“Come on, take a chance,” he encouraged. “I’ll even throw in an evening of sleeping on the porch during a thunderstorm. You haven’t lived until you experience it.”
“I won’t have to worry about it if you make me eat that,” she said, nodding toward his hand.
Cole sighed. “I’m not giving up.”
“I’m not giving in,” she sang, making him chuckle. He finished his dinner and collected their plates.
Hannah put everything in the dishwasher while he wiped the table.
“Have you finished with Tad and Vera’s story? I gotta know, did she find her own pole to climb on or did she take Tad and his hose back?” he asked, making her giggle.
“Scarlett doesn’t have a knack for romance books. She’s really into the bloody, murder, who dun it, kinda genres,” Hannah informed him. “I appreciate her taking the time to read to me.”
“Why didn’t you take the book and read it yourself?” he asked curiously.
“She read braille. I don’t know how. Plus, I found it much more amusing having you read it and blush when you got to the corny sex scenes,” she said, laughing.
“Do women really like reading about guys like this?”
“No. They like a man in uniform, but not one who can’t decide whether to douse his ex’s fire or give his pole to Vera. I can’t speak for all, but most women want someone who respects them, treats them right, and stays loyal, like Brody here,” she said, glancing at her feet.
Cole peered under the table. Brody’s snout lay on top of Hannah’s foot and his tongue lolled to the side while he slept.
“They want a man who drools at their feet?” he asked.
“Precisely,” she grinned. “Seriously, loyalty tops my list. Someone who loves you no matter what.”
“You sound like you speak from experience,” he said, hoping she didn’t have a boyfriend waiting for her.
“No, not really. Maybe it’s something I want,” she said, shrugging.
“What about love?”
“I don’t know too much about it. Most guys viewed me as a threat to their manhood or wanted to tap my ass because I wore the uniform. My last boyfriend left as soon as he heard of my capture. He couldn’t deal with it,” she huffed. “I can’t imagine how hard it must’ve been for him.”
“He’s an ass,” Cole swore.
“Funny, I thought the same thing.”
A roll of thunder shook the windows. “I’m sure you’re tired after caring for the dogs and then getting a surprise guest. I think I’ll retire for the evening.”
“Let me know if you need anything,” he reminded her as he watched her go into her bedroom. Brody stood, shook off, and followed Hannah. “You little traitor,” he hissed. On cue, Brody’s white teeth showed as he glanced at Cole before entering the room.
Hannah crawled into bed and listened to the storm outside. It felt like the one in her head. She picked up her phone. Patch retrieved it before she left. Feeling guilty about not replying to her mother’s nightly text, she opened the messaging application.
I’m not coming home. Please understand I need to stay here. I love you, too. Hannah.
Please come home for Christmas, her mother responded.
Hannah put the phone away. She refused to discuss it. She barely spent half the night alone in a cabin before she neededrescuing. She wasn’t like Scarlett, who rushed into burning buildings to save people.
Brody lay beside her, and her hand gently stroked his head. The dark loomed and she rose from the bed and cracked the door, letting the light from the kitchen sink into her room.
The thunder clashed and lightning lit up the sky, showing the trees outside. Unable to drift off to sleep, she tossed and turned. At two in the morning, she finally gave up as the rain beat against the glass of her window. She rose and put on her slippers. Brody whined from the bed.
“I can’t sleep,” she whispered. “I don’t want to wake Cole,” she said, pressing a finger to her lips.
Brody huffed and jumped down, intending to follow her. She slowly opened the door and tiptoed out. With no plan on what to do, her gaze drifted to the screened-in porch. At least she and Brody wouldn’t disturb Cole outside.
