directions.”
Sadie didn’t respond. The memory of Hank’s proposal and her response made her stomach hurt like it had back then.
Hank slid an arm around Sadie’s waist. “We made a conscious decision to go our separate ways. Didn’t we, Sadie?”
Sadie swallowed hard and nodded, afraid her voice would crack if she answered. She’d hurt him back then. He’d been devastated, and so had she. More than anything, she’d wanted to be with him. But his relationship with his father had always been edgy. He’d needed to get out of Eagle Rock, and realize his dreams of joining the Navy and becoming a SEAL. That would never have happened if she’d accepted his offer. She’d wanted to, so very badly.
“And yet, here you are.” Carla smiled. “Hometown hero and Hollywood legend together again. It’s like a fairytale come true.”
“Oh, we’re not—” Sadie started.
“We’re not,” Hank interrupted, “ready to let the world in on our relationship.” He hugged Sadie closer and kissed the top of her head. “Although I don’t know how we’ll keep it from everyone, when I move in with her.”
“Move in?” Sadie shot a startled glance at him.
He skimmed his knuckles along her cheek. “Like we talked about. We want to make sure we’re still compatible. You know, like learning each other all over again.” Hank grinned at Carla. “You and Fin won’t mind, will you? The house is big enough, isn’t it?”
Carla’s brows dipped lower. “I suppose it’ll be all right. You’re only going to be here a short time, anyway, right?” Her gaze went to Sadie.
Sadie nodded. “That’s right. Two weeks. Max.” Two weeks with Hank living with her. Panic rose in her belly. But along with the panic was something else. Desire. Hot. Burning. Desire. If Hank stayed with them for the next two weeks, how would she keep him at arm’s length?
He stared down at her, his eyes warm—and was that laughter crinkling the edges? The arm around her waist tightened. “It’s been so long since we’ve seen each other. But there’s no denying the chemistry. It’s still there.”
Oh, how right he was. Sadie felt herself slipping under his spell, even though she figured his actions were all for show. On his part. The rush of emotion and lust was all too real on her part.
Holy hell, what had she done?
6
H ank almost laughed out loud over the expressions playing across Sadie’s face. From sheer panic to the rosy flush of desire. She might be a good actress but, with him, Sadie had never been able to lie or hide how she really felt.
Carla’s lips tightened for a moment, and then she smiled. “I guess I’d better buy more groceries if Hank’s coming to stay.”
Holding up a hand, Hank shook his head. “No. No need. That’s why we stopped by the store. We figured you might not have sufficient provisions for another person in the house. We’ll take care of it.”
“If you’re sure.” She glanced down at her empty cart. “I was going to get fresh vegetables, fruit, milk and bread.”
“If you leave your list with us, we can get them,” Sadie said.
Carla shook her head. “That’s it. Just the vegetables, milk, fruit and bread.”
“We’ll take care of it.” Sadie gave her sister-in-law a weak smile. “Thank you for being so patient with me. I know it must be an inconvenience, going from just the two of you to the four of us.”
“No. I’m sure Fin will be delighted.” She nodded to the two of them. “Well, then I’ll see you two back at the house in a little while.” Carla breezed past them and disappeared around the corner of an aisle.
When she’d gone, Hank followed to make sure Carla left the store completely before he returned to Sadie.
“Why did you tell Carla we were back together?” Sadie asked in an urgent whisper.
“I’d rather not let everyone in the community know that I’m your hired bodyguard. I think we have a better chance of finding whoever shot at you if we play
Sadie didn’t respond. The memory of Hank’s proposal and her response made her stomach hurt like it had back then.
Hank slid an arm around Sadie’s waist. “We made a conscious decision to go our separate ways. Didn’t we, Sadie?”
Sadie swallowed hard and nodded, afraid her voice would crack if she answered. She’d hurt him back then. He’d been devastated, and so had she. More than anything, she’d wanted to be with him. But his relationship with his father had always been edgy. He’d needed to get out of Eagle Rock, and realize his dreams of joining the Navy and becoming a SEAL. That would never have happened if she’d accepted his offer. She’d wanted to, so very badly.
“And yet, here you are.” Carla smiled. “Hometown hero and Hollywood legend together again. It’s like a fairytale come true.”
“Oh, we’re not—” Sadie started.
“We’re not,” Hank interrupted, “ready to let the world in on our relationship.” He hugged Sadie closer and kissed the top of her head. “Although I don’t know how we’ll keep it from everyone, when I move in with her.”
“Move in?” Sadie shot a startled glance at him.
He skimmed his knuckles along her cheek. “Like we talked about. We want to make sure we’re still compatible. You know, like learning each other all over again.” Hank grinned at Carla. “You and Fin won’t mind, will you? The house is big enough, isn’t it?”
Carla’s brows dipped lower. “I suppose it’ll be all right. You’re only going to be here a short time, anyway, right?” Her gaze went to Sadie.
Sadie nodded. “That’s right. Two weeks. Max.” Two weeks with Hank living with her. Panic rose in her belly. But along with the panic was something else. Desire. Hot. Burning. Desire. If Hank stayed with them for the next two weeks, how would she keep him at arm’s length?
He stared down at her, his eyes warm—and was that laughter crinkling the edges? The arm around her waist tightened. “It’s been so long since we’ve seen each other. But there’s no denying the chemistry. It’s still there.”
Oh, how right he was. Sadie felt herself slipping under his spell, even though she figured his actions were all for show. On his part. The rush of emotion and lust was all too real on her part.
Holy hell, what had she done?
6
H ank almost laughed out loud over the expressions playing across Sadie’s face. From sheer panic to the rosy flush of desire. She might be a good actress but, with him, Sadie had never been able to lie or hide how she really felt.
Carla’s lips tightened for a moment, and then she smiled. “I guess I’d better buy more groceries if Hank’s coming to stay.”
Holding up a hand, Hank shook his head. “No. No need. That’s why we stopped by the store. We figured you might not have sufficient provisions for another person in the house. We’ll take care of it.”
“If you’re sure.” She glanced down at her empty cart. “I was going to get fresh vegetables, fruit, milk and bread.”
“If you leave your list with us, we can get them,” Sadie said.
Carla shook her head. “That’s it. Just the vegetables, milk, fruit and bread.”
“We’ll take care of it.” Sadie gave her sister-in-law a weak smile. “Thank you for being so patient with me. I know it must be an inconvenience, going from just the two of you to the four of us.”
“No. I’m sure Fin will be delighted.” She nodded to the two of them. “Well, then I’ll see you two back at the house in a little while.” Carla breezed past them and disappeared around the corner of an aisle.
When she’d gone, Hank followed to make sure Carla left the store completely before he returned to Sadie.
“Why did you tell Carla we were back together?” Sadie asked in an urgent whisper.
“I’d rather not let everyone in the community know that I’m your hired bodyguard. I think we have a better chance of finding whoever shot at you if we play
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