Hannah looked at him in question. “Adam and I went through basic and tech school together. The first holiday we had free we drove up to his parent’s house and stayed at this hotel in the woods where you stay in cabins. It's really off the grid and perfect for what we need.”
Hannah nodded and watched the scenery go by as they drove. She didn’t care where they stayed as long as she didn’t have to go home yet. It was all so familiar and yet so different than what she remembered. She had grown up loving this place and thought she would live here until she was old and gray. Now it felt like a strange city and a strange place. She didn’t feel like she belonged here anymore. She belonged in California with Ben. She had every intention of going back with Ben after she saw her family. She would be pretty close to her brothers now.
She felt Ben take her hand and she held onto it like a lifeline.
“Where’s Sheriff Little?” Ben asked Adam.
“He had some business to finish up at the office and make a couple rounds. Doubt you’ll see him on this trip.”
“Hannah, you remember him, don’t you? Sheriff Little has been the Sheriff in this area for years. Used to scare the dickens out of poor Adam here as a kid but now he works under him.” Ben told her.
Hannah nodded and looked back out the window. She vaguely remembered the man. He always wore an intimidating scowl and got off on scaring little kids. She had made it a habit of avoiding him and thankfully the woods were vast for her, Adam, and Ben to avoid him.
“You okay?”
Hannah rolled her eyes. “Ben, I love you but I swear to god if you ask me that again I’ll scream. I’m fine this is just a lot to take in all at once and I am just trying to process it. I’m fine.”
Adam laughed from the front of the car but sobered up when Ben turned and both Hannah and Ben glared at him. “I’m sorry but she really is your match in every way. Always was.”
Hannah lost her glower and smiled. She never let Ben get away with anything growing up. They had both challenged each other. They were perfectly matched she guessed. “Thanks.”
Twenty minutes later they pulled into a dirt driveway and drove up a steep incline to a cabin. It was nestled a few miles from the main road and was surrounded by woods. It was beautiful. If she wasn’t so excited/dreaded tomorrow she might appreciate it more. Maybe she and Ben could come back sometime and spend a weekend just the two of them here. The thought had merit.
“What is going on in that devious little brain of yours?” Ben asked, leaning over to whisper in her ear before they got out of the car.
Hannah blushed at being caught daydreaming about said weekend. “Now I really want to know what you were thinking about.” He teased.
“That it’s a nice cabin,” Hannah said evenly, not wanting to give anything away. She grabbed her bag and headed for the front door.
“And?” He prompted, running up behind her with his duffle. He somehow knew there was more than what she was saying.
Hannah sighed heavily and rolled her eyes. Military men, or maybe it was just this man. He was so persistent. He knew there was more than met the eye and he pursued it relentlessly. “I was only thinking that we could spend a weekend here sometime. Just the two of us.”
Ben groaned in pleasure at the thought. It amazed him that they had been thinking about the same thing. “I think that can be arranged.”
Adam cleared his throat and walked ahead of them since they had stopped just shy of the front steps and went inside. There was only one bedroom and a couch that was a pullout.
“We're we all supposed to fit in here?” Hannah asked in disbelief as she looked around.
“I thought the last time we were here there were two bedrooms?” Ben asked looking from the bedroom to the couch knowing he was not going to get to sleep with Hannah tonight.
“That was a different cabin. I called ahead but this was all they had available. I figured Hannah can take the bedroom and we can crash on the couch.”
Hannah was just as skeptical as Ben. There was no way two full grown men over six feet tall would fit on the couch. “How about Ben sleeps in the bed with me and you take the couch? There is no way the two of you will fit on that thing.”
Ben turned his black predatory eyes on her. “You don’t mind?” She knew he was trying to be a gentleman but she had to lay down some ground rules.
“Sleeping only.” Not that she wouldn’t mind making love with him again but she didn’t want to do it with their childhood friend sleeping less than 100 feet away.
“On that note, you guys get settled. I’m going to make a few calls.” Adam all but ran out of the room. Hannah didn’t blame it. The cabin was charged with electric energy bouncing off her and Ben.
Ben just watched her a moment before a mischievous grin broke across his face. “Alone at last.”
Hannah’s eyes widened a fraction and glanced back and forth from him to the front door. He couldn’t possibly be thinking that, could he? No. His friend was right outside the door and could come in at any time. Hannah spun on her heel and ran for the bedroom wondering if she could close the door on him before he-
Ben grabbed her around the waist, spun her and threw her over his shoulder and carried her into the bedroom.
“Ben, no.” Hannah pounded on his
