Page 10 of Under the Radar

“Okay. Get whatever you need. Keep the bill, and I’ll repay you.” I held up my hand before she could argue. “I can write it off under house expenses.”

She stood, then leaned down and pressed another kiss to my cheek. “Thanks, Chase.”

“Sure,” I mumbled.

A throat clearing from the door made me shut my eyes. I knew the sound of that rumble. I opened my eyes and met Charly’s amused, all-seeing, all-knowing gaze. She grinned widely.

“Hello, Hannah.”

“Hey, Charly. I was just leaving. Gotta run some errands.” Hannah smiled at me. “I’ll let you know about the paint, okay?”

“Okay.”

She left, and I tried to act nonchalant.

“Hey, Charly. What’s up?”

“Oh no,” she replied. “You’re not playing innocent with me. I walk in, and you’re all cozy with Hannah and picking paint samples. And you bought a house? I think you and I need a chat, Chase.”

She shut the door, and I knew no wasn’t an option.

I turned to face my fate.

CHAPTER FOUR

Chase

Charly sat in the chair Hannah had vacated, crossing her legs and smiling her sweet smile. The innocuous one that gave you a false sense of security. Until she opened her mouth to speak.

“So, you’ve been busy.”

I didn’t say anything.

“On Friday, you left here, hoping to find a roommate, refusing to listen to reason about buying the house—any house, actually—and now Monday morning dawns, and not only have you got a new roomie, you purchased the house and are picking paint colors with said roomie. The girl of your no doubt torrid nocturnal fantasies, I might add.” She lifted one eyebrow in question. “Have I got that about right?”

I cleared my throat, suddenly wishing an engine would catch fire or the oil cans on the wall would begin to explode and distract her, but all remained calm in the garage. And none of the bastards would dare come in here and rescue me. Not if it involved Charly. Even Maxx wouldn’t attempt it.

“Things changed,” I agreed.

She snorted. “Changed? Talk about doing a 180, Chase! What happened?”

I met her eyes and found the Charly I adored there. Caring, warm, and worried. She had always worried about me. She had been my staunchest defender, even when she could have turned me away for what I had done.

I sighed and yanked off my beanie, running a hand through my hair. “Honest to God, Charly. I have no idea. Some of the applicants were downright scary. One even tried propositioning me so she wouldn’t have to do anything around the place. Another guy wanted to grow drugs in the basement. I was about to give up, and Hannah showed up. She was like a miracle. Normal, fun. Has a full-time job. And…” I waved my fingers. “It was Hannah. She wanted to live with me.”

Charly grinned, nodding for me to continue.

“She loved the house, asked about painting her room, and planting some stuff in the garden. I could see her there—with me. Then Brett told me Old Man Hyde wanted to sell the house. And I thought about what you had said. What Maxx and Stefano, even Brett, have been telling me. I had to stop thinking of the money from my dad as bad. That I should use it for good things. And making Hannah happy is a good thing.”

Charly leaned forward. “You realize you bought a house, and all she might be looking for is a roommate, right?”

“I know. But there’s something between us. I can feel it. Maybe it’s nothing. Maybe living together will make it ease off. But maybe…” I trailed off.

“Maybe not,” she finished.

I nodded. “Regardless, you have all been right. The money just keeps growing. At least I’ve invested some of it in something worthwhile.” I swallowed. “My dad—the one I remember from when I was a kid—would have liked that.”

She took my hand and squeezed it. “He would have, Chase. He’d be proud. I think somewhere deep inside him, he was still that guy. He just lost himself. Use the money and do lots of good things. Support the local food bank. Do things that make you smile.” She paused. “Like buying a house so the girl of your dreams moves in with you.”