Charming Hannah (Big Sky #1)(48)

“You mean you didn’t recognize her?” Dan asks with a smile.

“She was a little smaller and a lot bluer that day,” I reply and smile kindly at Alice. “She’s beautiful and healthy, and I’m so happy for you.”

“She’s here because of you,” Alice says with tears in her eyes and wraps her arms around both of us, hugging us. “You saved us.”

“That’s the job,” I say and pass the baby to her mama. “And I have to tell you, this might be the first time I’ve spent time with a baby that I delivered. It was fun. I had no idea this tiny baby was that Megan.”

“Well, thanks to both of you for taking her so we could have an uninterrupted dinner out,” Dan says, shaking Brad’s hand. “It was nice.”

“My pleasure,” Brad says. He runs out to the garage to get the car seat base, and when they’ve left with the baby, he turns to me with a raised eyebrow. “I didn’t know that you were the doctor who delivered her.”

“I was.”

“That was a shit show.”

“It was.” I nod, not allowed to talk freely with Brad about the medical history. “But as you can see, it all worked out.”

He frowns and looks down, and then without looking me in the eyes, he just pulls me in and hugs me tightly.

“Dan would have lost both of them if it hadn’t been for you, and I just want to say thank you for saving them both. Dan’s a good friend.”

“It’s the job,” I repeat, but hug him back fiercely. “And I’m happy that it all worked out for the best.”

He kisses me head, breathing me in.

“Me too.”

***

My car smells like heaven the next morning.

The aroma of coffee and donuts fills the space around me, and I want to just pull over and eat and drink it all myself.

That’s not possible, but it doesn’t make me want it any less.

I park in front of the police station and carry four dozen donuts and a gallon of hot coffee inside, then I run back out for the special individual coffee for Brad. As I walk back inside, Brad is approaching the desk with the donuts, where at least six other men are already loading up on sugar and caffeine.

“This one is for you,” I say and hand him the cup. “The lady at Sips said this is what you usually order.”

His eyes intently watch me as he takes a sip. “She was right. What’s all this?”

“Well, I know it’s a cliché, but I thought everyone might enjoy some coffee and donuts.”

“You thought right,” Dan says with a grin. Several other uniformed officers nod in agreement. “And these are the best donuts in town.”

“I know.” I reach out and snatch up a maple bar. “So good.”

“Come into my office,” Brad says, but I shake my head no.

“I have errands.”

“Do you have two minutes?” he asks. The look on his face says he needs to talk to me, so I nod and follow him into his office, munching on my donut.

“What’s up?”

He doesn’t answer. Instead, he sweeps me up into a passionate kiss. He doesn’t even care that I have maple glaze on my lips.

“You’re sweet,” he murmurs against me.

“It’s the donut.”

He grins and kisses me one more time, then sets me away from him. “No, it’s you. You didn’t have to do that for my guys.”

“I know. It was fun.” I smile and take another bite of my donut. “I might as well take advantage of this whole week off thing and spoil us all a little bit.”

“Don’t spoil them too much. They’ll get soft.”

“Yes, sir.” I offer him a mock salute and open the office door. “I’m going to get a massage now.”

“Good for you. And then?”

“I think I’ll wander around downtown and look for a birthday gift for my cousin, Abby.”

“Have a good day, sweetheart.”

I smile and close his door behind me, waving to the guys who are smiling at me as I walk past.

I’ve made some friends this morning.

***

I’m loading up on way too much huckleberry stuff. Syrup, jam, pancake mix, even chocolate. I can’t help myself. I’ve turned into a tourist in my own damn town.

I’ve wandered my way through just about every shop on Main Street in downtown Cunningham Falls. Not only did I find the cutest outfit and pair of earrings for Abby, but I found all of this huckleberry stuff, a painting for the living room of my house, and I might have splurged on ice cream.

Okay, I totally did.

I feel fantastic after my massage. It’s a warm eighty degrees outside, perfect for roaming around without getting too hot, and it’s the middle of a weekday so the tourists aren’t as obnoxious as they would be on a Saturday.

Just as I’m about to walk into Dress It Up, I hear my name being called from across the street.

“Hannah!”

“Hey,” I reply, happy to see my friend and patient, Jillian King, as she pushes her stroller across the street to join me. She has her twins with her, and her face is glowing with happiness as she joins me. “How are you?”

“I’m great,” she says, panting a bit. “I took the afternoon off to take the kids to the park. It’s too pretty out to waste it.”