Jake filled three plates with eggs. She took them to the table while he spread cream cheese on the bagels.
When Brett returned, she said, "Did you wash your hands?"
"I did," Brett said, holding them up.
Since they were still dripping wet, she knew he was telling the truth. She handed him a paper towel and they sat down at the table.
Jake's eggs were perfectly cooked, with a nice seasoning of salt and pepper. "Do you cook a lot for yourself?" she asked, as she took a bite.
"I'm good for breakfast. The other meals tend to be more of the eat-out or pick-up variety. I've had a lot of meals at Chloe's café, I will say that."
"Her chef is good."
"He is. How's Chloe doing these days? I heard she and Kevin have separated."
"Unfortunately, yes. He decided he wasn't done with being a soldier, and she decided she was done with him being a soldier. I know she has mixed feelings about it. She's taking the blame for breaking up the family, but it isn't all on her. Chloe had to give birth alone while Kevin was missing in action. That was very traumatic for her, and she's been on her own for a long time. She runs the café that was his family's business. I think Kevin should have put his family first. He served over ten years. He has done his duty."
"But it's not just duty to him. It's what he loves to do, what he's always loved. Chloe knew what she was getting into."
"I think the idea of what she was getting into turned out to be very different from the reality of being a military wife. I understand that Kevin should have a fulfilling job. I just also understand how hard it's been for her. I like them both. I want them to be happy. But maybe they can't be happy together."
"Or maybe they'll figure out a way."
"When Kevin is on the other side of the world? That's optimistic, but then you always were the optimistic one."
He shrugged. "What's wrong with being a positive person?"
"Not saying it's wrong. Just saying it's who you are."
"If you can dream it, you can make it happen. That requires optimism." He paused. "I dreamt about you last night, Hannah."
That comment sent a tingle through her body. "I don't want to hear about it. And whatever you dreamt will not happen."
"We'll see."
She didn't like that he was being optimistic about them. There was no them. They were over. "Last night was a mistake, Jake."
"We'll see," he repeated.
"Oh, my God, you're so annoying."
"You said God. You're supposed to say gosh," Brett interrupted.
Now she was being reprimanded by a four-year-old. "You're right. Are you done eating?"
He popped the last bite of eggs into his mouth and then said, "Can I have a cookie?" with his mouth full.
"Finish what you're eating first."
He swallowed and smiled. "Now?"
"I suppose you can have one."
"I'll get it for you, buddy," Jake said, as he got to his feet. "I want one, too. What about you, Hannah? Cookies for breakfast?"
"Why not? It seems like that kind of morning."
Jake brought the cookies to the table and then said, "We should leave as soon as we're done with breakfast. The guy I spoke to in the other cabin was plowing the road earlier. We should be able to get back to the highway."
"I'm fine with that. I still need to get someone to fix my tire."
"We'll figure that out once we get back to town."
"Can we play a game now?" Brett asked.
"Actually, we're going to take a ride," she told him. "Do you want to see my house?"
Brett suddenly looked uncertain. "What about Mommy? Isn't she coming back here?"
"Don't worry. She knows where to find you."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. And at my house, I have some photos of me and your mom when she was a little girl. Would you like to see them?"
Brett gave a vigorous nod. She was happy he was too little to understand much, and he wasn't asking questions she couldn't answer.
"I'll get my puppies," he said, running out of the room.
As Brett left her alone with Jake, a new tension entered the air. "I don't want to talk about last night," she warned, making a preemptive strike.
"Did I ask you to?" he countered.
"I'm sure you were going to."
"I wasn't. Actions speak louder than words. What happened last night told me a lot."
"It didn't tell you anything. You took me by surprise, that's all."
"Whatever you say."
She frowned at his easy agreement. "Don't make it into something else, Jake. You and I are not going to be anything more than friends."
"So, we're going to be friends?" he asked with a sparkle in his eyes. "I like that. It's the first step."
He was deliberately baiting her, and she really shouldn't take that bait. But she couldn't seem to help herself. "It's not the first step or any step. It's nothing. We're nothing."
"Are you done?"
She gave him a long look. "You made a fool of me once; you're not going to do it again," she said. "Now I'm done."
Chapter Six
Hannah had drawn her line in the sand, but Jake wasn't bothered by it, not with the memory of her mouth on his. There was something between them, whether she wanted to admit it or not. He didn't like being patient, but he could be when he had to, and earning Hannah's trust would take time. Her last stinging words had reminded him that he had a lot to make up for. But he wasn't leaving Whisper Lake any time soon, and neither was she.
Thirty minutes later, they were headed back to town, but it was a slow drive. The road was thick with snow but thanks to the neighbor's plow, they made it to the highway, which was in slightly better condition. He still drove carefully, very aware of the precious cargo he was carrying. Brett was in his car seat in the backseat, and Hannah was sitting next to him,
