Page 44 of Once Upon a Summer Night

“If you’re worried about people seeing,” he said, his tone sincere, “you’re welcome to duck down until we get out of downtown.”

“Didn’t care back in the day, and don’t really care now,” she said as he backed onto the street and turned north on Thayer. “Besides, who around here would even be awake and outside at this hour?”

“Good point. All the night owls are probably still down at the Tipsy Barrel.”

He drove a few blocks before turning west onto Liberty. Mia’s dark house stood a short ways ahead, and Chase joked that she’d probably been asleep for hours. Hannah laughed softly. Her oldest sister had never been one to stay up late. But the sound died in her throat as they passed by Mia’s and drew upon the house just past it, where a puff of white hair floating above a pink housecoat and matching slippers rocked in a chair on its front porch.

“Guess I spoke too soon,” Chase said, waving to Margaret Harper as they passed. The old woman tipped her head in their direction, smiling as her wise eyes watched them go. “Don’t worry, she won’t tell anyone.”

Hannah threw him a look. “This is Mrs. Harper, we’re talking about.”

“I meant she won’t tell anyone besides your sisters, who will find out soon enough.” He grimaced. “Hopefully, they don’t spill to your dad just yet.”

“Hopefully not.” She drew in a deep breath, held it for a moment, then let it out. “But if they do, oh well.”

Chase looked over to her, brows raised. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. Like you said, word will get out soon enough anyway. I never hid sneaking out to see you before, why start now? Besides, he might as well get used to seeing us together again.” She squeezed his hand. “Together, together.”

Chase lifted her hand to his lips. “Not gonna lie, I kinda like the sound of that.”

A shiver raced down her arm. Yes, going public was going to take some getting used to, but after what they’d shared together tonight, Hannah felt her courage boosted. The tricky part would be in seeing just how long it lasted.

“Me, too.”

*

Chase survived hisshift at OBF Saturday, even with Del walking around grinning like a damn fool the whole time. As expected, Margaret Harper had dropped a text to both Del and Mia about seeing Chase and Hannah drive by in the wee hours of the morning. Turning onto Liberty had been his mistake, but he’d been tired and on autopilot—it was his normal route to OBF and the neighboring Brooks homestead. He walked into their shop and received a prompt fist bump and congratulations before uttering a single word. Mia texted a short while later, her message nothing more than a collection of hearts and fingers-crossed emoji.

Yeah, he knew they would be supportive of him dating their sister. Now to give their aunt a heads-up and then have a heart-to-heart with the chief. Heck, maybe Faye could help smooth things over with him before Chase arrived. Or at least put Stephen’s shotgun out of reach before then.

Hopefully, Hannah was right about him being the chief’s golden boy—it might be his only saving grace.

As much as he was craving an encore performance with Hannah, he knew how important it was to give her the time she needed with Noah. So, instead of popping over to the farm when his shift ended midday, he went home and grabbed a catnap before mowing his yard. They texted throughout the day, each time her words bringing a smile to his face. Things were going better than he could have imagined.

Of course, he wasn’t in the station five minutes Sunday morning before the razzing started, thanks to Austin and his big mouth. Not that it bothered Chase any. His bigger concern, though, was them teasing Hannah. He also didn’t want it getting back to the chief before he’d had a chance to talk to him and he told his colleagues as much. Thankfully, their teasing turned to affirmation, and all promised not to give Hannah too hard of a time or spill the beans to the chief.

Which meant he needed to make a trip to the farm to get the chief’s blessing on dating his youngest daughter before anyone slipped up.

He texted Hannah after lunch to check in on her and was all smiles when she FaceTimed him instead of texting back. Was even more tickled to see it was Noah’s face on camera, who couldn’t wait to tell Chase about all the help he’d given Hannah around the farm. Man, he adored that kid. When the alarm sounded at their station, Chase promised to stop by and see them both tomorrow before he hung up. Truly, he couldn’t wait.

Two fender benders and a small charcoal grill fire later, Chase collapsed onto his bunk and let his eyelids drift shut, the weekend finally catching up with him. And for the first time in ages, he fell right to sleep—proof that Hannah was indeed good for his soul. He woke refreshed and feeling ready to take on the world.

A good thing, as it was time for that heart-to-heart with one Stephen Brooks.

Chase stuck around the station until Hannah got there, passed off his report from the prior shift, then snuck a quick peck to her cheek before sliding out for the day. He didn’t bother calling the chief to see if he was up yet; the man never slept in past six. Chase did, however, make sure to stop at the Sweet Mash before visiting Brooks Farm, armed with a double order of sausage gravy and biscuits. Hopefully, he wouldn’t soon be wearing it.

On a single knock, he stepped in through the back door, the Brooks family long ago insisting he enter like the rest of them. Faye was absent from the kitchen, having already headed downtown to open the bookstore, but the chief was seated on a chair in the adjoining dining room, his cast leg propped on a nearby stool. He was studying the newspaper before him with a pencil in hand and reading glasses perched on the end of his nose. Without having to look, Chase knew he was working on today’s crossword puzzle.

“Breakfast delivery on a Monday? Something must have gone sideways down at the station,” Stephen said, discarding his glasses. “Good thing I’m already sitting down.”

“Nope, nothing went wrong at the station. In fact, things have been running smoothly since we received some additional help.” Chase set the carryout bag on the table and went to fetch plates and utensils.Still wish you’d given me a heads-up about that.

“Then what’s the special occasion?”

Chase pulled open the silverware drawer. Opted to bypass the knives. “Just thought now would be a good time to catch up. Noah over at Mia’s?”

“Yep. Faye drops him off there on her way in, then brings him home with her at lunchtime. Gotta get our afternoon checkers game in, you know.”

---