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I watched him disappear around the corner. Watched the now-empty sidewalk until the cold air finally hit me, snapping me out of my haze. Why hadn’t I firmly told him no?

Because he’d just told me he was sorry for everything he ever did to me in high school.

Because he’d wanted me then.

And he still wanted me now.

Dang it, where was my resolve?

Not that I ever have had anywhere he was concerned. Not back then, and now I feared not now.

CHAPTER 7

ROSS

Two days later and after another restless night reliving my conversation and that all to brief kiss with Hannah, I wandered into my brother and sister-in-law’s kitchen in search of coffee after taking care of a raging erection in the shower. But it had barely taken the edge off. Only being with Hannah could achieve that.

Shit, when was the last time I’d had such vivid sex dreams? Probably the last time I dreamt of Hannah, but none of those had been fueled by an actual kiss. A kiss that I now wish I hadn’t pulled back on.

Needing at least a pint of coffee, I searched the cupboards until I found everything to start the first pot of the morning. Since I was alone, I didn’t have to worry about sharing. I’d have the place to myself until just before Christmas. Four days to work out how to earn Hannah’s forgiveness.

Chassie had several events to attend to for her business, and this time, Kane was going with her. She’d turned her platform on women’s health and perimenopause into something big, and she often went out of town for speaking engagements or to appear on podcasts.

Before they returned, I was determined to have found a place of my own. I could easily stay busy searching for both a place to live and office space since I told my brothers about setting up a protection company. And yet all I wanted to do was see Hannah again.

But she hadn’t called me. Sipping my coffee, I contemplated going back to her studio. Would she be awake already? Maybe I could ask her to go looking at houses with me today? Nah, too soon. I’d give her a couple more days to get used to the fact that I wasn’t going anywhere.

That I was here for her. To make amends and prove we’re meant to be together.

Grinning at my exaggerated confidence, although really, why change how I lived my life now? It was that level of confidence that kept me alive all these years overseas then propelled me to come back home. To take my shot with Hannah.

My celled chimed. It was Chase.

CHASE: I overheard Addy talking about meeting with Hannah today for lunch at twelve-thirty in her office. Thought you’d want to know. Later!

I responded with a thumbs-up. Then, I quickly rescheduled the appointment I’d made to see a house, and thirty minutes later, I made my way up the main lodge’s back deck staircase. The plan may not be the best, but running into her seemed plausible.

There was a group of people around the fire pit, but they looked to be wrapping things up. Chase was one of them and waved me over. He made introductions and then explained that they just ended their last session early because of an updated weather report warning of a fast-moving snowstorm. One had been predicted to hit much later tonight, but north Idaho weather had always been fickle.

I waited as Chase said his goodbyes. The men and women who’d spent the week going through various classes were heading out to meet the van that would take them to the airport.

“What’s up? Were you looking for me? Looking for help with Hannah?” Chase laughed.

“No, I have that covered. I wanted to check out the lodge again. Maybe see if Addy needed help with anything. I’m at loose ends right now.” Why was I suddenly nervous?

Chase switched off the fire pit, and I followed him inside. “I get that. I remember what it felt like when I let Astrid know how I really felt about her. So I’ll wish you luck, and if things don’t go the way you planned, then come over for dinner later.”

Addy walked into the great room and saved me from turning him down. I wasn’t planning on being available later or anytime soon, for that matter.

“Hey there, you two. Did you come to help set up the tree?” Her hands rested on top of her belly, drawing attention to just how close she was to her due date.

My brother and I looked at each other, and I saw he was waiting for me to answer first. The lodge would be closed all next week for Christmas break. Before Kane had left, he’d told me they’d begun a tradition a few years back of having a party in the afternoon on Christmas Day where all the Rangers and their families got together.

“Look, normally the wives do it, but everyone is busy with kids, so I was hoping maybe you’d take pity on a poor pregnant gal and help out?” Her overly bright smile made me laugh. She’d always been good at conning us into some scheme or another when we were kids.

And really, how could I turn her down when it was obvious she couldn’t do it by herself? Ridge would blow a gasket if he even saw her try. “Of course. Uh, when were you thinking?”

“I have a meeting in a few minutes. How about I text you when it’s done, and you can come back? It’ll be easy. It’s an artificial tree we keep in the pantry. Usually, it’s out in the great room by now, but this year, time kind of got away from us all.”