Page 66 of Once Upon a Summer Night

Her answer was too quick, her shifted gaze belying the truth.

“Is there someone else?” he asked. “Someone waiting for you back west?”

She snorted. “No, of that I can assure you.”

“Then what is it? Last weekend you were fine with where things were going between us. More than fine.” Images of her in his bed flooded his mind. Of her smiles, her cries of delight, her sighs. Worry entered his thoughts. “Did I…do something wrong? Did I hurt you?”

“No, honey. No. I told you; this is all because of me and my screwed-up brain.”

“You’d tell me if I did?” At her nod, he studied her for a long moment. If that was the case, then what went wrong? Lightning darted across the sky, illuminating the dim space. That’s when the lightbulb in his brain clicked on. “They called you, didn’t they.”

“Who?”

“The Kankakee fire department, about that job.”

Her gaze shifted away as a rumble of thunder rang out. “Maybe.”

Another thing you didn’t tell me. “Is that the real reason you drove all the way home on Tuesday?”

“No.” Her chin rose. “I told you; I had paperwork to gather for the attorney’s questionnaire.”

“But you had an interview while you were there, didn’t you?”

A stubborn set appeared in her jaw. Stubborn, just like her father.

“Let me guess, they offered it to you, too.”

“No.” Another crack of lightning lit the sky.

“But they will.” He raised his arms in question. “Doesn’t mean we have to stop seeing each other.”

She looked away. “I told you, Chase. It just can’t work, you and me being together.”

“But it is!”

“No, it isn’t. I know it’s hard to accept, but—”

He closed the distance between them on a growl, grasping her arms in his hands. “Why are you trying so hard to put an end to something that has the potential to be so unbelievably amazing? You feel it too—Iknowyou do.”

“I don—”

“Stop with the lies, Han. You can get away with telling them to anyone else, but not with me.I know you better.”

Her look of remorse shifted to one of mild rage. She shook free from his grasp. “Fine, you want the truth? The truth is I want it all and I can’t have it, okay? The job, the man, the town, all of it. So, instead of dragging this out and making it worse for us both, I’m cutting the tether and setting you free.”

“Well, how noble of you. Only problem with that is, maybe I don’t want to be free!”

“No? Well, maybe this will change your mind: I don’t want a long-distance relationship. So, unless you’re planning to pack your bags and head home with me, like I said before, this isn’t going to work.”

Chase took a step back, her confession rendering him momentarily speechless.

“You…won’t even give it a try?”

Hannah shook her head. “You told me I deserve to be happy, so that’s what I’m choosing.”

“Why is it that every time you choose to be happy, I end up getting my heart broken?”

She winced. When she spoke next, her voice was softer. “Don’t you see? You deserve better.”

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