Page 79 of Stolen Kisses

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?”

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