Chapter Eighteen
Hannah
I was in a bit of a daze for the rest of the day. Yup, that was the right word. Daze . I did my job, but half of my brain was floating on cloud nine.
Chase Sterling is my boyfriend. I didn't think I could get any happier, but it turned out I could. About two hours after lunch, I got a message from him.
Chase: I have a surprise for you this evening.
I tried not to smile too big.
Hannah: I'm all ears.
In fact, I wanted to say, "I'm all yours," but I was curious what he wanted to say first.
Chase: I’ll send a company car to pick you up from the office.
My eyes bulged. I didn't even know there were company cars. They were probably only for the top management.
Hannah: To take me where?
Chase: Somewhere you can spend the evening with me.
I was so giddy I couldn't even explain it.
Hannah: Can they pick me up from a store? I need to buy something.
Chase: Sure. Send me the address of where to pick you up. I'd do it myself, but I'm coming from the opposite side of town, so this will be quicker.
Hannah: Someone's impatient.
Chase: Fuck yes.
I shimmied in my seat as I sent him the address, then counted down the hours until I’d see him again.
Three hours later, I logged off for the day and left the building.
Since I hadn’t furnished my apartment to live in full-time, I didn’t have a ton of storage. I’d tracked down a Goodwill, and I was hoping to find some shelves for the bathroom there.
I rode the blue line up to the Park & Market Station. During the ride, I emailed three more contractors about the inn. So far, I hadn’t heard back from anyone, and I worried they might be too busy with other projects to consider this job.
Then I did something I didn't want to postpone any longer—I called Blair. My sister answered right away.
"Finally! I thought something bad happened, especially when you didn't text me back."
"Sorry, I got buried in work," I replied, which wasn't a complete lie.
"So we're on for the blind date?"
"No. I need to talk to you." I’d exited the bus and was heading to the store, which should be right up the road.
"Oh no. What's wrong? Please tell me that moron isn't causing you trouble."
It took me a few seconds to realize she meant my ex. She’d stopped mentioning his name months ago.
"No, not at all. It's about me and Chase." I sat down on a bench, glancing at the Goodwill sign.
"Go on."
"He was at the inn the evening of the storm."
"How come?"
"I was at the office when it started, and he offered to take me there. Anyway... well, we spent the night together."
My sister gasped. "Hannah! Okay, I'll tell Josh. He'll kill him, and I’ll help you both bury him."
"What?" I asked.
"He left, right?”
"No, Blair. Why would you assume that?"
"Oh. Sorry, my bad. I don't know. Wait, just finish what you want to say before I jump to conclusions."
"He says he's my boyfriend," I said.
"You sound like you don't believe it."
I laughed nervously. "It almost feels too good to be true, you know?"
"Hannah." My sister's voice was soft. "Of course not. Why would you think that? You deserve the best in the world."
"Yeah, but I've had too much bad luck lately, and I'm starting to feel like it's following me around. Are you going to lecture me?"
Blair took in a deep breath and hesitated for a few seconds. "No, it's not my place to do that."
"But warning me was?"
"Honestly, that was more because of Josh. He's very adamant that it’s not a good idea for you and Chase to get together, but I'm not so sure."
"My mind is spinning right now. Why did you change gears so fast?"
Blair laughed softly. "I thought there was a real spark between the two of you already at the wedding. Mom agrees.”
“You two spoke about this?”
“Yep. Just a heads-up, but we talk about you a lot . Especially about how we can help you with the inn. You know we both sold the apartments Gran left us.”
“Yes, and you both need that money. Mom could finally retire, and you want to set up your own business.”
Blair was working at an interior design company, and she’d dreamed about striking out on her own for years.
“That doesn’t mean we can’t help.”
“Yes, it does. Let’s drop this, okay?”
“Then let’s get back to you and Chase. Kudos to Knox and Finn for setting up the dance. And then the fact that he showed up at the inn worrying for you, that sort of painted a different picture than the one Josh had in mind. I don't know. I have a good feeling about it."
"I was not expecting that," I said.
"Sis, I just want you to be happy."
"I hope things turn around, but I feel like they're about to, you know?"
"You know, things have a way of working out when we least expect it," Blair replied.
"You only say that because you met Josh."
"I know. But honestly, if anyone told me I would meet and marry a guy within four months, I would’ve told them they were drunk, yet here I am. But sometimes things happen unexpectedly, you know?"
