Page 66 of Just One Kiss

"Absolutely."

"Thank you." She turned to him. "Good night, Jake."

He stood up. "I'll see you to your car."

Both Katherine and Hannah looked surprised by his words, but neither one argued, so he followed Katherine down the hall and out of the house. He walked her all the way to her vehicle.

She opened the door and then looked at him. "Why?" she asked.

"Why did I walk you to the car?"

"Why did you hurt Hannah? I thought you were in love with her."

His gut twisted at the question. "It wasn't intentional. I was going through a bad time, and I made a lot of mistakes in one night."

"I know about mistakes, and I'm sure you find it ironic that I would have the nerve to judge you when I've probably done worse things."

"I understand that you want to protect your daughter. I actually respect that."

"I didn't always protect her. I didn't take care of her the way I should have. But I'm trying to be a better person now." She took a breath. "I guess it annoys me that she's willing to give you a second chance but not me."

"Isn't she giving you a second chance?" he countered. "We just had dinner together. It seems like you and Hannah are getting along."

"Because of Brett."

"Whatever the reason, it's a start."

"I hope so. You don't just want to be Hannah's friend, do you?"

"No, I want to be more," he admitted.

"You're going to have to earn it. My daughter doesn't forgive easily."

"I know that. I'm willing to do whatever it takes."

"I used to think you were good for Hannah—until you weren't."

"I used to think the same thing about you," he returned.

Katherine drew in a quick breath as his comment hit home, and he kicked himself for probably going too far, but then she surprised him.

"Fair point," she said. "Let's both try to do better where Hannah is concerned."

"Sounds good to me."

"Good night, Jake." Katherine slid into her car and closed the door.

He stepped back as she drove away, relieved to have the conversation end on a positive note. He didn’t want to be another obstacle between mother and daughter. Hopefully, Katherine wouldn't put him in that position.

When he returned to the house, he went into the kitchen and saw the door leading to the garage open. As he entered the garage, he saw Hannah wrestling to get a big box off a shelf while Brett was already looking through another box on the ground.

He was almost to Hannah when he saw the box about to tumble down on top of her head. He grabbed it in the split second before it took her down.

"Thanks," she said with a breathless smile. "I thought I could manage it myself."

"You always think that," he said with a grin. "You hate asking for help."

"I do. But you keep showing up in the nick of time."

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