Hannah pulled into the parking lot and got out of her car. He watched her walk toward him, the ends of her hair flying in the breeze. She had on a short-sleeved sundress and sandals and damn, she looked fine.
She pulled off her sunglasses when she got to the entrance. “Hi.”
“Hi, yourself. I hope you’re hungry.”
“So hungry.”
He was happy she had an appetite, because he was ready to eat. “Let’s go.”
He’d already put his name in when he’d arrived, so they didn’t have to wait too long before they were seated at a table. This place got crowded during brunch hours, and there was a good reason for it—the food was great.
“This menu looks amazing,” Hannah said, then looked up at him. “You’ve eaten here before?”
He nodded. “A few times. There’s nothing bad here.”
“Good to know.”
Their server came with coffee, took their orders and disappeared.
“So, Hannah McKenzie—or what’s your name now?”
“Clark.”
“Okay, Hannah Clark. Tell me what you’ve been doing for the past ten years.”
She blinked, stared at him for a few seconds, then added cream to her coffee. “Oh, you probably know it all already.”
He could tell she was nervous, though he didn’t know why. It wasn’t like this was a first date, or even a date at all. And she knew him—they’d dated all through high school. It wasn’t like they were strangers.
Then again, maybe they were. People changed a lot in ten years.
Had he changed? He didn’t think he had.
“No, really, I don’t know it all,” he said. “I know you moved away and got married. That’s it.”
“I see.” She stirred the cream into her coffee. “Like you said, I got married, moved to Georgia. Got a divorce a year ago, then moved back here a few months ago.”
“I’m sorry about the divorce.”
“I’m not,” she said with a shrug. “It was past time.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Let’s just say it was a mistake from the start.”
That didn’t sound good. “Sometimes that happens. Carmen, my brother Rafe’s fiancée, is divorced, and she talks to me a lot about her first marriage, about how she married too young, and she didn’t see the signs like she should have.”
Hannah nodded. “Pretty much like that. But I got a great kid out of the marriage, so I have no regrets.”
Kal’s eyes widened. Now that he didn’t know. “You have a kid?”
She smiled. “Yes. Oliver. He’s seven, and the light of my life.”
“That’s awesome, Hannah. I’ll bet you’re an amazing mom.” He couldn’t imagine Hannah as a mother. But they were both adults now. Still, she was so young to have a seven-year-old son. That must have been so tough.
“Thank you. I try to do what’s best for him. Which is why I’m back home.”
“How did your ex feel about you moving away with your son?”
Hannah inhaled a deep breath, and Kal could tell she was trying to avoid the question.
Their food arrived, so he let the topic drop—for now—and dug into his huevos rancheros. Hannah seemed to relax after that and settled in to eat her avocado toast and eggs.
She took a sip of her juice and swallowed, then asked, “What about you? Did you become a firefighter?”
He nodded. “Yeah. I’ve been a firefighter for five years, then I transferred to the Technical Rescue Team a few months ago.”
“What’s that?”
“Typically high-angle or confined space rescue, but there’s a lot more that goes into it.”
“So you don’t fight fires anymore?”
“Sometimes, if we’re needed, but mostly it’s high-risk rescue situations where the firefighters need our assistance.”
“Wow. Sounds dangerous.”
He gave her a smile. “All firefighting is dangerous.”
“Of course. And you love it, don’t you?”
“Yeah. Always have.”
She rested her chin in her hand and studied him. “I knew this is where you’d end up. It’s been in your blood, ever since your dad rescued you and your brothers when you were kids. And Jackson and Rafe?”
“Also firefighters. Jackson’s a lieutenant now. He and Rafe work in the same firehouse. Our dad’s the battalion chief there. Same place I worked until I transferred to the TRT.”
She gave him a genuine smile. “Wow. I’m so happy for all of you.”
“Thanks.”
“And how are your parents?”
“They’re doing great. They moved into a new house last year. A bigger place, with an office for my mom. And a pool.”
Hannah nodded. “She always wanted a pool.”
He smiled. “You remember that.”
“Of course I do. She hated the hot Ft. Lauderdale summers. She always said if she had a nice pool in the backyard, it would be more tolerable.”
“What about your mom? Does she still live in the same house?”
“Same one.”
“It’s a pretty great house.”
“It is. That’s where Oliver and I are living right now. At least until I get more settled and I can get my own place.”
“That’s a good idea. I’m sure she’s helpful, and she probably loves having you and Oliver there.”
“She does. She’s been there by herself all those years since my dad died.”
“No guy friends yet, huh?”
“She’s dated here and there over the years, but no one has stuck. I just don’t think she’ll ever find anyone she’ll love as much as she loved my dad.”
Kal remembered Hannah’s dad well. They’d all hung out a lot when he was dating her. “I understand. He was a great guy.”
“He was. But it’s been twelve years since he died. I’d hate for her to be alone for the rest of her life.”
“She’s not alone right now. She has you.”
She waved her fork at him. “Which is the exact reason I’m not making my stay permanent. It would just be another excuse for her not to go out and find love again.”
“That makes sense, though maybe you shouldn’t be in a huge hurry to make your exit.”
“Why not?”
“Get your bearings again. Settle in, you know? Take your time before you go rushing off on your own. I’m sure your mom loves having you and Oliver there after you were gone for so long.”
She picked up her coffee cup. “Now you sound like my mother.”
“Hey.”
She laughed. “Sorry. But you’re probably right. I just don’t want to get in her way.”
“I don’t think parents ever think we’re in the way. If I wanted to bunk at my parents’ place I’m sure my mom would be so happy she’d probably cry. You know how they are.”
“Yes. Happy when we leave, even happier when we come home again.”
“Exactly right.”
He finished eating and set his plate aside.
“What about you?” she asked. “Do you have your own place?”