"I know," I murmured. "Thanks for your support, sis."
"You deserve love, Hannah. You know that, right?”
"You think I don’t?"
"Sometimes when the people who are supposed to love us treat us like shit, we end up thinking that's exactly what we deserve."
I bit my lower lip. "That's not the case."
"Honey, you didn't date after your divorce."
"Yes, well, I wasn't ready. I'm still not sure if I am ready."
Blair laughed. "I like Chase even more."
"How come?" I asked.
"Because he declared himself your boyfriend when you're not even sure you can date. I mean, the man's got skills."
I grinned. "I agree."
"Have you heard back from any of the renovation companies?"
"No, not yet, but I've contacted new ones," I said. "Listen, I've got to go. I need to buy some supplies, okay?" My face exploded in a grin. "And Chase has a surprise for me tonight."
"Good for him. I don't think he spoke to Josh yet or I would've heard about it, but I'm going to butter up my husband so he doesn't... overreact when Chase finally tells him."
"Good plan," I said. "I love you."
"Love you too."
After hanging up, I finally stepped inside the store. I went straight to the home decor section and found some shelves quick enough. They were simple and white. The edge on one side was well worn, but they’d do. I wasn't picky.
As I paid for them, I thanked the heavens for thrift stores. Gran and I frequented them a lot when I was growing up. Every time something broke at the inn, we headed to yard sales and secondhand shops.
Grandpa had been great at reconditioning old furniture, and Gran often said that she preferred to give a new lease on life to old things rather than buying new stuff. I quite agreed.
Once I stepped out of the store, I looked up and down the street, wondering what kind of car Chase was about to send. I should’ve asked him so I knew what to look out for.
I was holding my shelves in my arms. They were a foot long, and I looked a bit ridiculous. Then I saw Chase's Mercedes pull up in front of me. The window to the passenger seat was down, and sure enough, he was behind the wheel.
"Hey, I thought you were sending someone for me."
"I was, but I finished earlier and came myself. I figured that would buy me more time with you."
He stepped out of the car, and I smiled in delight. "You bought me flowers."
"Damn right, I did."
"They are gorgeous." He was holding a mix of pink azaleas and white asters. I couldn't even remember the last time I'd gotten flowers.
He took the shelves from me as I took the flowers from him. I pressed them to my chest.
"These are for me?" I murmured in awe.
"Of course. What are these?” he asked, raising the shelves.
"I needed some shelves for my bathroom, and Goodwill helped me out in a pinch."
He stopped and looked over my shoulder, frowning when he saw the sign but didn't say anything as he put the shelves on the back seat. Was he ashamed that I was shopping at Goodwill?
He opened the door in the front for me, and I sat inside.
"Want me to put the flowers in the back?" he asked.
I pressed them to my chest even tighter. "No, they're mine. I want to smell them."
He laughed. "Damn, you're cute. I'll buy you flowers every day if they make you so happy."
I smiled, putting my seat belt on. I didn't know how to explain that it wasn't the flowers that made me happy but that he'd gotten me something. He'd been thinking about me. That was special and something I didn’t overlook.
He got into the car, and we drove off right away.
"I spoke to Blair, by the way," I told him.
“How did she take it?"
"She actually likes you. She was happy. Apparently, she and Mom have been talking about this a lot. They’re both excited. Now, tell me where we're going."
He winked at me. "I'm taking you on the rooftop to see the sunset."
My heart gave a mighty sigh. I had to fight against my impulse to press the flowers to my chest even harder because I’d ruin them. To be fair, I actually wanted to hug the living daylights out of Chase.
"I can't wait," I said.
Fifteen minutes later, Chase parked in front of a white building with three stories.
"What is this?" I asked, stepping out. It looked like a residential area. "Whatever it is, the view is amazing."
"It's my loft."
Understanding dawned on me, and I grinned. I had to tease him. "How convenient. The rooftop is above your apartment, huh?"
"Yep."
"You're good at getting in my pants." I winked.
He stepped toward me, taking the flowers and putting them on the front seat, then kissed me against the car long and deep. I nearly jumped him right there in the parking lot. With a groan, he finally pulled back.
"Let's go up,” he said. "We don't want to miss the sunset."
Oh, Chase . He'd bought me flowers, was taking me on the rooftop, and remembered I wanted to see the sunset. Even though his mind was definitely in the gutter... he was a winner.