Page 34 of Once Upon a Summer Night

“Bet you’re glad you went inside and made up with your dad after all, huh?”

She nodded, her gaze downcast. “I just hope it will all work out in the end. I mean, I feel kinda bad, uprooting Noah from our town and then leaving him with various family members while I work to fulfill my end of the deal.”

“Hannah, look at your boy,” Chase said softly, his gaze leading hers to the playground. Noah was on the swing set, all smiles as he chatted it up with a little girl swinging to his right, and a little boy swinging to his left. “Nothing about his expression says he feels sad or uprooted. In fact, every time I’ve seen him since you guys got here, he’s looked happy and comfortable in his new surroundings.”

A smile tugged at her pink lips as she watched him across the way. “He has done really well. Not eating the best, but that’s an everyday struggle.” She sighed. “I just don’t want his heart broken when we head back west.”

I don’t want mine broken if that happens, either.“Then don’t go back.”

She smirked. “You say that like it’s a real option.”

“Isn’t it? He’s happy here. You’re happy here. Everything’s within walking distance.”

“Not from Brooks Farm!” She laughed.

“It is when you live in town like me.”With mewas what he wanted to say.

“But I need a job to stay, Chase. Right now, my position is temporary.”

“Then get a job in town. Or, better yet, go work for your aunt at the bookstore.” He bumped his elbow into hers.

“It has been kinda fun, working there in the afternoons. Brought back a lot of good memories. But Aunt Faye can’t afford to pay me what I need to make to support Noah. Besides,” she added with a grin, “I love fighting fires.”

To that, he could relate. But the money part was a nonissue; he could take care of them both if she’d let him. And that was what tonight was really all about—starting to help her see that the three of them could be more than just buddies. So much more. He dug into the bag she’d carried and produced a Nerf football.

“I do, too. I also love playing catch.” He tossed her the ball. “Join me?”

A mischievous grin tugged at her lips. “You actually going to be able to catch my spiral this time?”

“This time?” He caught her first toss then stepped farther away to throw a perfect spiral back. Hannah was playing with fire—the Nerf variety—and she knew it. “Pfft, I should be asking the same of you.”

The smack of the football landing in her hands took him back in time. How many afternoons had they played catch at this very park? He’d tried tossing the football around with Del at work during a slow time or two, but it just hadn’t been the same. No one had ever been able to replace his Hannah.

He’d decided long ago that no one ever could.

They quickly fell into their old routine, telling stories about their day in between throws and catches. After a little while, Noah came to join their game, which gradually turned into a round of keep-away from Hannah. Boys versus girl, which Noah found quite funny. And Hannah, being the good sport that she was, played right along.

This is what it feels like to be a family.

The thought caught Chase out of left field. Temporarily stunned, he dove belatedly for Noah’s final pass and tumbled to the grass. Hannah snatched up the loose ball and laughed as she danced around them on a victory lap. With a groan, Noah collapsed beside Chase, his forehead damp with sweat.

“Aw, man, we lost.”

Chase propped himself up on one elbow, his gaze on Hannah but his voice low. “Yeah, but sometimes you gotta let the ladies win.”

“Why?”

She planted a hand on one hip, eyes narrowed at their secret bro chat. The stance made her look even more kissable than before. He looked to Noah on a grin. “So they’ll want to keep playing.”

The trio headed back to his place for grilled burgers, potato salad, chips, and fruit. Despite Hannah’s earlier claims, Noah ate like a champ. His belly full, he dropped down into Chase’s giant beanbag chair in the living room to watch cartoons while the adults cleaned up. Smokey curled up beside him, and within minutes, Noah was fast asleep.

“I think we wore him out,” Hannah said, following Chase into the kitchen with the last of their dinner plates.

He took them from her and loaded them into the dishwasher. “Yeah, he’ll sleep well tonight.”

“Me, too,” she said with a soft laugh, leaning against his countertop. “That keep-away game was exhausting.”

“That’s what happens when you have a tough opponent.” Chase closed the dishwasher, then came to stand before her. “Heaven forbid you go easy on me.”

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