Sunday morning dawned overcast and muggy. The typical summer misery had returned with a vengeance after yesterday’s more pleasant weather, drenching the Ohio River Valley—or at least this section of it—in humidity that promised more storms that afternoon.
Chase and Annie were having breakfast at a little hole-in-the-wall café located a little ways outside town on a back road not far from his parents’ house. This wasn’t the first time they’d met at this café, but their previous encounters hadn’t been dates. This morning most definitely was. Not only that, but it was the follow-up breakfast to the night before.
For the first time in his adult life—not counting the night he’d returned from Vegas—Chase had spent the night with a woman. They’d not been intimate, though they’d done a bit more than kiss, but they’d slept together, holding each other all night. He’d awakened before Annie had, and he’d lain there, just watching her sleep, marveling at how right it felt to be beside her.
Though he’d tried to figure out a way to broach the subject of sex, he’d not yet managed to figure out a way to do that. He had a confession he needed to make before they took that step, assuming they did—and it was looking a whole lot like they were heading in that direction.
If he was being completely honest, he hadn’t come up with a way to have that discussion because he was a big, fat chicken who was afraid even now that she’d find him an anomalous freak. He’d wanted at least one night with Annie before taking that risk.
“What’s the latest scoop on the Jason-Hannah proposal watch?” she asked as she forked up the last bite of her pancakes.
Chase grinned as he picked up his coffee mug. “As soon as he finds his courage, or so I hear. I never expected to see him so torn up over a woman. Actually, I take that back—I knew it would happen one day, just not so completely.”
Annie moved her shoulders in a speculative shrug. “She seems to make him happy enough. He adores Paulo and vice versa.”
“Why do I feel like there’s a ‘but’ in there?”
“Because there is. I’m not sure how good Hannah is for Jason. It’s none of my business, and he wouldn’t listen to my nebulous concerns anyhow, but I just feel like he should slow down with her.”
Chase nodded sagely. “He should take his older brother’s lead in romance, right? I mean, it only took me what? Over a year to admit I have feelings for you.” He grinned when she narrowed her eyes at him. “I agree that this has been a bit fast, even for Jason, but I’m optimistic.”
“There’s not a thing wrong with a little caution now and then. Sometimes the fine print is hard to read through the light of love.”
“A girl who likes the fine print. Annie, you’re after my heart.”
She gave him a shy smile. “Maybe.”
His phone rang before he could respond. When Gordon’s name came up on the display, Chase frowned. “Hello?”
“Hey, I have news, and it isn’t good. Can you talk?”
The café was crowded and noisy. “Hang a second, and I can. It’s Gordon,” he told Annie. “I’m going to walk outside so I can hear.”
“Okay. I’ll take care of the check.” As he passed, she caught his hand and squeezed, her face reflecting her concern.
In a few seconds, he was in the parking lot, heading toward his car. “I’m clear. What’s going on?”
“Hart has a warrant for your DNA. He’s on his way north right now, and so am I. We’re supposed to meet at the courthouse at ten and talk to Wyatt. Hart’s also going to want to question you.”
It was just after nine now.
The curses Chase let loose would have gotten his mouth washed out with soap if his mother had heard. “Why? What’s changed?”
Gordon didn’t answer immediately. “I can’t tell you that. I need to ask you to trust me on this, however. Get John, meet us at the courthouse a few minutes after ten, and let this thing play out.”
As Chase watched Annie cross the parking lot toward him, he wanted to yell with frustration. “That’s a lot to ask of me.”
“I know.”
Closing his eyes on a sigh, Chase dropped his head. “Fine. I’m supposed to go to Beth and Ethan’s this morning to help them work on the garage. Can I tell them what’s going on or…?”
“You can,” Gordon said quietly. “If you do, they’ll probably be right there with you at the courthouse. That might not be a bad thing.”
“This is going to be god-awful, isn’t it?”
“It won’t be fun. I’m sorry, man.”
“Yeah, well, so am I. I’ll see you soon.” He hung up and stared at his phone, not wanting to look at Annie. “Gordon’s on his way to town, and so is the detective from the Lexington PD. I have to call John, and we have to meet them at the sheriff’s department.”
Her eyes flared with shock, and she gasped in dismay. “Oh, no.”
“Gordon asked me to trust him on this. I have to, else I’ll run the other way. Why does this have to happen now?” he asked her in a low voice. “Haven’t I been tormented by this mess with Kiely long enough?”
Annie took his hand. “Whatever happens, I’m here. I’m not going anywhere, not now that I’ve finally bared my soul to you and the world didn’t end from the shock of it. Don’t think you can get out of this thing between us with something so silly as a serial killer bent on revenge wreaking havoc in our lives, buddy.” Though she clearly tried to make the statement teasing, her voice was thick with suppressed tears.
Chase kissed her, the embrace fierce and brief. “I think this qualifies as that fine print you mentioned earlier.”
She smiled. “Probably, but I read it first. We’ll get through this.”
“I’m going to have to borrow your optimism about that,” he told her softly. “I’m all but out of faith at this point.” He could only hope that hers—and Gordon’s—wasn’t misplaced.