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)
I glanced at the clock, seeing it was past eleven. I decided to go to bed, and I stood, stretching.
I was walking down the hall when I heard it.
A whimper and a soft sob coming from Hannah’s room. Startled, I opened her door, looking in on her. She was curled into a tighter ball than before, clutching her pillow and mumbling, obviously in the throes of a bad dream.
“Please, no,” she whimpered.
I crossed the room, kneeling beside her. I wasn’t sure what to do.
Should I wake her up? Shake her? Leave her?
Of all the options, the last one appealed to me the least.
Tentatively, I placed my hand on her head, stroking her hair.
“Hannah,” I murmured. “It’s okay. Everything is okay.”
Her whimpering stopped.
“I’m right here, baby,” I said quietly. “You’re safe.”
She let out a little puff of air, her body relaxing. I kept stroking her head and murmuring words to her. She shuddered and went still, her breathing evening out.
I kept stroking her hair until I was sure she was deep into sleep again. I carefully stood and backed out of the room, keeping her door open.
In my room, I yanked off my shirt and jeans, then brushed my teeth. I dragged on some sleep pants and lay on my bed, keeping my door open as well. I wanted to be able to hear her if she had another nightmare.
I wasn’t sure what brought it on.
Maybe she was overtired? Or being in a new place? Thinking about going back to work? I recalled how tense she got when I mentioned Toronto. Maybe she’d had a bad experience there and talking about it brought back an unwelcome memory. I would have to tread carefully.
In the meantime, if she needed me, I was there for her.
I was at the table when she walked in the next morning. I smiled at her and tipped my pretend hat. “Morning, Officer.”
She laughed and shook her head. “Why are you up so early?”
“I’m often at the garage early. Gives me a chance to get things organized before everyone shows up.” I eyed her carefully as she poured a cup of coffee into a travel mug. “How’d you sleep?”
She frowned. “Okay. Why?”
I decided not to mention the nightmare right now. I shrugged. “I was wondering how comfortable you were on the floor. We’ll move your stuff tonight.”
“I was fine,” she assured me, twisting the lid on the mug tight. She offered me a smile.
“See you tonight.”
“No breakfast?”
She shook her head and grinned. “Cop. Donuts.”
I laughed as I carried my mug to the sink. “Well, have a good day, dear.”
She stopped beside me and smiled. “You too, Chase.” Then she kissed my cheek.
I watched her depart, leaving the warmth of her lips on my skin. I wanted to drag her into my arms and kiss her thoroughly. Send her to work with a real smile.
I hoped that one day, that would happen.
Dom chuckled. “You listening, kid?”
I shook my head. “Yeah, sorry. I missed that.”
He sat back, crossing his arms. His muscles bulged, and he looked scary. But he smiled. “What’s on your mind?”
“Oh, nothing important. I was walking around the house last night, looking at some jobs that needed to be done.”
Maxx came over, pouring a cup of coffee and taking a sip. “Houses and cars. Expenses never end.”
“So I’m discovering. I need to replace the fence and the roof.” I scratched my chin. “And I want to enlarge the deck out back. I like sitting there, but with the grill, there is really only room for one chair.” I had to laugh. “Never thought about those things when I just rented the place.”
Stefano came around the corner, hearing what I had just said. “Ownership. Whole other ball game. And you helped with my deck. I’ll help with yours. Fence too. Roofs, I know nothing about.”
Maxx nodded in agreement. “Decks and fences, we do. But roofs, nope.”
Dom grinned. “I do. I spent three summers working at a roofing place. Put myself through mechanic school working in the hot sun installing shingles. I can help there. I can teach you guys. You get the dumpster bin and supplies, and we can do it in a weekend as long as there isn’t a lot of rot under the current shingles.”
“That would be awesome.”
“I’m looking for a place right now.” He grinned. “I don’t want to rent if I can buy. So when I’m ready, you can return the favor.”
Maxx chuckled. “That’s how we do it around here.”
“I’ll drop over tonight and have a look if you want,” Dom offered.
“Awesome. Maybe you could help me carry Hannah’s dresser and bed frame into her room? She slept with her mattress laid out on the floor last night.”
“Not a problem.” He stood. “Now, back to this invoice.”
That night, Hannah came out of the kitchen as I walked in, Dom following. She smiled at us.