Page 16 of Under the Radar

Chase walked in, carrying a bag. He frowned when he saw me lifting a box.

“What are you doing?” he asked, hurrying over and taking the box from my arms. “I said I’d do that tonight.”

I laughed, taking back the box. “Chase, I packed them and put them in the storage unit all on my own. I’m used to doing it by myself.”

He shook his head and set down the bag he was carrying. “But you don’t have to anymore. I’m here.” He tugged the box out of my hands.

I gave up. “Fine. It goes in the kitchen.”

He nudged the bag on the floor. “So does that. I brought Chinese.”

“Oh my God, you are spoiling me. Stop it.”

He shrugged, grinning as I picked up the bag. I followed him to the kitchen.

“Get your room done?”

“Yes. Maybe you can help me move my bed tomorrow when I get back from work?”

“What is your shift?”

I grabbed plates from the cupboard as Chase set out the food. “Three days on, four off. Then four on, three off. Six to four. I was lucky and got the day shift.”

He nodded. “Nights must be hard.”

“They were in Toronto,” I said, hoping my voice didn’t shake as a memory swept through me.

He placed his hand over mine. “Sorry, Hannah. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

I looked down, realizing my hand was trembling. My whole body was. Simply mentioning Toronto upset me. I sighed. I had thought it would stop once I left the city—obviously, I was wrong.

Chase leaned across the table and slid a finger under my chin, and I met his gaze. He looked upset, his eyes worried. “Are you okay, Cinnamon?”

I clutched his wrist, drawing in a shaky breath. “Yeah, I’m okay.”

“I’m sorry. I obviously brought up something painful.”

I blinked at the wetness in my eyes. Before I could say anything, he stood, pulling me up with him and wrapping me in his arms.

“I’m here, Hannah. Everything is okay.”

I let him hold me. I drew strength from his solid form, his tight embrace. He smelled good. Clean and masculine, the hint of fresh-cut grass lingering. I stepped back and blinked, desperate to change the subject. “Did you shower before coming home?”

He chuckled and sat. “I had to. I was helping install a newly reupholstered interior on a car Maxx is restoring. I was covered in sweat and grease.” He smiled at me, his voice low and tender. “Okay to eat?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

“You work in the office and the garage?” I asked.

He nodded around a mouthful of egg roll, swallowing before he spoke. “I enjoy designing custom interiors. I’ve been taking courses, and Maxx lets me play.”

“Do you have any pictures?”

With a grin, he showed me his phone, and I scrolled through the images. “Chase, these are gorgeous.”

He looked bashful, color flooding the tips of his ears. “Thanks. I like it.”