by Tara Randel
“No.” She reached for another tissue. “I can’t believe my mother kept that from me. We had talked about leaving and I thought we’d agreed together, but then, our family motto seems to be, Keep the Truth from Hannah.”
“I doubt they’d look at it that way.”
“Obviously.” She blew her nose, most undainty-like. Derrick hid another grin. “I’m so tired of feeling guilty. But because I confided in you and you broke your promise to keep quiet, we’ll never have a normal life.”
Derrick didn’t know what to say.
She balled up the tissues and threw them into the garbage bin. “You do have a way of seeing me at my worst.”
He took a step toward her, longing to ease the suffering on her face but when she went stiff, he stopped in his tracks.
He swallowed. Tried to make his voice steady. “Are you going to be okay?”
She met his gaze. Honesty shimmered in the hazel depths. “I have no idea.”
“You always were honest. That hasn’t changed.”
“Small favors, huh?”
He chuckled. “Why don’t you finish getting ready and we’ll go buy you a door.”
“Thanks, Derrick.”
“My pleasure.”
When she walked out of the room, leaving behind a trail of her sweet perfume, he blew out a frustrated groan and pulled his cell phone from his pocket to speed-dial Dylan.
“Hey, bro,” Dylan quipped, starting the conversation. “Mom says you’re staying busy.”
“Please tell me she’s calling you for wedding advice, too.”
“Yep. Deke and Dante, as well. She wants—and I quote—‘all of us to be an integral part of my big day.’”
“She knows we’re just going along with her because we love her. She deserves to do what she wants, but I have a feeling she won’t let this go until we meet her at the altar.”
“In the meantime, she wants our opinions.”
Derrick rubbed his aching temple. Like he had time for wedding talk when he had to find out what happened to the gemstones and how to keep Hannah and her mother safe from a threat he wasn’t even sure existed any longer.
“Moving on, how’s your vacation?” Dylan asked.
“I’m not actually on vacation.”
His brother laughed. “I thought your boss insisted.”
“That’s putting it nicely.”
“Do I dare ask?”
“I’m in Nevada. Standing in Hannah’s kitchen.”
Silence greeted him from the other end.
“Come again?”
“I found her.”
“What...how?” Dylan sputtered.
Derrick proceeded to bring his brother up to speed.
“That’s some story.”
“Especially since I have one of the stones in my possession. Makes me think whoever sent it has the others.”
“Which doesn’t sound reassuring.”
“Dyl, I can’t leave here. Not right now. This story is far from over.”
“So what can I do?”
“Right now, I think it best if only you and I know what’s going on. If Mom finds out, she’ll insist on details and I can’t give them yet.”
“You’re right. Deke and Dante won’t like it—”
“But they’ll understand.”
“Agreed.” Dylan paused. “So, what’s it like? Seeing Hannah again after all these years.”
“She’s as beautiful as I remember. Both inside and out.” He paused when his throat got tight. “And a survivor, Dyl. She was thrown a loop and has managed to do really well for herself and take care of her mother. She’s amazing.”
“So, you two? Any chance of reconciliation?”
“Not if her fiancé has anything to say about it.”
Silence again, then, “Don’t you hate it when there’s competition?”
More than his brother could ever know. “I’m more concerned about why the stone turned up at this point and what that means for Hannah and her mother.”
“Why don’t I believe you?”
Okay, in fact, he wanted things to go back to the way they were, when he and Hannah once thought they were the only two people in the world so deeply in love. He couldn’t fathom what would happen when he got to the bottom of this and Hannah went off into the sunset with Jonathan. He knew his heart would never survive. So he pushed the possibility way back into the far recesses of his mind and dealt with the facts at hand.
When Derrick didn’t respond, Dylan blew out a long breath. “Okay, fine. Keep your secrets. Need anything else from me?”
“No. I’ll handle the rest from my end.”
“Which is?”
“Keeping Hannah and her mother safe until I figure out who sent the gemstone.”
While hoping his heart didn’t split in two before his time here was over.
* * *
THE BIG-BOX STORE echoed with voices as Hannah tried to focus on a new door. It was difficult when the itchy feeling on the back of her neck wouldn’t go away. She tugged at the neckline of her sweater, but it made no difference.
“Hannah, I like the one with the window. What about you?” her mother asked.
Shaking herself from her musings, she focused on the two doors Derrick had pulled from the shelf and stood side by side on the aisle floor.
“No, it’s too...open.” She knew she sounded paranoid, but couldn’t help it. “Anyone could look in on us.”
“Fine. We’ll take the solid door.”
After following Derrick’s advice to get in touch with the landlord, she’d gotten permission to replace the door. Actually, Mr. Rand was happy he didn’t have to go to the bother of shopping and installing. He told Hannah he’d reimburse her when she submitted the receipt.
“Now that’s decided, I’m going to look at area rugs. Be good.”
