wish she’d had a better father in her life.

It’s amazing to me that she’s as healthy as she is, given the circumstances of her childhood.

She’s strong. And brave. And she’s mine.

***

Sadie meets me at the door at lunchtime. I walk inside and find a glassy-eyed Hannah sitting on the couch, staring at nothing in particular. She’s wearing my T-shirt again, and Sadie returns to her side.

“Hi there,” I say, and she looks up at me and offers me a small smile.

“Hi.”

“Are you just waking up?”

“Yeah.” She pets Sadie’s head. “Don’t judge me. I haven’t had a hangover since I was twenty-one.”

“You had a lot of fun last night.”

“Yeah, and then I was up fucking for the rest of it.” Her eyes light up when she sees the coffee in my hand. “Is that for me?”

“Of course.” I pass it to her. “This is too. It’s a breakfast sandwich.”

“You’re really good to me.” She takes a sip of her coffee, closes her eyes, and smiles. “This is nice. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Were you on time for work this morning?”

“Of course,” I say and scoop her up in my arms, then sit and settle her in my lap. “I’m never late.”

“You were up all night, too.” She sips her coffee and then lays her head on my shoulder. “Should I feel guilty?”

“For what?”

“For your lack of sleep.”

I chuckle and kiss her head, smelling her hair. “No. It’s my own fault for not being able to keep my hands off of you.”

“You always say sweet things. And you do sweet things. You’re just a sweet man, Brad.”

“Don’t let it get out. I have a reputation to protect.”

“Ah yes, your badass Chief Sexypants reputation.”

“Sexywhat?”

“Sexypants. It’s your name when you’re not around.”

I stare down at her in surprise. “That’s what you call me when I’m not around?”

“Only to Jenna and Grace, and not all the time.” She grins and kisses my chin. “Don’t be mad. It’s a complimentary nickname.”

“If you say so.”

“I’m glad you’re here. It’s easier to wake up when you’re here rather than by myself.”

“Well, you have me for about twenty more minutes. Then I have to go back to work.”

“Already?”

“It’s noon, Hannah. I can’t take the rest of the day off.”

“What am I going to do all afternoon?”

“Take Sadie for a walk.”

She sips her coffee, giving it thought. “I do need to go get my car.”

“I can drive you to your car.”

“Nah. Sadie and I will walk to get it. I’ll do the walk of shame.” She smiles. “I’ve never done that before.”