Just One Kiss (Whisper Lake #4) - Barbara Freethy Page 0,28

help."

"To do what?"

"Don’t you want to meet your grandson?"

Indecision played through her mom's eyes. "You said he's asleep."

"You could peek in."

"I—I don't think I can." Her mother shook her head. "Kelly really hurt me, Hannah."

"Kelly did, but Brett didn't."

Her mom swallowed hard. "I'm just afraid, Hannah. I don't want to go back into the past. I've finally gotten to a good place in my life. You know how hard I've battled to get here."

"Which means you're strong enough to deal with this now," she said, wishing desperately that for once her mom would step up and be the strong one. Maybe she just didn't have it in her.

"Well, perhaps I could do it later today or tomorrow. I need a little time. I have to meet Marty now. We have things to do before the carnival."

"So do I."

"I'm sure your coworkers will cover for you," her mom said, dismissing her comment with an airy wave, as she practically ran toward the door. "I'll see you later."

Her mom was out of the house before she could get another word out.

Shaking her head, she walked quietly up the stairs to check on Brett. He was still asleep in her guest room, a small figure protected by pillows on either side of him as he lay in the middle of the queen-sized bed. His cheeks were rosy red, and he was the picture of innocence. He had no idea what was going on his life and how bad it might get.

An overwhelming feeling of protectiveness swept through her. Brett might not have his mother or his grandmother, but he had his aunt, and she would take care of him. She would give him everything he needed and more. He deserved nothing less.

But she still felt a little alone in her resolve. She wished her mother had stayed. She wished her brother would call her back. She even missed Jake, which was the craziest feeling of all, and one she could not allow to seep into her soul.

She'd had such a hard time getting over him when she was seventeen. She'd probably cried for a year straight. Every time she'd thought about him, she'd been filled with a deep pain that came from her soul. It shouldn't have hurt so much. It should have just been her first teenage heartbreak, but the feelings had lasted long beyond her teen years. And now, when she'd finally gotten to a good place, those emotions were coming back.

Why did Jake have to come home?

It wasn't as if this town had ever been enough for him. She'd certainly never been enough for him, which was why his sudden desire to have her forgive him, to welcome him back into her life, seemed ridiculous.

Was she just a challenge that he had to prove himself against? Did he just want her back to prove he could get her?

As the questions swirled around in her head, she told herself to stop thinking about him. She had enough problems without worrying about him. If she just kept enough space between them, he'd give up. He'd probably even leave town eventually. He wanted everything in his life to be extreme, to be exciting and thrilling, and he'd run out of that excitement in Whisper Lake.

Wouldn't he?

Chapter Eight

The mountain almost kicked Jake's ass, not just because it was a tough run, but because the three college buddies who had booked the trip were nowhere near as good as they thought they were. Jake managed to coach them through some of the toughest and steepest parts of the trail, and while one of the guys had taken a hard fall, he'd only ended up with a broken finger and a big story to tell his friends who had stayed back on the less challenging slopes.

When he got back to his apartment, he took a long, hot shower and thought about the night ahead. While he was physically tired from both the skiing and the near-sleepless night, he also felt amped to see Hannah again. He'd been thinking about her all day and wondering if there was any news about Kelly. He hoped she would text him or call him with an update, but even though she'd taken his number, he wasn’t sure she'd actually use it.

But it wouldn't be difficult to find her tonight. She'd go to the carnival. Everyone in town would be there. The hospital always hosted Santa's Workshop, which involved an elaborate set featuring Santa's house, his toy shop, a barn with