Never Let Me Go (Welcome To Redemption) (7 page)

Chase glowered at her. “Don’t be a wise ass, Dimples. Not now.”

She opened her smart mouth to reply, but then Drew started talking again.

“Yeah, I guess we’ll have to, though I really hate for you to miss your seminar.”

At that, Hannah pulled from his arms and rushed into the kitchen. Chase followed behind, surprised to find her standing with her hand hovering indecisively over the receiver.

Deciding enough was enough, he reached around her and answered the phone. “Drew, you there? It’s Chase.”

Hannah leaned against the wall

“Chase? Hey, man, what’s going on? Where’s my sister?”

Christ, how he hated having to lie. “Sorry. We were out on the back porch and didn’t hear the phone right away. She’s coming.”

“So, what happened? Charlie told me two guys robbed the diner at gunpoint and Hutch and Max were both hurt. But that was
two nights
ago, why hasn’t Hannah called?” After a slight pause, he added, “And what the hell are you doing there? Did something happen? Is Hannah all right?”

Chase cleared his throat, the taste of Hannah still lingering on his lips. “She’s fine, man, I promise. She didn’t call because she didn’t want to worry you guys and have you cut your trip short.”

“And you agreed to that crazy notion?”

“Excuse me, but have you met your sister? She’s almost as stubborn as you are. I tried reasoning with her—”

“Don’t talk about me like I’m not here!”

“—but she was pretty adamant. She knew if she called, you guys would’ve rushed home. Your dad would’ve missed his seminar, and Lindy’s visit with her parents would be cut short. I didn’t like it, but her heart was in the right place. So I agreed…but only if she allowed me to stay at the house until you guys got back.”

Hannah closed her eyes and stretched her neck from side to side as if preparing for the coming storm. Chase braced himself as well.

Drew was silent for a moment before letting out a hearty sigh. “Charlie failed to mention that part. Though I guess you can’t get any safer than having the sheriff under your roof. And you’re one of the few people I know who wouldn’t take advantage of the situation, so thanks.”

Chase’s faced prickled with shame as he cast Hannah a sidelong glance.

Lowering his voice, Drew continued. “Lindy’s been a bit emotional since we arrived; crying while flipping through old photo albums with her mom, dragging all of her old baby stuff out of storage. I really would hate to cut the trip short.”

“Then don’t. I’ve got things covered here, and I swear I won’t let Hannah out of my sight. You just enjoy your trip and keep that lady of yours happy.”

“You’re a good man, Chase.”

You wouldn’t think so if you could see what you interrupted,
Chase thought as he handed Hannah the phone.

Chapter 6

It wasn’t until Hannah hung up the phone that she realized Chase had left the room. Eager to get back to where they were before the phone rang, she hurried into the living room, expecting to find him on the sofa waiting for her. Only he wasn’t there.

“Chase?” When he didn’t answer, she called his name again, a bit louder. Still no answer.

Huh.
Now where could he have gone off to?

It wasn’t until she’d checked the entire house that she started to worry. She rushed into the kitchen and grabbed the phone to call his cell, and that’s when she caught a glimpse of him through the window, sitting on the glider out back on the patio. Relief came out on a hard breath as she once again returned the phone to its cradle.

He didn’t look up when she opened the sliding glass door. Sitting forward with his elbows on knees and his hands clasped, his expression was hard to gauge.

“Penny for your thoughts,” she teased as she approached. She sat down beside him and slid her hand across his thigh, giving it a playful squeeze.

Chase gently grasped her hand and placed it on her own lap.

“Chase…?” Hannah leaned back, turning to face him. “What’s wrong?”

He remained oddly quiet, and she was just about to demand an answer when he looked up and met her gaze.

“Look, Hannah…I lost my head in there and took advantage of the situation. I want you to know that I respect you more than just about anyone I know, and I am so sorry for—”

“Whoa, hold up. Are you apologizing for what you said to Drew? Because believe me, I understand why you had to lie. My brother can be a real hard ass sometimes.”