“Back at ya,” Hannah called after her.
With a wave her mother tootled off to another section of the store.
They returned one door back into inventory and placed the one they would purchase on a panel cart to wheel up to the cashier. “You okay?” Derrick asked.
She tried to smooth her expression. “Sure. Fine.”
“Right.” He came up beside her. “Try again.”
She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. “I forgot how perceptive you are.”
“True.” He sent her a tentative glance. “This isn’t about me kissing you the other night, is it? Because I know I stepped over the line and I’m sorry.”
“That’s not a topic I’d like to discuss, thank-you-very-much.” Although, she had given that amazing kiss a lot of thought. She just wasn’t sure what to do about it.
“Then what is it?”
Before they left the aisle, she put her hand out to stop him, stuck her head into the main area and looked both ways. Satisfied that they were alone, she turned to him.
“I’m not overreacting.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Never said you were.”
She placed a hand on her chest to slow her pounding heart. “I have this feeling that someone is watching me.”
“Like the first day I showed up at school?”
“Just like it.” She ran her damp palms over her jeans. “I get that we’re in a busy store, but...”
“You said it’s a reaction you’ve lived with since you went into WITSEC.”
She nodded. “All the talk about the past this morning, I guess it affected me.”
“Then your reaction shouldn’t be dismissed. It’s probably your subconscious telling you something isn’t right.”
She hadn’t realized how tense she was until her shoulders relaxed at his words.
“You believe me?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“I guess beca
use of your line of work, I thought you might be more jaded.”
“No. I’ve learned to listen to people, Hannah. Lots of times they know more than they think.”
“So, I’m not imagining things?”
“I didn’t say that, just that you should trust your intuition.” He watched her for a second. “Did this happen before I showed up?”
“A couple times when we lived in Illinois and Nebraska.”
Although Derrick’s expression remained calm, he had been scanning the periphery of the store the entire time they spoke. Was he jittery too or was the action a consequence of his job?
She held her hands out. “I’ve never told anyone before this.”
He met her gaze. “You didn’t want to worry your mother.”
“Yes. She’s had enough on her plate.”
“And you haven’t?”
“I can take it, Derrick.”
He reached over and lifted her chin with his finger. Her heart flip-flopped. She barely concealed the thrilling shivers at his touch. Would he kiss her again like he had in the school parking lot? She wanted him to, oh how she did. They were in a busy store and she really didn’t care if he leaned over and brushed his lips over hers. She wasn’t even worried about Jonathan. All she could think right now was that she wanted more. Did that make her a bad person?
Instead of kissing her again, Derrick warmed her with his steady gaze. She couldn’t be disappointed when he made her feel like the most cherished woman in the world. “I know you can. You’re the strongest woman I’ve ever met.”
“Right.”
“I’m telling you the truth. I’m stunned at what you’ve been through and how you’ve coped so well. You’re remarkable.”
His words were a balm for her bruised soul. For so long she’d been what others needed her to be: first, a dutiful daughter, then a caregiver for her mom, and finally, a happy fiancée. But it hadn’t seemed real. Not until the day Derrick had shown up at her school and reminded her of the old Hannah. The Hannah who had once stood up for herself. The woman who’d had dreams of a very different future than how her reality looked now. One who used to reveal her emotions instead of boxing them away.
“Um...thanks.”
“It’s the truth.”
She wasn’t used to this much praise. Wasn’t sure she liked it. Never felt like she’d deserved it. She’d only been doing what she could in the circumstances handed her; taking care of those she loved.
“What do you think?” she asked, wanting to move on from her current thoughts.
Derrick went serious. “Keep an eye on the people around us. Tell me if you notice anyone who gives you goose bumps.”
A nervous giggle tickled her lips. “Is that a professional term?”
“No.” He chuckled. “Just practical.”
She smiled. Suddenly the weight on her shoulders lifted.
“I’m relieved not to have to keep my concerns bottled up inside.”
“It’s tough carrying everything solo.” He pushed the cart and they moved on. “How much does Jonathan know?”
She cringed. “Not much. I told him I had a difficult past. He accepted that and said he’d wait until I wanted to tell him more.”
“And when will that be? Just before you say I do?” he asked, heat in his tone.
She glared at him. “You were doing good up until this point.”
“You need to think this through, Hannah. He deserves to know.”
Guilt swamped her. Yes, she knew full well that Jonathan deserved the truth, but still had difficulty trusting anyone out of her small circle of confidants, which included only Derrick and her mother. She guessed that didn’t say much for her confidence in her fiancé. Or her friendship with Lynny.
“We should find Mom.”
Derrick looked up to read the aisle signs hanging from the ceiling.
“Rugs. Row eight.”
As they walked in that direction, Derrick almost bumped into a shopper bolting from an aisle, his attention on his phone. Derrick pulled up short and the man stopped.
