Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79597 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79597 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
“Yeah. We can move her bedroom stuff in once the walls dry. Then she wants to paint the living room.”
Maxx shared a look with Stefano, who chuckled. “She works fast. Charly didn’t paint for at least a month,” he stated dryly.
I laughed at his ribbing. “Whatever. Gotta make sure my investment is looked after.”
He rolled his eyes. “Whatever, kid. We’ll go around two. I’m booked until then.”
Dom looked up from a motorcycle he was working on. “I’ll come with. The boys can watch the shop. I can help on the weekend too if needed.”
“That would be great.”
Stefano grinned. “Brett wants me to update him on the house happenings while he is gone.”
“You got him to the airport okay?” Maxx asked.
He rubbed his chin. “Ass-crack of dawn, yeah. He was pretty excited. Kelly was a little more laid-back, but she’s traveled more than he has. It was good to see him happy, even if we’re gonna miss him around here.”
“I’m stoked for him. He deserves to be happy. Travel.”
“I agree.”
“Okay, let’s get at this so we can help Chase this afternoon.”
I clapped my hands. “Let’s go then, boys. I got a lady to impress.”
That made them all laugh.
Later, we loaded up the contents of the storage locker for Hannah. It was neat and organized, something I had already discovered about her. With four of us, it was fast work, and it all fit in the trucks easily. At the house, we carried everything in, Hannah excited and looking prettier than ever. She’d greeted us at the door, her eyes shining.
“I have coffee!” she exclaimed. “And I made cookies!”
The guys all smiled in appreciation and accepted the mugs of coffee happily. The cookies were still warm and filled with chocolate chips. My favorite. The guys were pleasant and polite, all grinning when she insisted she would make them lunch one day and send it to the garage to say thanks. None of them turned it down—not when it was food. They teased me a little about the house, saying it was a good thing Hannah was already increasing the value of my sudden purchase with her improvements. I ignored them.
I stood when we finished our treat and indicated the piles in the living room. “I’ll help you sort that when I get home,” I said, pausing at the front door. She had been effusive with her thanks to everyone, and they were all grinning with the bags of cookies she’d shoved into their hands.
“Great.”
I was shocked when she kissed my cheek again. “Thanks again, Chase.”
She called out to me as I got to the truck. “Have a good afternoon! I’ll see you later when you get home.”
It hit me. She’d be there tonight. Tomorrow. All the time.
Hannah. In my house. With me.
I was still smiling as I swung myself into the passenger side. Dom side-eyed me with a wide grin as he backed out of the driveway. “Roomies, huh?” He chuckled.
“Yes.”
“I say that girl is far more than that in a month,” he muttered. “Maybe less.” He reached into the bag and took another cookie. “Hell, if she can cook like this, marry her up, boy. Fast.”
I looked out the window.
I had no desire to bet against that.
CHAPTER FIVE
Hannah
The sounds of the trucks faded away, and I shut the door and headed to the living room. All my boxes were there. All my things. I sighed in happiness as I sat down on my sofa, ignoring the crinkling sound of the plastic that covered it. It would look nice against the far wall once the room was painted. It went okay with the one Chase had. Even the chairs matched well enough. I studied the room, mapping out the layout of everything in my head. It would be cozy when I was done.
I still couldn’t believe I was going to live here. With Chase.
When I had seen the handwritten advertisement in the general store, I had looked at the address, the location striking a memory. It was the cute mechanic. The one with the sad eyes. I had helped him one night in his drunken state.
He had been so adorable, insisting he wasn’t trying to drive. Then he peered at me, getting far too close for it to be comfortable. Yet, with him, I was fine.
“You got hit with a cinnamon truck,” he slurred a little. “Little dots ever-ry-where!” He drew out the last word into three syllables. Then he winked. “Are they everywhere, Occifer Cinnamon?”
“Gallagher,” I corrected, trying not to laugh at his inappropriateness. “It’s Officer Gallagher.”
“To everyone else.” He waved his hand. “To me, you’re Occifer Cinnanum. Cinnamon.” He hiccuped. “Oops.” Then he patted his chest. “Mine.”
I bit back my smile. He was utterly endearing.
“Can I call someone for you?” I asked. I didn’t want to throw him in the drunk tank.