Page 39 of Once Upon a Summer Night

A smile blossomed on her face. “Great idea. Thanks, Captain.”

“Here, let me find her number for you.”

Chase stepped around the desk to reach for the computer mouse and search for their phone directory, which put his face within inches of hers. As he scrolled for Mildred’s extension, he drew in a slow inhale of her lilac scent. “So, have you thought any more about tonight?”

“Tonight? What’s happening tonight?”

Before the sting of disappointment bit him too deeply, her lips pulled into a teasing grin.

“Sorry, still trying to get even with you for knocking my socks off with that kiss in here the other day.” She laughed. “Yes, I thought more about going to the Tipsy Barrel with you all tonight. And before I could even ask if anyone was available to watch Noah, Mia informed me that Brooklyn was staying over at the farm tonight on babysitting duty.”

Thank goodness for meddling older sisters.“So, that’s a, yes?”

“That’s a yes.” She winced. “I do feel a little bad, being gone from Noah so much in a single day, though.”

Chase straightened and leaned against the desk to face her. “I’ve heard Mia saying the same thing about Brooklyn. And you know what your aunt told her?”

Hannah shook her head.

“That a person can’t pour from an empty cup. Sometimes, you need a break to replenish. Between here, the farm, Noah, and the bookstore, you’ve been mostly work and minimal play.”

“True. And we did get to spend the afternoon together on the farm yesterday.” Hannah ran a hand over her short hair. “I just don’t want him feeling forgotten, you know? Especially with everything going on. I mean, what if this custody thing gets messy and they call him up on the stand and ask about our home life, and he tells them about all the time he’s spending with everyone but me?”

Chase offered her a gentle smile. “Trust me, with Brooklyn and your father and aunt there to hang out with him, he’s not going to feel forgotten. Besides, you’ll have all weekend with him, right? If you don’t allow yourself some downtime, it’s sure to catch up with you. So let me help make sure that doesn’t happen.”

“Okay,” she said. “Just don’t let me get too lazy, all right?”

He laughed. “Like that would ever happen.”

Even so, he heard the worry in her words. Hannah was clearly struggling to strike a balance between responsibilities she believed she owed to everyone, herself included. Which made it even more important for Chase and the others to show her a good time tonight. One awesome evening on the town was sure to help recharge her batteries.

Hopefully, it would also move her one step closer to staying in Bourbon Falls for good.

Chapter Ten

Chase arrived atthe Tipsy Barrel long before the Brooks’s entourage, determined to snag one of the wide, semicircle booths along the far wall. Max Williams, the pub’s owner, stopped by to chat it up with him before the main crowd arrived. They’d played baseball together back at Triton High, and Chase and the other firemen had been regulars at the pub for years.

“Any new concoctions in that kitchen of yours?” Chase asked.

Max, who had begun distilling flavor-infused bourbons a few years back, grinned. “Funny you should ask. Been working on a new one this spring after doing some brainstorming with Alex. Got a little Cajun zing to it. Wanna give it a try?”

“Heck yeah,” Chase said. He hadn’t planned on drinking much tonight, but a shot of liquid courage this early in the evening couldn’t hurt. The sample Max brought him was full of flavor and sent a pleasant warmth down his throat. A warmth that quickly magnified afterward.

“That’s gonna be your next best seller, man. Definitely got a kick to it. Might want to put a warning on the label to pair with ice or a foot of snow.”

Max laughed. “I’ll talk to our label designer and see what we can come up with.”

Chase ordered a glass of citrus-infused bourbon over ice, then settled in to people watch until the others arrived. He’d just taken his first sip when an angel wearing a pale-green top, fitted white capris, and strappy sandals that showed off painted pink toes stepped through the front door.

His angel.

It was all Chase could do to stay seated rather than rush across the floor, scoop her up, and take her back to his place. But tonight wasn’t about him or his needs—it was about helping Hannah relax and have a good time. As her sisters and their beaux filed in behind her, Chase raised a hand to signal them over. Hannah hurried over while the others stalled, chatting with a few locals at the bar rail.

“Hey there,” Hannah said, sliding into the booth to sit beside him, eyes bright with excitement. “Why didn’t you tell me this place was so cool?”

He looked around at the old-school train- and bourbon-inspired decor, trying to see it through her eyes. “I guess I just take its coolness for granted. Didn’t you have any local bars like this out in Lafayette? I mean, Purdue was right next door, and they’re all about trains. And Kankakee has lots of train stuff, too, right?”

“Well, not that I ever went into a barunderageor anything,” Hannah said on a wink, “but yeah, Lafayette had some cool places. And the bars out in Kankakee I hit with my work buddies now and then are just hole-in-the-wall neighborhood joints. Nothing like this.”

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