out to touch the hem of the gown she’d worn to the last official fundraising event she’d headed up, Green Spaces’ annual Gaia for Good ball. She’d probably never have a use for it again, but it was just too beautiful to part with. The layer upon layer of tissue-thin pale pink linen and deconstructed rosebud hem had made her look like a woodland ballerina. She’d woven pink tea roses and baby’s breath into her long braid, and the next day her photo was everywhere.
On the surface John had seemed proud of the attention she got, but the freeze-out he subjected her to afterward made it clear that he was jealous. It was yet another sign she’d missed of how much he’d changed, and how little was left of the man she’d loved.
Hannah sighed. The damn leggings had to be somewhere! She ran to her dresser and rifled through the drawers until she found a bright yellow pair that would work for the first event she was doing at Chad’s side, The Cattlemen’s 5k. As a launch for a political campaign, it was a far cry from the high profile work she was used to, but it was exactly right for the reconstruction of Chad’s image.
She looked down at her white sports bra. Speaking of image, she certainly couldn’t make her inaugural appearance with Chad shirtless. Hannah envisioned what would look best from the back, since she wasn’t ready to post photos of her face quite yet. She had the perfect multi-strap white tank top that was nowhere to be found. Maybe in the laundry pile?
“Mommy!” the little voice called out from around the corner. “Look!”
Aria came running into Hannah’s bedroom wearing pink sunglasses, her rainbow bathing suit, mismatched flip flops and a sequin varsity jacket. “I’m pretty!” She posed with her hands up in the air.
Hannah stifled a laugh. “You do look pretty, honey! Very fancy. But I think shorts and a shirt are better choices for today. It’s going to be hot outside.”
“No, Mommy. Sparkles!”
Aria ran out of the room laughing, so Hannah grabbed a black tank top from the laundry pile and chased after her daughter, ready to battle over the four-year-old’s already entrenched fashion aesthetic.
She didn’t even glance back at her closet and all its fancy, useless outfits. That wasn’t her life anymore, thank God. She’d left it all behind.
“Wow, look at that little athlete!” Chad exclaimed as Hannah rolled through the crowd of runners and spectators with Aria in a jogging stroller. “You look like you’re ready to win the race, Aria.”
The little girl turned shy, smiling at Chad but not saying anything.
“Good morning,” Hannah said to Chad with an overwide smile. She looked over her shoulder and noticed a few people watching them. She lowered her voice. “Since this is our first public outing, we need to start the couple charade now. Give me a hug.”
“Really?” Chad raised his eyebrows. “Well, okay, if you insist. I never say no to a hug.”
Hannah smirked and kept one hand on the jogging stroller as Chad stepped closer to her. They both paused and looked at each other shyly, then Chad wrapped his arms around her.
Even though it was a typically sweltering Texas morning, stepping into Chad’s arms was as refreshing as a cool breeze. She felt his arms lock around her shoulders, then pull her in a little closer. She caught a hint of an earthy scent, like he’d already done a few warm-up laps. He released her just as she leaned into the hug, and she hoped no one could see her blushing.
“Mommy!” Aria called from the stroller.
“What, honey?”
“Who’s that?” She pointed at Chad.
He smiled and knelt in front of the stroller. “Good morning, Miss Aria! I’m Chad. Remember you came to my family’s house and had dinner?”
She nodded.
“Wow, you’ve got five necklaces on and let me see …” he pretended to count, “three rings. And a sparkly headband and glitter sunglasses. That’s a lot of shine, young lady.”
“She takes after her mom,” Hannah answered, a touch defensive. “We express ourselves through our clothing.”
Chad stood up and trailed his eyes lazily up Hannah’s body. “Today it looks like you’re going for ‘honeybee.’”
“Excuse me?”
“You’re wearing black and yellow.” He turned back to Aria. “Your momma is a honeybee! Bzz bzz!” He fluttered his hand in front of Aria like he was going to sting her, and she giggled. He reached down and pretended to sting her foot and she roared with laughter.
He was good with Aria.