Hannah’s jaw dropped. “Jonathan?”
He looked up, relief in his eyes. “Anna. There you are.”
She blinked, making sure she wasn’t seeing things. “What are you doing here?”
“Looking for you.”
“How did you know I’d be here?”
He held up his phone. “I have you on Finding Friends.”
“You put me on your app?”
“Well, yes. Remember when I sent you a request?” His tone indicated he didn’t see a problem.
Preoccupied with her mother’s health concerns, she’d forgotten. “Why didn’t you just call me?”
“I have been, but you didn’t answer. Especially after last night.”
Last night. When he’d insisted that she attend the gallery showing and barely said two words to her all evening. He’d been busy taking care of business and conversing with his assistant Michelle, who couldn’t resist making sure Hannah saw them together. She’d finally gone home when it became apparent his clients were his first priority, muted her phone and forgot to turn the volume back on.
“I know we didn’t get a chance to talk much and I felt bad,” Jonathan explained as he placed his phone in his jacket pocket.
Her irritation melted a bit.
Jonathan finally noticed Derrick. His eyebrows angled together. “Fields.”
“Prescott.”
“I didn’t realize you were shopping with my fiancée.”
Hannah had to keep from rolling her eyes at the uptight tone in Jonathan’s voice.
“Just doing a little home-improvement job.”
“I see.” Jonathan glanced at her. “Why didn’t you ask me to help with the project?”
“You’re always so busy. I didn’t want to bother you.” That, and Hannah was pretty sure he didn’t have the necessary skills. “Could you fix a door?”
“Well, no. I’d hire someone.”
“I know my way around tools and uh, doors,” Derrick explained.
At Jonathan’s uncharacteristically unsure expression, Hannah found herself a little less miffed at his high-handed behavior the night before. He stepped closer to her and placed his arm around her waist. “Thank you for looking out for Anna.”
“Hey,” Derrick said, his gaze locked on hers. “What are old friends for?” Then he nodded and walked away with the cart.
“Did I do something wrong?” Jonathan muttered.
Hannah mustered up a smile. “I just didn’t expect to see you here.”
Was it Jonathan who had given her the feeling she was being watched? Made sense, since he was in the store searching for her. It also made her feel foolish for voicing her fears to Derrick, even though he believed her.
“You never mentioned that you needed anything repaired at your house.”
Hannah swore she heard hurt in his tone.
“I’m used to handling these things.”
“Now that we’re getting married, I thought we’d gotten to a point where we talk about the things that make up our daily lives, including home improvement.”
“You’re right.” She swallowed hard. “There are probably lots of things we should discuss.”
His charming smile returned. “How about going for lunch and we’ll get started on that resolution.”
“I need to get Mom home and make sure Derrick gets the door installed.”
“Dinner?”
“It’s a date.”
He held out his arm so she could place her hand in the crook of his elbow. They met up with the others and Hannah found herself dismayed when Derrick chatted up her mother and pretty much left her alone.
She understood. He was being respectful because she was engaged. And while she admired that, she wondered w
hy she wanted to confide in him instead of Jonathan. Or why just being near Derrick made her heart race while Jonathan made her...content.
And here she thought her biggest dilemma today was being followed by an invisible menace when she was clearly torn between both men.
CHAPTER EIGHT
“I FEEL LIKE ice cream,” Hannah’s mother announced Monday afternoon when they’d bundled up and stepped out of the doctor’s office into the extremely cold winter day.
“In this weather? It’s not exactly an ice cream kind of day.”
“Humor me.”
“And to top it off, you’ve been sneezing on and off all afternoon.”
Her mother waved off her concern. “Don’t you remember when you were kids,” she said, pulling a knit hat over her short gray hair, “and whenever we had a celebration we’d go get ice cream?”
A zap of pain and longing swept over Hannah. She could envision the happy times like they’d happened yesterday. “You’d make this grand announcement that we were going to Uncle Sonny’s shop. Dad would make a huge production of searching for his car keys before you hustled me into the car.”
“Those were special times.” Her mother tugged Hannah’s coat sleeve. “And today is a good day, so we’re going to celebrate.”
It had been. The doctor’s words had been positive. Still, talking about the past made the idea of celebrating bittersweet.
“Gosh, I haven’t thought about Uncle Sonny in years,” Hannah said as she dug for the car keys buried deep in her purse. At least not until Derrick showed up and reminded her of their old hometown. “I wonder if he ever found out what happened to us.”
“No one knew why we left.” Her mother sent her a wry glance. “But your father may have sent a mysterious letter to your uncle informing him we were okay.”
“Even though it was against the rules?”
“Some rules you break for the people you love.”
Like letting an old boyfriend into your life when you were currently engaged?
“Remember when Derrick started coming to the ice cream parlor with us?” Her mother laughed. “He was one of the family.”