Page 38 of Just One Kiss

"That's Hannah, not me. I'm on the receiving end of those daggers."

"True. But you earned every one of them, Jake. And I don't want you to hurt her again. Whatever you have in mind, you better think long and hard about it," Keira warned. "Or you'll have me to deal with, and I won't be throwing imaginary daggers."

"I get it. And you can believe me when I say the last thing I want to do is hurt Hannah."

She gave him an assessing look. "Okay. But you do know there's a good chance she could hurt you, right? Our Hannah doesn't forgive or forget—not easily anyway."

"Well, I don't like it when things are too easy. I'll see you around." Despite his cocky words, Keira's words rang through his head as he left the booth.

Was he chasing an impossible dream?Well, it wouldn't be the first time.

Chapter Ten

Hannah had just finished makingBrett breakfast Sunday morning when her doorbell rang. She was surprised and tense when she walked out of the kitchen and down the hallway. If it was Adam, it could be bad or good news. But it wasn't Adam; it was Jake, and while she was still surprised, the tension was much, much different.

"Good morning," he said with a smile that immediately sent butterflies through her stomach.

"What are you doing here?"

"I'm picking you and Brett up." He waved his hand toward his truck.

"To do what?"

"Go sledding. We're all meeting at Northstar for sledding, tubing, snowman building… Gianna set it up last week. Don't you remember?"

She frowned. She'd completely forgotten that Gianna had set up a group outing for today. "I don't think I can go."

"Why not?"

"I have Brett."

"Hailey and Leo will be there. It's a family-friendly day. You were planning to go, weren't you? Or were you waiting to see if I'd be showing up?" he challenged.

"You really don't factor into my decisions, Jake." She was beginning to realize how petty she'd been when it came to Jake. She was a little disappointed in herself. But that didn't mean she wanted to spend the day with him. While he might not be her mortal enemy anymore, she didn't really know what else she wanted him to be. Even now, she was feeling far too many tingles just standing a few feet away from him. And she still had to get through that date she promised him, which she planned on putting off as long as possible.

"Prove it," he said. "Come to the snow park with me."

"I don't have to prove anything to you."

He sighed, as if she were the most trying person in the world. "Everything is such a battle with you, Hannah. It will be fun. What else are you going to do? Sit around and worry about Kelly?"

He had a point. She didn't know what else she was going to do, but she would drive herself crazy and probably Brett, too, if she stuck around the house all day. "Fine, I'll go," she said slowly. "In fact, this could be our date."

Jake immediately shook his head. "No way. That's the two of us alone for a meal and at least one hour of conversation. Where's Brett?"

"He's having some oatmeal."

"Is that why it smells like cinnamon?"

"Maybe. But don't get too excited. It's out of a box."

"Any extra?"

"You seriously want oatmeal?"

"I seriously do," he said with a laugh, as he walked into the house and headed for the kitchen.

As soon as Brett saw Jake, he jumped out of his chair to give Jake a hug, reminding her of how good Jake had been with the kids waiting to see Santa. He'd always loved working with children—something she'd forgotten about him. Back when they were teenagers, he'd volunteered to coach youth leagues in football, soccer, and basketball, and he'd always been great with his little brother. If Paul had ever needed anything, Jake had been right there, even if it was just to tell him a silly joke or make him smile.

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