Page 40 of Once Upon a Summer Night

Judging by the energy humming around her, Chase guessed it’d been a hot minute since Hannah had had the chance to grab a drink away from home. As the others made their way across the room to join them, he hoped tonight would give her a chance to hit pause on parenting and unwind a little.

“Hey, pard, thanks for grabbing us a table.” Del slid into the booth on Chase’s other side, her boyfriend, Isaac, following suit. “Something tells me Max is going to have a packed house tonight.”

Chase watched another wave of patrons step in through the front door. “Something tells me you’re right.”

“Is that the new Cajun Jerk?” Mia asked, pointing to Chase’s drink as she and Alex slid in beside Hannah.

“No, but Max gave me a sample before you all arrived.” He leaned forward to meet Alex’s gaze. “Great call on the infusion. I told him it’ll be his next best seller.”

Alex’s smile widened. “Thanks. I was just thrilled he asked for my input. I mean, it’s one thing to sample and write about bourbons, but nothing beats being in the kitchen and getting to be a part of the actual process.”

“Or doing the sampling.” Isaac waggled his brows. “I got recruited for that part. Only burned half my taste buds this last time.”

They all laughed.

“So, what are you drinking?” Hannah asked, eyeing the amber liquid before Chase.

“One of Max’s citrus infusions. You’re welcome to try it.”

He nudged the glass in her direction, and she lifted it to her nose.

“Smells nice,” she said, then took a sip. “Oh, wow, that goes down smooth. Maybe a little too smooth.”

“Max’s drinks will catch up with you quick, that’s for sure,” said Del, who frowned at Mia’s subtle cough. “Yes, I learned that the hard way the summer before last. But I cleaned up the mess before anyone saw it.”

“Anyone except Mrs. Harper,” Mia said, grinning.

“You’re lucky she likes you so much,” Isaac added, “or it would have been all over town.”

Del shrugged. “Hey, I take care of her lawn, and she takes care of my reputation. It’s what good neighbors do.”

The group burst into laughter. A few minutes further into their conversation on interesting neighbors, Max’s longtime waitress, Lola, stopped by to take their orders. Everyone was quick to call out their selection except Hannah. She looked over the drink menu, worrying her lower lip.

“You’ve got a table full of people who will make sure you get home safe tonight,” Chase said. “Order whatever you like.”

“Okay, I’ll try what Chase’s having,” she said. “The citrus infusion.”

Lola nodded. “One Orange Barrel on ice, coming right up.”

“Is bourbon your go-to drink, Han?” Del asked.

She shrugged. “Can’t say I’ve ever ordered it before. I’m usually more of a Corona with lime kind of girl.”

Del offered her a fist bump. “Atta girl. Next time you’re over, you can give my Landshark a try. They’re way better than that Miller Lite Isaac used to drink.”

Her beau looked to the ceiling. “Everyone’s a critic.”

More laughter rang out. Chase watched Hannah, that smile making her all the more beautiful. For as wary as she’d seemed earlier about not wanting to stoke the rumor mill, so far, she was holding her own just fine. He prayed for all their sakes that would continue.

“Just remember what Del said,” Mia warned. “Max’s bourbons taste wonderful, but they can sure sneak up on you.”

Hannah grinned. “Oh, it’s going to take way more than one tiny drink to mess me up, Sis. But I appreciate the warning.”

*

After growing upin the Brooks home, Hannah should have known to listen to her oldest sister’s advice—it wasn’t long before she realized that when it came to Max’s drinks, just onecoulddo some damage to a person not used to drinking hard liquor. Or much liquor at all lately, as was her case. A little cheap wine now and then clearly had done nothing to maintain her tolerance to alcohol.

The others hadn’t been around during her early twenties experimentation days, or the many hangovers that followed. Then again, it’d been a few years since she’d gone on any real benders. Once Noah had gotten old enough to ask why Hannah didn’t look so good as she prayed to the porcelain gods the next morning, she’d dialed back the frequency and intensity of her wild nights.

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