“No, you misunderstand. I’m apologizing for kissing you. It shouldn’t have happened. You were vulnerable. I took advantage of the situation, and I am sorrier than I can say.”

Confusion gripped her as his words sank in. “
I
kissed
you
, Sheriff, not the other way around. If anyone should be sorry it’s me. And for the record, I’m not.” She reached up and caressed his face.

Again, Chase grasped her hand, only this time he held on. Regret etched his brow, and a sinking feeling grew in the pit of her stomach.

Her face heated with embarrassment as the truth dawned on her. Chase didn’t want her; he’d simply been humoring her. Or maybe he…Hannah yanked her hand free and shot to her feet.

“Is this about Jimmy? You brought him up several times tonight, and your disgust was pretty clear…Are you repulsed by me because—”

“Of course not,” he quickly denied, seeming genuinely stunned by the question. “It’s not like I haven’t hooked up with a few less than…upstanding ladies.”

“Then what is it, Chase? Is this about the woman you’re interested in? Is it more serious than you let on?”

He leaned back against the metal glider and let out a hearty sigh. “There is no other woman.”

The argument she’d been about to launch on her own behalf died on her lips as his confession sank in. “Okay, now I’m confused. What’s this all about? I’m afraid I’m going to need you to spell it out for me.”

“Dammit, Hannah. Drew trusts me to take care of you, to look after you. And what was I doing when he called to check up on you? I was practically ravishing you on the damn couch!”

Hannah grinned over his word choice.

Chase waggled a finger in her face. “Don’t even say it.”

She bit her lips, but a smile stretched her cheeks.

He swiped a hand through his hair and gave his head a ‘what am I going to do with you?’ shake. “Hannah, I don’t know what would have happened if Drew hadn’t called, but I do know it can’t happen again.”

Her smile faded. “Why? Is this about Drew? You’re one of his closest friends, so I know—”

Chase shot to his feet and turned to face her, his expression grim, resigned.
 

Hannah’s breath caught. She’d never seen quite that look on his face before and it scared her.

“I don’t want to hurt you, Hannah. I think the world of you; I always have. But I…I don’t think about you that way. I mean, hell, you’re beautiful and sexy and any man would be lucky to have you, but—”

“Any man but you?” she countered, her chest tight with repressed hurt and confusion.

He reached out as if to clasp her hand, but she stepped back out of his reach.

“You’re like a little sister to me, dammit,” he all but choked out, the lie bitter on his lips. “I would hate to ruin what we have by jumping into bed together.”

Hannah could only stare at him, no cohesive thoughts forming in her brain. She’d known the truth about this man, yet she’d thrown caution—and her good sense—right out the window at the first sign he might be interested. Only she’d misinterpreted those signs and made a complete frickin’ fool of herself.
Well, lesson learned.

She gave a decisive nod. “You’re right. And let’s be honest, most of the blame falls to me. I’ve been lonely, I’m still a little freaked out over what happened last night, and I drank a lot more wine than I should have. You’re as comfortable as an old pair of shoes, so I turned to you for comfort. The wrong kind. If anything, I’m the one who owes you an apology.”

“Hannah—”

“If you plan to follow me to work tomorrow, I’ll be leaving the house at five-thirty. ‘Night, Sheriff.”

With as much dignity as she could muster, Hannah strode into the house and headed up to bed. Somehow, she managed to hold the tears at bay until safely ensconced in her room.

* * *

Breakfast—if one could call two cups of coffee and a handful of dry cereal breakfast—was eaten in complete silence, and for that, Hannah was grateful. The last thing she wanted to do after last night’s lesson in humility was make small talk with the teacher.

Chase did follow Hannah to the diner the following morning, though once Miles showed up, he headed off to the station, but not before leaving explicit instructions to call him at the slightest sign of trouble. Hannah gave a curt nod before effectively dismissing him.

