Page 131 of Rebel Bride
Was that a footstep?
A figure appeared at the end of the path leading to the not-pool house. Hatch emerged from the shadows, looking seriously grumpy.
“Why aren’t you in Rockford?”
“My internship ended yesterday. I drove to Chicago to see you today.”
“Well, I drove to Rockford to see you.”
“You did?”
“I wanted to surprise you. Then Addy called me and said you were here.”
“She told me you had come here.”
He smirked. “Well, I didn’t want anyone to know I was going to see you, so I told everyone I was heading to Saugatuck for a little pre-season R&R. I’m tired of everyone knowing my business.”
He came closer, and just the sight of him in the firelight had my heart clattering wildly. His face was tan, his hair a little long, his eyes—sparkling, if somewhat irked that I couldn’t for the life of me make it easy on him. Typical Summer.
“You’re here,” I breathed.
“I am.” He held out his hand. “Let’s go for a drive.”
As my palm curled around his, I wanted to squee, but I was also too nervous. I shouldn’t have been. After all, we’d taken decisive steps toward this moment. Both of us moving toward our destinies, another chance at redemption.
He opened the passenger side door of the SUV and helped me inside. On the road, neither of us spoke. I knew where we were going: a place that had history for us, where we had come together in explosive fireworks. Once parked, it was second nature to allow him to hoist me on the hood. He climbed up and wrapped the blanket around my shoulders.
“Still beautiful,” I said, gazing at the lake.
“Sure is.”
I turned to find him looking at me with that trademark Hatch intensity. “Still corny.”
“Hey, it’s a romance classic.”
We were here, where it all started, and I hoped, not where it would end.
“How did your internship go?”
“I learned so much. I felt like my work really made a difference.”
He smiled. “I’m happy for you. You deserve to have your hard work recognized.”
I reached for his bruised jaw. “Dash hit you.” Addy had told me and I couldn’t resist touching the evidence.
“I had it coming.”
“I didn’t talk to him after the article came out. I thought I should but then … I realized I can’t keep apologizing. I can only do what will make me happy.”
He turned to me, his eyes shining with so much hope it almost broke me.
“Your career—that makes you happy. I get that, and I’m sorry I tried to fix it my way.”
“No, please. You were trying to do right by me. It might not have been the best method, but the intention was lovely. I overreacted. Lauren told me about your contract. How you made signing it contingent on getting me into the internship.” I shook my head. “She was not pleased.”
His lips curved. “I signed anyway. Ryder had made a good faith effort to honor my request. And I wanted to stay in Chicago.”
This guy. “But you did that. For me.”