The day flew by at record speed thanks to her muddled thoughts, and she managed to make more mistakes by noon than she had during her very first month on the job. She repeatedly delivered the wrong plates to the wrong tables, refilled coffee cups with decaf instead of regular, and vice versa. Mrs. Langhardt had to ask her for ketchup no less than three times, and Hannah spilled not one, but two bowls of soup on the floor.

And because news spread through Redemption faster than a flu virus, everybody assumed the robbery was reason behind her odd behavior. Which was sort of a blessing, she supposed. Having the town folk eye her with concern was a sight less humiliating than having them pity her over Chase’s lack of interest.

By the time three o’clock rolled around, Hannah was more than ready to get out of there and head home. With any luck, Chase would be busy with work the rest of the night, and she could curl up on the sofa with a mug of tea and a good book. Lindy’s latest romance novel sat on Hannah’s nightstand, and she’s been itching to crack it open.

She had just locked the doors to the diner when Chase pulled up in his squad car, Officer Donovan sitting beside him in the passenger’s seat. Both were in uniform and wore mirrored sunglasses. With reluctance, Hannah turned to face them. Mike lifted his shades and winked at her, easing the tension a bit. She winked right back, then, careful not to make eye contact with Chase, asked, “Working on anything interesting?”

It was Chase who responded. “Some lab work we’ve been waiting on finally came in. As soon as we escort you to the bank and then home, we’re heading back to the station. I’d like you to stay put until I get there. Shouldn’t be any later than six.”

Annoyed by his heavy-handed attitude, Hannah straightened and bit the inside of her cheek to keep a nasty reply from tumbling out of her mouth. She dug her keys from her purse and somehow managed to meet his gaze with a semblance of decorum.

“Miles dropped off the deposit on his way home, so you guys can head back to the station right now. I’ll go straight home, as instructed. It’s broad daylight, so no need for an escort.”

Chase pushed his shades up and eyeballed her with barely concealed frustration. “Just remember what I said: don’t leave the house. You can be as pissed at me as you like, but my only concern is your safety.”

With a curt nod, she slung her purse over her shoulder, said goodbye to Mike, and got the hell out of there.

Once home, Hannah took a nice long shower, poured herself a glass of lemonade, and got comfy on the sofa with Lindy’s latest novel. But thanks to a certain sexy cop’s hot and cold attitude, she had a hard time getting into a romantic mood. With a sigh of frustration, she tossed the book on the end table and leaned her head back, suddenly feeling liked a caged animal.

The phone rang, and after letting it go to voicemail, Hannah nearly squealed with relief when her friend Shar’s voice filled the room.

“Hey, girl, I haven’t heard from you in days—how the hell are you? I heard about the diner sitch from my dad. Holy shit, are you all right? Call me, please. Or better yet, stop by when—”

Hannah snatched up the cordless. “Hey, I’m here.”

“Hannah, oh, my God, I can’t believe what happened! Are you all right? I heard Hutch was hurt pretty bad; Max Frazier, too.”

“I’m fine and so is Max, thankfully. He’s a tough kid. Hutch is in the hospital, but they should be releasing him soon. He’s going to stay with Lauren and Caleb for a few days, just ’til he’s back on his feet. ”

“Well, that’s a relief. I love that old man. Did they catch the assholes who did it?”

Hannah grinned. Sharlet Russo did not mince words. “Not yet. But you know Chase. He won’t rest until both guys are behind bars.” Though he may be a clueless jerk when it came to the opposite sex, Chase was an amazing police officer.

“I bet he won’t.” Her tone turned sly. “I heard he raced into Hutch’s and swept you off your feet. Sounds like maybe that man has a thing for you after all.”

“He was concerned, that’s all. Can we please change the subject?”

Shar laughed. “Ah, it’s like that, is it? I have an idea. Why don’t you hop in your car and come hang out for a while. You can tell me all about whatever it is you don’t want to talk about.”